Kutztown Political Representatives: The Complete Guide for 2026
Kutztown politics is not controlled by one office or one election. The borough is represented through overlapping layers of government: a mayor and borough council, a regional school board, Berks County officials, state legislators, statewide elected officials, and federal representatives.
This guide collects those layers in one place. It explains who represents Kutztown, when they were elected, when their terms end, which districts they serve, and which elections are coming next.
Table of Contents
Upcoming Elections in Kutztown
Kutztown voters participate in several different election cycles. Even-numbered years usually focus on federal and state offices, while odd-numbered years are typically when local municipal, school board, county, and judicial offices appear on the ballot.
That means 2026 is the next election year, but 2027 is likely the next major local-government election cycle for Kutztown Borough and the Kutztown Area School District. Voters should always check the final certified ballot before each election, since special elections, vacancies, ballot challenges, or candidate withdrawals can change what appears on the ballot.
|
Election date |
Election type |
Kutztown-relevant offices involved |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May 19, 2026 |
Primary election |
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House PA-04, PA House District 124, party nominations and any county/state races appearing on the ballot |
PA’s voter registration deadline is May 4, 2026; mail ballot request deadline is May 12, 2026. |
|
Nov. 3, 2026 |
General election |
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House PA-04, PA House District 124, and any other certified state/county races on the ballot |
PA’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19, 2026; mail ballot request deadline is Oct. 27, 2026. |
|
2027 |
Municipal election cycle |
Kutztown Borough Council seats ending Dec. 31, 2027; KASD school board seats ending Dec. 31, 2027; Berks County commissioner and row-office races |
This is likely the next big local-government cycle after 2026. |
|
2028 |
Presidential / federal election cycle |
President, U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Fetterman, U.S. House PA-04, PA House District 124 |
Federal/state cycle. |
|
2029 |
Municipal election cycle |
Kutztown mayor; Kutztown Borough Council seats ending Dec. 31, 2029; KASD school board seats ending Dec. 31, 2029 |
Next major Kutztown borough + school-board cycle. |
|
2030 |
Federal/state election cycle |
U.S. Senate seat currently held by Dave McCormick, U.S. House PA-04, PA House District 124 |
Federal/state cycle. |
2026 Kutztown Elections Overview
The 2026 election cycle is mainly a state and federal election year for Kutztown voters. Borough council and KASD school board seats are not expected to be the main local races in 2026, based on current term cycles.
For Kutztown Borough residents, the major public offices expected to matter in 2026 include Pennsylvania governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. House representative for Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District, and Pennsylvania House representative for District 124.
The May primary determines which candidates move forward for each party, while the November general election determines who actually takes office.
|
Office |
Term length |
District / jurisdiction |
Current officeholder |
2026 challenger / opponent status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Governor |
4 years |
Pennsylvania statewide |
Josh Shapiro, Democrat |
Stacy Garrity, Republican, is listed as the Republican candidate in the primary/candidate list. |
|
Lieutenant Governor |
4 years |
Pennsylvania statewide |
Austin Davis, Democrat |
Republican nominee not finalized from the candidate list because John Ventre and Jason Richey are both listed for the GOP primary. |
|
U.S. House |
2 years |
PA-04 |
Madeleine Dean, Democrat |
Aurora Stuski, Republican, is listed for the Republican primary; Ballotpedia also lists Dean in the Democratic primary and Stuski in the Republican primary. |
|
PA House |
2 years |
PA House District 124 |
Jamie Barton, Republican |
Tina Burns, Democrat, is listed as the Democratic candidate; Jamie Barton is listed as the Republican candidate. |
2027 Kutztown Elections Overview
The 2027 election cycle is likely the next major local-government election year for Kutztown-area voters. Several Kutztown Borough Council seats, KASD school board seats, Berks County commissioner seats, and county row offices are expected to be on the ballot because their current terms end in 2027.
This is the cycle that will most directly affect borough government, school district leadership, county administration, and several countywide offices. Candidate information is not yet finalized, so this section should be updated once Berks County releases official 2027 candidate lists.
|
Office |
District / jurisdiction |
Current officeholder(s) |
Current party / PAC note |
Expected on 2027 ballot? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kutztown Borough Council |
Ward 1 |
Edwin K. Seyler |
Republican |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
Kutztown Borough Council |
Ward 2 |
George M. Kusterer |
Republican |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
Kutztown Borough Council |
Ward 2 |
Lisa Ladd-Kidder |
Democrat |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
KASD School Board |
Region 1: Kutztown Borough |
Caecilia M. Holt |
Not KASD PAC-listed |
Likely yes — 2023–2027 term cycle |
|
KASD School Board |
Region 1: Kutztown Borough |
Laurel J. Ziegler |
Not KASD PAC-listed |
Likely yes — 2023–2027 term cycle |
|
KASD School Board |
Region 2: Maxatawny Township / Lyons Borough |
Reba A. Cortes Hoffman |
KASD PAC-listed |
Likely yes — 2023–2027 term cycle |
|
KASD School Board |
Region 3: Albany Township / Greenwich Township / Lenhartsville Borough |
Daniel Y. Wismer |
KASD PAC-listed |
Likely yes — 2023–2027 term cycle |
|
Berks County Commissioner |
Berks County |
Christian Y. Leinbach |
Republican |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
Berks County Commissioner |
Berks County |
Michael S. Rivera |
Republican |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
Berks County Commissioner |
Berks County |
Dante Santoni Jr. |
Democrat |
Yes — term ends 12/31/2027 |
|
Berks County Controller |
Berks County |
Joe Rudderow |
Republican |
Likely yes — elected in 2023 cycle |
|
Berks County Recorder of Deeds |
Berks County |
Fred Sheeler |
Democrat |
Likely yes — elected in 2023 cycle |
|
Berks County Register of Wills |
Berks County |
Suzanne M. Myers |
Republican |
Likely yes — elected in 2023 cycle |
|
Berks County Clerk of Courts |
Berks County |
Beth A. Jones |
Republican |
Likely yes — elected in 2023 cycle |
|
Berks County District Attorney |
Berks County |
John T. Adams |
D/R in 2023 returns |
Likely yes — elected in 2023 cycle |
Kutztown Political Representation Overview
Kutztown is represented by overlapping layers of government. No single office controls “Kutztown politics” by itself. Instead, local life is shaped by borough officials, school board members, county officials, state legislators, statewide executive officials, and federal representatives.
Each level does something different. Borough officials handle the most immediate municipal issues, such as local services, streets, utilities, and development. The school board governs the public school district. Berks County handles countywide administration, elections, courts, prosecution, and records. State and federal officials represent Kutztown within larger legislative districts.
This guide breaks those layers down so residents can see who represents them, when each official was elected, when each term ends, and which jurisdiction each office covers.
|
Level |
District / body |
Representative(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Borough |
Kutztown Borough |
Mayor James F. Schlegel; six-member Borough Council |
|
School district |
Kutztown Area School District |
Nine-member KASD Board of School Directors |
|
County |
Berks County |
Three county commissioners and county row offices |
|
State House |
PA House District 124 |
Rep. Jamie Barton |
|
State Senate |
PA Senate District 11 |
Sen. Judy Schwank |
|
U.S. House |
Pennsylvania Congressional District 4 |
Rep. Madeleine Dean |
|
U.S. Senate |
Pennsylvania statewide |
Sen. John Fetterman; Sen. Dave McCormick |
Municipal Representatives
Kutztown Borough Elected Officials
Image Source: Borough of Kutztown
Municipal government is the closest level of elected government for Kutztown Borough residents. The borough is governed by a mayor and a six-member borough council. These officials make decisions about local services, borough finances, ordinances, public works, utilities, development, and other day-to-day municipal issues.
Kutztown Borough is divided into two voting wards. Ward-based council seats mean that some council members are elected by voters in a specific part of the borough rather than by the entire borough. The mayor, by contrast, represents the borough as a whole.
For voters, the ward system matters because your address determines which ward council races you can vote in. Ward 1 voters elect Ward 1 council members, and Ward 2 voters elect Ward 2 council members.
Kutztown Borough Council seats are staggered, so not every council seat is up for election in the same year. Some current terms end in 2027, while others end in 2029.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
James F. Schlegel |
Democrat |
Nov. 4, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2029 |
Mayor, Kutztown Borough |
|
Kevin J. Snyder |
Republican |
Nov. 4, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2029 |
Borough Council, Ward 2 |
|
Derek D. Mace |
Democrat |
Nov. 4, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2029 |
Borough Council, Ward 1 |
|
Katharine A. Keegan |
Democrat |
Nov. 4, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2029 |
Borough Council, Ward 1 |
|
George M. Kusterer |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Borough Council, Ward 2 |
|
Edwin K. Seyler |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Borough Council, Ward 1 |
|
Lisa Ladd-Kidder |
Democrat |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Borough Council, Ward 2 |
Kutztown Area School District Board Members
Image Source: Berks County
The Kutztown Area School District is governed by a nine-member school board. Unlike borough council, the school board does not represent only Kutztown Borough. It represents the broader school district, which includes Kutztown Borough and surrounding municipalities. KASD school board seats are divided into three voting regions:
Region 1 covers Kutztown Borough.
Region 2 covers Maxatawny Township and Lyons Borough.
Region 3 covers Albany Township, Greenwich Township, and Lenhartsville Borough.
This regional system matters because voters elect school board members from their own region. A Kutztown Borough voter participates in Region 1 school board races, while voters in Maxatawny and Lyons participate in Region 2 races, and voters in Albany, Greenwich, and Lenhartsville participate in Region 3 races.
Because school board offices are not usually described the same way as partisan legislative seats, this chart uses KASD Children First PAC support/listing instead of party. “Supported/listed by KASD Children First PAC” means the person appears in the PAC’s public materials as a supported candidate or listed board member. It does not necessarily mean the person is a formal PAC member, officer, donor, or organizer.
|
Name |
Supported / listed by KASD Children First PAC? |
When elected / seated |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jason B. Koch |
Yes |
2025 |
2029 |
KASD Region 3: Albany Township, Greenwich Township, Lenhartsville Borough |
|
Caecilia M. Holt |
No |
2023 |
2027 |
KASD Region 1: Kutztown Borough |
|
Matthew Biniek |
No |
2025 |
2029 |
KASD Region 2: Maxatawny Township, Lyons Borough |
|
Erin M. Engel |
Yes |
2025 |
2027 |
KASD Region 2: Maxatawny Township, Lyons Borough |
|
Reba A. Cortes Hoffman |
Yes |
2023 |
2027 |
KASD Region 2: Maxatawny Township, Lyons Borough |
|
Jeremiah F. Light |
Yes |
2025 |
2029 |
KASD Region 3: Albany Township, Greenwich Township, Lenhartsville Borough |
|
Michael R. Sailsbery |
No |
2025 |
2029 |
KASD Region 1: Kutztown Borough |
|
Daniel Y. Wismer |
Yes |
2023 |
2027 |
KASD Region 3: Albany Township, Greenwich Township, Lenhartsville Borough |
|
Laurel J. Ziegler |
No |
2023 |
2027 |
KASD Region 1: Kutztown Borough |
Non-Voting KASD Administrative Members
The KASD school board also includes several non-voting administrative members. These officials help run the district, prepare information for the board, manage finances, record meetings, and support district operations.
Unlike elected board members, these administrative members do not vote on school board decisions. Their roles are important for governance and administration, but final voting authority rests with the elected board members.
|
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Christian Temchatin |
Superintendent |
|
Beth Ann Siteman |
Business Administrator / Board Treasurer |
|
Karen A. Austin |
Board Recording Secretary |
|
Sherry L. Sexton |
Board Secretary |
Berks County Representatives
Image Source: Wikimedia
Image Source: Wikimedia
Berks County government sits between local borough government and state government. County government affects Kutztown through elections, property records, courts, criminal prosecution, county services, countywide budgeting, and administrative functions.
Berks County Commissioners
The Berks County commissioners are the county’s main governing body. They oversee county administration, county budgets, taxes, elections, county facilities, and major countywide policy decisions.
County commissioners are elected countywide, meaning Kutztown voters vote for the same commissioner seats as voters across the rest of Berks County. Unlike Kutztown Borough Council, these are not ward-based offices.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Christian Y. Leinbach |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Commissioner |
|
Michael Rivera |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Commissioner |
|
Dante Santoni Jr. |
Democrat |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Commissioner |
Berks County Row Offices and Countywide Elected Offices
Berks County row offices are countywide elected administrative offices. Each office has a specific function, such as overseeing county finances, recording deeds, managing wills and estates, keeping court records, handling sheriff duties, or prosecuting criminal cases.
These offices are elected by voters across Berks County. Kutztown residents vote for these offices as county voters, not as a separate borough electorate.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joe Rudderow |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Controller |
|
Fred Sheeler |
Democrat |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Recorder of Deeds |
|
Suzanne M. Myers |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Register of Wills |
|
Eric J. Weaknecht |
D/R |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Sheriff |
|
Beth A. Jones |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Clerk of Courts |
|
John T. Adams |
D/R |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County District Attorney |
|
Mitchell R. Darcourt |
Republican |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2027 |
Berks County Treasurer |
Local Magisterial District Court
Image Source: Berks County
Kutztown Borough is part of a local magisterial district court. Magisterial district judges handle many lower-level legal matters, including traffic cases, minor criminal matters, landlord-tenant disputes, small civil claims, and preliminary stages of more serious criminal cases.
The magisterial district does not cover only Kutztown Borough. District 23-3-04 also includes several surrounding municipalities. This means Kutztown shares this judicial district with nearby communities.
Unlike borough council or school board, the magisterial district court is part of Pennsylvania’s judicial system. The judge is elected, but the role is judicial rather than legislative or administrative.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gail Greth |
D/R |
Nov. 7, 2023 |
Dec. 31, 2029 |
Magisterial District Judge, District 23-3-04 |
Pennsylvania State Legislative Representatives
Image Source: Ballotpedia, PA House of Representatives District 124
Image Source: Ballotpedia, Pennsylvania State Senate District 11
Kutztown Borough is represented in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by one state House representative and one state senator.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has two-year terms, so House seats are on the ballot more frequently. The Pennsylvania Senate has four-year terms, so Senate seats appear less often.
State legislators matter for Kutztown because they vote on state laws, education funding, municipal rules, transportation policy, state grants, taxes, and the state budget. They also provide constituent services when residents need help navigating state agencies.
Kutztown Borough is currently in PA House District 124 and PA Senate District 11.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jamie Barton |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Nov. 30, 2026 |
PA House District 124 |
|
Judy Schwank |
Democrat |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Nov. 30, 2028 |
PA Senate District 11 |
Pennsylvania Statewide Elected Officials
Image Source: Wikimedia
Pennsylvania statewide officials represent the entire Commonwealth, including Kutztown. These offices include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor general, and treasurer.
The governor and lieutenant governor lead the executive branch of Pennsylvania government. The attorney general handles major state legal matters and law enforcement issues. The auditor general reviews government spending and performance. The treasurer manages state funds.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Josh Shapiro |
Democrat |
Nov. 8, 2022 |
Jan. 2027 |
Governor of Pennsylvania |
|
Austin Davis |
Democrat |
Nov. 8, 2022 |
Jan. 2027 |
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania |
|
Dave Sunday |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 2029 |
Pennsylvania Attorney General |
|
Tim DeFoor |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 2029 |
Pennsylvania Auditor General |
|
Stacy Garrity |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 2029 |
Pennsylvania Treasurer |
Federal Elected Officials
Image Source: Wikimedia
Federal representatives connect Kutztown to the national government. Kutztown Borough is part of Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives. Pennsylvania also has two U.S. senators who represent the entire state.
The U.S. House representative serves a two-year term and represents a specific congressional district. U.S. senators serve six-year terms and represent the whole state. The president and vice president are elected nationally through the Electoral College system.
Federal officials matter for Kutztown through federal laws, funding, grants, constituent services, Social Security and Medicare issues, veterans’ services, immigration matters, infrastructure programs, and national policy decisions.
|
Name |
Party |
When elected |
Term ends |
District / jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Madeleine Dean |
Democrat |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 3, 2027 |
U.S. House, Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District |
|
John Fetterman |
Democrat |
Nov. 8, 2022 |
Jan. 3, 2029 |
U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania |
|
Dave McCormick |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 3, 2031 |
U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania |
|
Donald J. Trump |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 20, 2029 |
President of the United States |
|
JD Vance |
Republican |
Nov. 5, 2024 |
Jan. 20, 2029 |
Vice President of the United States |