One of Bellefonte School District’s own, Mr. Gene “Buddy” Johnson, ran in the primary election for Mayor of Bellefonte. Mr. Johnson is a physical education teacher at the middle school. He has been an educator for 25 years, with 20 of those years being at BAMS, and a year at BAHS.

Spending many years in the Bellefonte community gave Mr. Johnson a vision to help the community blossom and grow.

“I have a great love for Bellefonte. I feel it is a great community that can only thrive and become better,” Mr. Johnson said.

The primary election was held on May 18 with the general election occuring in the fall. Becoming mayor will allow Mr. Johnson to represent his community and show his pride.

“[It] has been something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I enjoy being an active member of our community and would love to be a familiar face that people could turn to and trust,” he said.

He is not shy about the idea of being a public figure in the community; his grandfather, Bob Coder, was a respected member of the community that he always looked up to.

“I think the inspiration to be a leader in our community stems from my family roots in the Bellefonte Area. If elected Mayor it would be a great way to honor my family; present and past,” Mr. Johnson said.

His family fully supports him and his decision to run for mayor. Mr. Johnson currently has two children in the district: Mia, a senior, and Trevor, a freshman, both at the high school. Trevor believes that his father would have a “positive impact on the community” if elected. His daughter is also excited to see her father take on a goal of his.

“I think he is a good fit because he has such a passion for speaking and advocating for our community,” Mia said.

As Mayor of Bellefonte, the responsibility of the job is to represent the entire borough population, head the police department, declare emergencies, and perform the town’s ceremonial services including officiating weddings.

Tom Wilson, the current mayor, will not be running for re-election. He has been Bellefonte’s mayor since clutching the position in the 2013 primary election. Mayor Wilson decided not to run for a third term in hopes that “a younger generation will be an asset in keeping Bellefonte moving forward.”

Throughout his eight years as mayor, serving our community and representing Bellefonte, Wilson has been a helping hand to Bellefonte’s people and our town.

“I particularly enjoyed the in-depth community involvement not only in the borough, but as a leader,” Mayor Wilson said.

As his time will come to an end he plans to not stray far from the community of Bellefonte.

“I don’t expect to miss much, as I will stay very involved with Bellefonte – my hometown and a place worth loving.”