15-04-2025
Saint Clair Council candidate aims to bring fresh ideas to the borough
At 24, Blake Herndon is younger than most who run for municipal posts in Schuylkill County, but the Saint Clair Council candidate is hoping voters will give him the opportunity to bring fresh ideas to the borough.
Herndon is one of nine candidates running for three four-year seats on council, making it one of the busier races in the county.
The municipal primary election on May 20 will send three candidates from each party on to the general election, where the three council seats will be filled.
Herndon is running against fellow Republicans Justin Cappel, Thomas Kelly, Shirley Tina Campion, John Zachar and Vaughn Vesay.
The Democrat candidates are Michael Petrozino, Anthony J. Klazas and William M. Dempsey.
Dempsey and Klasas are current council members.
Herndon grew up in Saint Clair and graduated from Pottsville High School in 2019, having also attended Schuylkill Technology Center North, where he studied diesel technology.
He currently works as a rollback truck driver for a local garage, and for years has been a volunteer firefighter for Rescue Hook & Ladder Company in Saint Clair.
He joined the company as a teenager because he felt it was important for everyone to serve their community and help their neighbors, and that is also his motivation in running for council, he said.
Herndon said that he has a lot of respect for Saint Clair's current leaders, but said he thinks having a younger voice like himself join them would benefit the borough.
'It's something I've wanted to do for a long time,' he said of his run for office.
Herndon said that if elected, he would prioritize supporting small businesses in town, try to get more children involved in youth programs such as sports, work to attract more volunteers to Saint Clair's five fire companies, and attempt to bring natural gas service to the borough, which he feels could save residents money on their home heating bills.
He said that he hopes his efforts as a firefighter shows his commitment to the borough, and said that work has taught him a lot about the town.
'We're a tight-knit community, and I get to see how we pull together even during tough times,' he said of the fire calls he has responded to.
Herndon invited anyone with questions about his plans for the borough to reach out to him.
'I'm hoping people are willing to give a young guy a shot,' he said.
