Incumbent Dems announce re-election bid

As expected, Cambria County’s two incumbent Democratic commissioners are running for re-election in a campaign that will stress their commitment to continuing fiscal stability.

President Commissioner P. J. Stevens and Milan Gjurich made the official announcement at a breakfast rally Saturday at Holy Name Church hall. Nearly 400 supporters, friends and family members attended.

Stevens, 58, of the 700 block of West Highland Avenue, Ebensburg, and Gjurich, 66, of the 100 block of Fairview Drive, Cresson Township, teamed up four years ago in their first bid for the commissioners’ office.

Gjurich is a retired school superintendent. Stevens, a Carrolltown businessman, previously served as Cambria County’s controller for four years.

“Four years ago, we made a commitment to put the interest of the people ahead of political ambitions in order to establish fiscal stability,” Stevens said in prepared remarks. “We have honored that commitment.”

He did not go into a litany of accomplishments but instead warned that more fiscal challenges lie ahead.

The county must develop revenue sources and implement greater efficiencies to lower operating costs, while also continuing to seek meaningful tax reform in Pennsylvania, Stevens said.

Gjurich said the commissioners increasingly must focus on which programs actually deliver services instead of on what resources the county spends.

“Productivity within budgetary constraints is and will be our highest goal,” he said.

So far, no other Democrats have announced that they will run for the party’s nomination in the May 15 primary election.

Cambria County Commissioner Bill Harris also is expected to announce his candidacy for re-election at a breakfast scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Feb. 12 at Johnstown’s Pasquerilla Conference Center.

Harris, a Republican, is a former Richland Township supervisor and owns and operates a funeral business in the township. He is serving his first term as a county commissioner.