Join the Democratic Movement for Local Change

City and Borough mayors serve four-year terms.  The mayor of a borough has relatively few powers but has responsibility for issues regarding public safety and the police department.

City/Borough Council members are elected during municipal elections and serve four-year terms.  Municipal councils usually consist of five or seven members.  Council is the legislative body of the municipality and has broad powers within the borough or city code.  Council members deal with analyzing budgets, planning and zoning issues, health and safety regulations, and many other matters affecting citizens.

Board of three or five members that serves both the executive and legislative functions of a township of the second class.  Members are elected township-wide in staggered years for six year terms.  

Second-class townships elect a three-member board of auditors, whose function is to set the annual pay and benefits of those supervisors who are employed by the township.  This is typically a one day a year job.  They are elected on a township-wide basis in staggered years for six year terms.  The function of auditing township financial records is generally undertaken today by professional auditors.  

Boroughs and second-class townships have elected tax collectors, elected on a municipal-wide basis for a term of four years.  Their function is to distribute tax billings and collect taxes for the municipality, school district, and county as determined by each governmental entity.

Nine school directors are elected in each School District for a term of four years.  Four members are elected in a municipal election with the remaining five elected in the next municipal election two years later.  School Boards make all major decisions concerning activities in their district in accordance with Commonwealth regulations.  This includes items such as fixing the length of the school term, approving textbooks, employing teachers and administrators, levying taxes and adopting budgets, buying and selling land, entering into contracts, etc.

One Judge of Elections is elected in each voting precinct for a term of four years.  During primary and general elections, they oversee the fair administration of the election process in their precinct.

Two Inspectors of Elections, a majority and a minority inspector, are elected in each voting precinct in a Municipal Primary Election for a term of four years.  one is a Republican and one is a Democrat.  During primary and general elections, they assist in the fair administration of the election process in their precinct.