Arnold Won’t Seek Re-Election for Commissioner in 2023

Submitted Article

As 2023 begins to ramp up, it’s fast approaching the time of year that candidates will begin to circulate petitions, in hopes of being elected to serve the residents of their county. After much thought and consideration I, Elizabeth M. Arnold, have decided to not seek re-election for the position of Susquehanna County Commissioner.

It has been a privilege, and a true honor to represent this county for the last seven years. In my first term as Vice-chair, and these past three years as Chairwomen of the board. While it hasn’t always been the smoothest seven years, it has definitely been productive. In spite of a global pandemic that shut down our world and changed life as we knew it forever, we came together as a county and persevered.

With the dedication of our employees we kept our county government running as smoothly as possible. We helped our small businesses, as well as our volunteer fire companies with financial support and empathy. We took to the radio, WPEL, and social media to bring public service announcements, and held conversations about mental health, suicide, and substance abuse, with the professionals that work in these fields, and with the public. After almost two long years, with everyone working together, we navigated our way through that most challenging time in history.

On a brighter note, we built an incredible new public safety building. A building that not only houses our 911 and EMA, but where trainings and meetings can be held. We upgraded and built some badly needed 911 towers. The latest is in Auburn township. We worked at bringing more awareness to suicide prevention, and substance abuse with our billboard campaign, and by bringing in professionals to speak at our public schools.

We have had many conversations and meetings on broadband, and economic development and have begun to see movement in these areas. We managed to keep taxes from being raised again this year, and the wheels on the bus!

A lot of good things are happening in our beautiful county. I always say; “there are small groups of highly motivated individuals that make things happen, throughout our county!” We have some new businesses popping up, and we are anticipating a new recreation center in Gibson that will serve people of all ages.

I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to be a part of these conversations, and help make some of these decisions. It has always been my goal to see our county moving forward in a positive direction. I wish all the best to our new board of commissioners that will be voted into office this year. I pray they will be fiscally responsible and keep us moving forward, and I am sure they will.

During my time in office, I have represented our county at the yearly CCAP conferences, and served on the CCAP Agriculture Committee and the Community and Economic Development Committee.

I also participated and graduated from the CCAP Center for Excellence in County Leadership, and the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government.

Here in the county, it has been a privilege to serve on the Penn State Extension Advisory Board, the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, the Conservation District Board of Directors, the TREHAB board, the Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission, the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. and the Susquehanna County Tick Borne Diseases Task Force.

I have participated in the Susquehanna Co. Recovery Alliance and the Susquehanna Co. Suicide Awareness Initiative. Also, the newly formed group known as “Stop the Stigma.” I am very proud to have been a part of these groups, and of the work we have accomplished. I am also grateful to all the dedicated people that have given their time and energy, to these very important causes.

It has been a pleasure to meet so many terrific people and build new relationships. I have become a member of Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Landowners Association (POGLA), the Union Grange and Pennsylvania State Grange, and the National Federation of Independent Business(NFIB) since taking office.

One of the biggest highlights over the last seven years was being invited to the White House by former President Donald J. Trump. All of the county commissioners from Pennsylvania were the first to be invited to meet with his administration and it was an honor to attend and represent our county.

I’d like to thank those of you that voted for, and put your faith in me. Being elected as your commissioner has truly been the most humbling experience of my life. So thank you for this incredible opportunity.

I look forward to continuing to work for the residents of this county throughout the rest of this year, and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish!

If anyone would like to run for public office you can contact our county election office at 570.278.6697.

Thank you again, and may God bless Susquehanna County, and may God bless the United States of America!