Rick Conklin Announces for Lock Haven Mayor

LOCK HAVEN – Longtime Lock Haven city council member Rick Conklin has released his candidacy announcement:

“Councilman Richard ‘Rick’ Conklin has officially announced his plan to enter the race for mayor of the city of Lock Haven. He has served on City council for nearly 12 years having been appointed to that seat in June of 2007. Prior to that time he served on the city planning commission.

“While on council he holds seats on the City Employees Retirement Board, the Clinton County Sewer Authority, the Clinton County Economic Partnership, the Police Pension Fund Board, Veterans Park Committee, the Summer Concert Series Committee, and Chairs the Historic District Advisory Committee.

“Over the years Rick has volunteered in several capacities with the Boy Scouts of America, and was a founding member of the Clinton County Running Club. He has been heavily active for many years in the United Methodist Church. Locally at his home church, Faith Lock Haven, he held multiple offices including the co-chairman of the building committee for the worship center, and, for many years, the Administrative Council Chairman. He also held both district and conference offices with the Susquehanna Conference of the UMC and presently serves on the Pension and Benefits Board chairing the policy committee.

“Professionally he worked at Lock Haven Hospital for 44 years retiring in June of 2017. While there he spent 36 years as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, and also held the positions of Director of Radiology, Administrative Assistant in Case Management, and Director of Patient Access. While in semi-retirement he is under appointment by the Bishop of the Susquehanna Conference of the UMC and serves as a Licensed Local Pastor for the Flemington, Lamar, and Mill Hall United Methodist Churches. Recently he began volunteering in the rotation as a chaplain at UPMC Lock Haven Hospital.

“Rick has lived in Lock Haven for 21 years and resides in the city historic district. He is married to Jacqui and has three daughters, two granddaughters, two grandsons, a great-grandson, and a great granddaughter.

“Rick is a registered Republican and his personal comments follow: ‘I love the city of Lock Haven. It is a remarkable community with a great history and some of the friendliest people anywhere. As a child I would walk to Lock Haven’s downtown on Saturdays from my home in Castanea. I would shop in a number of stores, all of which are now gone. I never imagined I would be blessed to live in this city, let alone serve on council.

“The word serve is important in that description. City Council, and government at every level, is here to serve the people and act in the best interest of every individual regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or any of those other issues that seem to divide us these days. None of us in elected office have done anything by ourselves. Everything we accomplish, while we hold these offices you have entrusted to us, is done with cooperation, collaboration, and negotiation. My goal going forward in service is to focus on projects that improve the presentation and appearance of this city, and, most importantly, improve the quality of life for every resident.’”