Stover seeks re-election as Clinton County Sheriff

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County Sheriff Kerry W. Stover has announced that he is seeking the Democrat nomination for re-election in the May 2023 primary election.

“I am running for re-election as Clinton County Sheriff so I can continue to put my experience to work serving and protecting the residents of Clinton County. I have always liked to help others and have done so my entire adult life, first as an active firefighter for more than 30 years and at one time as an EMT for almost 10 years. Now as the Sheriff, there are even more opportunities for me to help others which is one reason why I love coming to work every day. Under my leadership the sheriff’s office has continued to improve its public service. I look forward to doing more in the future to benefit and help the citizens of Clinton County,” said Stover.

For the past eight years Sheriff Stover has implemented many changes to help improve security throughout various county buildings including the Courthouse, Piper building, Garden building, the Mellott building, and the three Magisterial District Judges’ offices. In 2018, when the sheriff’s office was moved from the Courthouse basement to the first floor, Stover designed their new office space to provide better public access.

He has written grants himself and also collaborated with other agencies in Clinton County to obtain equipment at no expense to the county or tax payers. Key grants received include approximately $17,000 for Tasers, $24,000 for Body Worn Cameras for deputies, $18,000 for Incar Cameras plus a new gun safe was donated to them by a local community organization to safely store the office long guns.

Gun safety is one of Sheriff Stover’s primary concerns, so much so that he developed and presents beginner handgun training for new shooters to teach them the basics of the safe handling, storing, carrying, and shooting of handguns. These activities are carried out with the help of many other active or retired law enforcement personnel who volunteer their time to help Sheriff Stover. The class also offers one-on-one range time with an instructor and briefly talks about legal information concerning gun use. At concealed carry seminars, Stover speaks about handgun safety and explains the process for obtaining a concealed carry license.

He is a frequent speaker at Leadership Clinton County, Kiwanis, local churches, and an instructor at U.S. Representative G. T. Thompson’s annual Top Shot event, and State Representative Stephanie Borowicz’s seminars.

“Approximately two years ago the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office implemented an Online Concealed Carry Application Process which allows applicants to apply and pay online with a credit card to purchase their license to carry concealed. This makes it so convenient for people to apply at home and then stop by the sheriff’s office at their convenience for about three minutes to complete the process by providing an ID, posing for a photo, and providing a signature,” said Stover.

In 2022, Sheriff Stover and District Attorney Dave Strouse hosted the first ever Clinton County Night Out to provide educational information, demonstrations, and encourage positive interactions between youth and their parents, law enforcement agencies, fire fighters, and first responders. The popular event will be held again on August 19, 2023.

A member of the PA Sheriff’s Association (PSA), Stover serves as a Trustee and is on the PACT committee. He attends annual PSA conferences to network and build relationships with other sheriff’s offices and to learn about new products and laws.

Born and raised in Flemington, Stover graduated from Lock Haven High School in 1988. He and his wife Vicki live in Flemington, have been married for 27 years and are the parents of two adult children, Hunter and Kara Stover, and are blessed with one granddaughter.

Stover is a life member of Goodwill Hose Company in Flemington. He is also a member of the Hand-in-Hand Hose Company in Lock Haven, the LaFayette Lodge # 199 of Lock Haven, the Lock Haven Moose, and Lock Haven Bowling Association and attends the Flemington First Church of Christ.