Commissioner Jack McKernan has officially announced that he is seeking a second term of service on the Board of Lycoming County Commissioners. In his announcement, he emphasized his commitment to improving the financial stability of the county, addressing long-standing problems such as the river levee, the White Deer Golf Course, and regional solutions for EMS, Volunteer Fire, and EMT service. As chairman of the board, McKernan states, “During my term, this team of Commissioners has earned a reputation of being one of the most active boards in the last twenty years.”

Active is a good word to apply to Commissioner McKernan himself. He has worked hard at learning while serving these past four years, participating in training programs ultimately resulting in the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Academy of Excellence certificate. At the same time, he has also served on the CCAP’s Energy, Environmental and Land Use Committee as well as the National Association of County Commissioners Health Advisory committee.

Locally, Jack McKernan has represented Lycoming County on the STEP Board of Directors, STEP Aging Committee, and the multi-county development agency SEDA-Council of Governments. He also takes pleasure in presiding over many Eagle Scout Ceremonies and involvement in the Flag Day and Veterans Day parades these past four years.

It has been quite a transition for the Loyalsock business owner. A Williamsport native, he graduated from Williamsport High School in 1976 and earned a degree in accounting from St. Bonaventure University in Allegheny, New York. At that point, Jack had a number of options, but made the decision to come back to the Williamsport area and work in the family business, the Williamsport Moving and Storage Co., which he still continues with today.

Young Jack threw himself into the job and in addition, got fully involved in the Williamsport Jaycees. There he gained valuable leadership training and also discovered the benefits of taking risks to move an organization forward. But perhaps one of the best lessons he received was the values of the Jaycees, articulated in the creed which concludes with the statement, “service to humanity is the best work of life.”

Through those formative years, Jack McKernan continued to work in the moving and storage business, but also served on the Williamsport Zoning Hearing Board and on the Williamsport YMCA’S board of directors. In addition, he served on committees and boards of several nonprofit organizations, such as United Way and the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.

Then, in 2010, something just clicked. His involvement in the county caused him to be concerned about how county government monies were being spent. As his concerns grew, and after attending several public comment forums to discuss the county’s budget in 2015, he decided to throw his hat in the ring. He not only won election to the board of County Commissioners in 2016, but he was also the leading vote-getter.

Like every first-term elected official who has ever lived, Jack McKernan learned that being on the inside is a whole lot more difficult than critiquing from the outside. Serving as chairman of the board has added additional stress, as the meetings have sometimes resembled an angry roller derby. But despite the drama, McKernan wants to finish what he has started, and the recent EIP study (see the County Hall Corner on the same) shows that there is still much work that needs to be done.

So, his hat is in the ring for another term, and in this turbulent election year, winning another term might be as difficult as untying a double-knot of wet rawhide. Fortunately for Jack, he has a good home team behind him; his wife of 31 years, Phyllis (Deitrick) and two daughters, Erin (Ryan) and Megan. Oh, for extra measure, Jack also has in his corner the family dog, Josie. Josie understands what Jack is going through — Josie knows what it is to work like a dog.