2019 Primary election: Startzel campaigns for seat on Tamaqua Area School Board

Justin Startzel, 29, of Tamaqua, has announced his candidacy for the Tamaqua Area School Board of Directors.

A 2009 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, Startzel has been an active member of the community since volunteering at Tamaqua’s South Ward Playground in his early teens. During high school, he served as a junior member of Tamaqua Borough Council, then ran a successful campaign for an elected seat on council, taking office in 2012. He spent the next two years working at improving his hometown, but resigned after two years due to his new commitment to the Pennsylvania National Guard. He is still a member of the guard, serving with the 109th Alpha Battery based in Plymouth at the rank of E-4/corporal.

If elected, Startzel will focus on efforts to reduce/eliminate bullying, improve school safety, build a solid relationship with administrators and educators, work toward the elimination of property taxes, fight the opioid crisis and re-establish school libraries and music/arts programs.

“Students shouldn’t feel afraid to go to school. I was bullied in my younger years of high school, and this topic is very important to me. I want to make sure our administration and faculty are doing more than enough to make sure students know they can entrust us to do the right thing.

“I will make sure I educate myself to the very best, listen and communicate to come to a common ground on every issue.

“I want to build a solid relationship with our educators, who find themselves serving as counselors and parent figures. They must have the essentials to make sure no child is left behind, but also know they themselves are not overwhelmed and have the support they need to continue giving the best education possible.”

His love for his alma mater has led to the creation of the Tamaqua Football page on Facebook, where he livestreams many of the district’s sporting events.

“I love Tamaqua. I have a lot of pride. I bleed blue and white. I want to bring that energy to our district and make sure every student is represented.”