SV board member running for Scialabba’s seat
Mark Gartner was just elected to Seneca Valley’s school board on a campaign emphasizing his ties to the community, one he thinks could help him become a state representative too.
“I’m the guy you see out on the ballfield with my kids. I’m your neighbor,” Gartner said in a Wednesday, Feb. 18 interview. “I don’t want to enrich myself. I would have to leave the career that I love in order to to serve. It’s critically important to have someone embedded in community like I have been. I’m passionate about the community, the residents.”
Gartner is one of four candidates so far entering the Republican primary to replace state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba as representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th House district. Scialabba announced Monday she is not running for a third term in office.
Gartner said he thought Scialabba was doing a fine job, agreeing with her “on the issues,” and planned on voting for her. He did not originally anticipate on running, having just been elected to school board and “still excited to do that work.”
When he heard the news, he went home and talked to wife, prayed a little bit, and decided to pursue an opportunity that may not present itself again.
He is currently gathering the nomination petition signatures required from registered voters in the district to appear on the May 19 primary ballot.
Gartner represents Region 9 of the school board, which includes Callery and Harmony boroughs and Jackson Township. Originally from eastern and central Pennsylvania, he lived in Cranberry Township from 2002 until 2020, when his family moved to Jackson Township.
When he ran for school board, he said he was running as a Republican because he believes “in limited government and personal responsibility — values that guide my commitment to making practical, community-focused decisions for our schools.”
“I’ve raised my two boys here — one’s a junior in college now, the other’s a junior in high school — taught in public school for more than 20 years, coached teams, and run a small business,” Gartner said in a news release. “I’m running because I share the conservative values most of us hold: keeping taxes low, supporting strong families, defending personal freedom and applying common sense to government.”
Gartner served on active duty in the U.S. Army with the 25th Infantry Division and later as an infantry squad leader in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He was deployed to Kosovo for nine years.
Since then, he has been a health and physical education teacher and department chair at Hampton Township School District for over two decades.
“I’ve been service oriented, all the way back to my military career,” Gartner said. “I think I’m a rational guy. I have a steady and calm demeanor. I’m not one to go out there and lob and hurl insults. I’m a guy that likes conversations.”
Gartner said in a news release that if elected to the state House, he would especially focus on veterans’ affairs, including getting better health care, jobs and support for those who served. He would also focus on “responsible development that benefits local families” and fixing roads and infrastructure without wasting taxpayer dollars.
In an interview, he expressed concern over “excessive taxation” in Pennsylvania and wanting to ease financial burden on local communities.
Gartner also pointed to growth and development in municipalities he would represent that “need to be managed appropriately.” In his current role, he sits on a school board that has its eye on expected population growth and new housing developments within the district.
“I believe that in that position, working with local municipalities in managing that growth, and doing it in a way that’s respectful to current residents, it’s important,” Gartner said. “Especially with these places that are experiencing groundswells of new development.”
So far, the other Republican candidates are Scott Timko and Ethan Nicholas, both of Cranberry Township. Brandon Dukes, a Cranberry Democrat, is also running for the seat.
The 12th district includes Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships; plus Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople boroughs.
