ELECTION 2025: Hazleton voters approve government study commission
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Hazleton City Hall is seen on May 21, 2021.
HAZLETON – Voters in the City of Hazleton approved a ballot measure that could see the city change its form of government.
In a referendum, voters approved the creation of a government study commission by a nearly two-to-one vote, with 944 yes votes and 497 no votes.
The government study commission will be tasked with evaluating the city’s form of government and decide if moving to an optional city plan or to a home rule charter are appropriate. If the latter, the commission will develop the charter.
Mahanoy City borough underwent the process a few years ago, and Hazleton previously did in the 1980’s, leading to the adoption of an optional city plan.
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Voters also selected the seven members of the commission.
Hazleton City Human Resources Director Allison Keegan was the top vote-getter with 869, followed by Mayor Jeff Cusat and ex-Mayor Joe Yannuzzi with 823 apiece.
City Councilman Tommy Bruno, City Economic Development Director Joseph C. Zeller, Hazleton Integration Project Executive Director Rossanna Gabriel, and Phil Bonafair, a retiree and longtime Hazleton resident, round out the seven top votegetters.
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