Shenandoah swears in council members, appoints new member to replace ‘disqualified’ member
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Former Mayor Andrew Szczyglak shakes current Mayor Bob Cook's hand after the former mayor was sworn in as a council member on Jan. 5, 2026. At left is Tax Collector Donna Kulpowicz and at right is returning Councilwoman Diane Korenda.
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah’s old mayor is back on council, sworn in by the new mayor, and council voted to appoint a new councilman as concerns arose regarding an elected councilman’s eligibility.
Borough Council held their annual reorganization meeting Monday night at borough hall.
Incoming Mayor Bob Cook, who took his oath of office before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker earlier this month, administered the oath to ex-Mayor, now-councilman Andrew Szczyglak, returning councilwoman Diane Korenda, and tax collector Donna Kulpowicz.
Absent from the swearing-in ceremony were elected councilmen Michael Whitecavage and Adolph ‘Ace’ Wychulis.
The former took his oath before Kilker, too. Wychulis, however, did not take his seat.
“He is not qualified to serve and because of that disqualification from service, council under the law has the right to appoint somebody in that place,” Solicitor James Crossen said. “[Wychulis] cannot qualify and will not qualify anytime soon to serve on council.”
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Mayor Bob Cook, right, swears in Shenandoah Tax Collector Donna Kulpwowicz, Councilman Andrew Szczyglak, and Councilwoman Diane Korenda. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – From L-R: Tax Collector Donna Kulpowicz, Council Members Diane Korenda and Jacob Alinsky, Mayor Bob Cook, and Councilman Andrew Szczyglak.
He was the #4 vote-getter in November’s general election, earning a seat on council with 302 votes.
While neither Crossen or any member of council elaborated as to Wychulis’s disqualification, he had been jailed on felony charges in 2008, accused of controlled substance violations when he was a medical doctor.
The Pennsylvania Constitution bars anyone “convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury or other infamous crime” from holding public office.
Whether his crimes rose to the level of an “infamous crime” would have been up to a judge to decide, and rulings have varied.
A Northumberland County judge blocked Joe Leschinskie from taking a seat on Shamokin City Council in 2022 over a 2009 conviction on felony possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
However, a York County judge allowed Michael Helfrich to take a seat on York City Council in 2012 despite a 1991 conviction on drug-related felonies. Helfrich remained on council and later served as Mayor.
Regardless, borough council proceeded Monday with a vote to fill his seat, selecting Jacob Alinsky for the four-year term.
Alinsky was the #6 vote-getter in the eight candidate race, receiving 261 votes behind Michelle Gulden with 271 votes. Alinsky ran on the Republican ticket while Gulden was a Democrat.
Cook administered the oath of office to Alinsky and he took his seat as the meeting adjourned.
Alinsky also holds a seat on the Shenandoah Zoning Hearing Board, which he will have to resign to comply with the Municipalities Planning Code.
Council also re-elected Joe Boris to the post of President, Michael ‘Zeckie’ Uholik as Vice-President, and Andrew Szczyglak as President Pro-Tem.
Michael Cadau was re-appointed Borough Manager, while Crossen was reappointed as Solicitor.
Council also voted to fill a vacancy on the Shenandoah Municipal Sewer Authority board with Donna Gawrylik, wife of councilman Joe Gawrylik.
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