(Editor’s note: Recently, The Daily Herald sent out letters to individuals listed in our coverage area who have filed for candidacy in the May 15 primary election. Individuals were asked to send back the information so that the Herald could spotlight each candidate to the public. The Daily Herald compiled the information on the candidates and is currently running the spotlight articles to provide complete coverage of the election to our readers. It should be noted that if a candidate did not provide information to the Herald, then no information will be printed about them for the upcoming election.)
The lengthy list of candidates for Blair County Commissioner includes Thomas Morgan of Altoona.
Morgan stated that if elected he would work with all agencies to improve the financial status of the County. He would also like to work with all types of businesses to locate to Blair County. He said this should improve the property tax issue since this should bring more population to Blair County. Morgan said he would also like to work toward generating other new income for the county.
Morgan stated that he is against property tax reassessment. He would like to work toward a system of reassessing property values as they change ownership and adjust values based on building permits on improvements.
Morgan graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1967 and attended Penn State Altoona. He had served in the United States Navy. He was employed by the Penn Central Railroad from 1969 to 1976, Conrail from 1976 to 2000, and Norfolk Southern, retiring in 2001. He now owns his own business, a service escorting oversized loads on the highways from 2002 to the present.
Morgan and his wife Susan have seven children and 14 grandchildren. They are members of Altoona First Church of the Brethren, where he serves as an usher and previously served as a trustee.
He has served in many organizations. He is currently a member of the Blair County Game and Fish Forestry Association, Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company, Allied Fireman’s Association of Blair County, Central District Volunteer Fireman’s Association, Blair County Fire Police, Jaffa Motor Corps, Jaffa Roadrunners, Jaffa Cruisers Motorcycle Club, Jaffa Campers Club, and Altoona Shrine Club.
“Based on many years of community service in different fields on local, county, and Central PA levels plus a strong financial background, I feel I have the necessary experience to tackle the position as well as the desire to see the county government become more progressively active,” Morgan said.
Morgan will be running on the Republican ballot.
