Gates For Commissioner

Gates For Commissioner Gates For Commissioner is the committee to elect Zachary Gates as Bradford County Commissioner.

Gates For Commissioner seeks to elect Zachary Gates as Bradford County Commissioner. Zachary is a loving husband of 16 years and a father to three school-age children, who wants to make the County a place for future generations to work, live and grow. And he's a proven civic leader and a Bradford County native, who feels a responsibility to put his skills to use for the good of his home area. We t

hink he's a very qualified candidate, and hope that you agree that he has a lot to offer. HIS KEY PRIORITIES ARE:
• GROWING OUR COUNTY’S POPULATION for more job opportunities, prosperous businesses, and sustainable vital services
• TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND HOUSING PROBLEMS for economic success and a strong workforce
• PROMOTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS of all citizens of Bradford County
• HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE TO FIND LOCAL SOLUTIONS, without waiting for Harrisburg or Washington
• EXPANDING VOLUNTEERISM AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT to keep community costs manageable

When he is Commissioner, you can expect from him the following things:
• Engagement with local, state and federal officials and private sector representatives, posing hard questions and demanding answers
• Willing and eager to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing the County, through every legal authority of the Commissioners’ office
• Bridging the gaps in our polarized political environment to find common-sense solutions
• Support for the needs of our Veterans and First Responders

Here's some more biographical information about Zachary:

EDUCATION
• Troy High School (1998, valedictorian)
• B.S., Chemistry, Penn State (2002)
• J.D., cm laude, Penn State – Dickinson School of Law (2005)

EXPERIENCE
• Served as county counsel for Bradford County Democrats in 2020 and 2022 elections, overseeing canvass and poll observers
• Attorney for over 17 years, licensed in four states and before the USPTO
• Operated own law firm in Troy since 2016
• Attorney for many local municipalities
• Worked closely with the Central Bradford Progress Authority on county-wide Internet project

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
• Past President, Troy Chamber of Commerce
• Board Member, Troy Lions Foundation
• Board Member, Troy Area School District Foundation
• Vice-President, PGSS Campaign, Inc.
• Committee, Scouts BSA Troops 4049 & 33G
• Cubmaster, Pack 30
• Coach, Troy Community Little League
• Advisor, Troy High Speech & Debate Team
• Faith Community United Methodist Church
• Harkness Cemetery Association, Secretary/Treasurer

INTERESTS
• Promoting a patriotic respect for our constitutional republic
• Penn State University
• Hunting and recreational shooting
• Harvesting seasonal berries and flora
• A good game of cards (500 or Hearts)

11/10/2023

Today’s Thought From The Commissioner-Elect: “Gratitude”

It has been approximately 48 hours since I learned of my election to serve as a Bradford County Commissioner. There are a number of people who deserve my sincere thanks for getting me to that place.

First, thank you to the people of Bradford County who cast a vote for me. A sizeable number of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and persons of other political affiliations banded together with the common goal of getting me into office. I hope to meet or reconnect with you soon, and your conversations with or comments to me during the campaign helped to shape my platform and strengthen my resolve to succeed. Your expressions of support were felt and appreciated. Because it wasn’t just the vote itself that mattered: your words of encouragement and excitement along the past ten months kept me going.

Second, thank you to the hard-working members of my campaign committee, Gates For Commissioner, the members of the Bradford County Democratic Committee, my campaign’s donors, and the many volunteers, who collectively helped out with organizing activities, planning outreach efforts, joining me for canvassing, directing me to various events, putting up signs, etc. In particular, I want to thank my campaign chair, Bob Hugg, who used his coaching acumen and life stories to provide direction when I needed it most. The core supporters of my candidacy, who were with me wire-to-wire, know who they are, and should be very proud of what they were able to achieve with me, a first-time candidate.

Third, thank you to Kim Pitcher. Kim and I were honored to be the Democratic nominees for Commissioner this year. As the campaign unfolded, I gained a friend in Kim. From days spent canvassing in Sayre, or phone calls at all hours of the day, Kim was a worthy companion who made me better (and I hope, I did for her as well). We were experiencing together in real time the unique task of running for Commissioner in Bradford County for the first time, without a clue of what we were “supposed” to be doing. Never sleep on Kim’s intelligence, humor, and commitment to the people of Bradford County! I am sure you have not heard the last of her.

Fourth, thank you to my other opponents in the race. I will not say it was always easy, but I think my experiences were informative and toughened me. To borrow from a line of cases from New Hampshire, I have taken some steps towards becoming “inured to the rough and tumble” of politics. I look forward to working with some of those former competitors to move forward together with the governance of Bradford County, starting in January 2024.

Finally, thank you to my family. Mom and Dad: Thanks for planting the seed years ago with ideas, books, and stories that shaped my vision and values. Laura, Lancer, and Melissa: Thanks for being siblings who, with your varying politics and joy for lively discussion, prepared me for hard conversations. Isaac, Adrienne, and Jesse: Thanks for being children on whom I could always rely for a hug or a word of optimism. And Sarah . . . Sarah . . . Sarah: The wedding ring you gave me has a special inscription from you to me – our life IS a gift, and I am grateful for your courage and belief in me, always and particularly in this past year. I hope you will be as proud of what the next stage of our life holds as you were to join me in marriage on Birch Island on a spectacular fall day 17 years ago.

I am grateful to be able to serve the people of Bradford County starting on January 2, 2024. Thank you for this opportunity. May God bless America, our Bradford County, and the men and women serving our country at home and abroad.

Polls are open until 8:00 p.m. Eastern tonight! Need inspiration to vote? Need inspiration to get your friends to the ...
11/07/2023

Polls are open until 8:00 p.m. Eastern tonight! Need inspiration to vote? Need inspiration to get your friends to the polls? Check out this beautiful image from Towanda Borough 3rd Ward's polling place!

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Eagles"Folks who know me well know I like the Eagles: the team, the band, the bird...
11/07/2023

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Eagles"

Folks who know me well know I like the Eagles: the team, the band, the bird. Yesterday, while visiting my parents in Springfield, I observed two bald eagles in a tree on their property. This symbol of our great country was a welcomed reminder of why I am running for Bradford County Commissioner: to further our republic's ideals without partisanship, to welcome people's voices in civic discussions, to expand the possibilities for ourselves and generations ahead of us.

I am not the perfect candidate, but I have more than a few attributes that will serve this county well. There's a reason why my favorite Philadelphia Eagle of all time was Randall Cunningham - a man of faith, a man of talent, often times called to make something out of nothing, bruised but never deterred, a leader relentless in his approach to every situation. I try to bring those same qualities to bear today. I owe nothing less to this county, which has been home to seven generations of the Gates family for 217 years.

As I have greeted voters this morning, I have thanked each of them for participating in this critical component of our governance. It is easy to complain when things don't happen the way that we want in our government. It is harder, but essential, to put forth the effort to vote. Yet, as the Eagles -- the band -- once said, "So often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains / and we never even know we have the key." As long as we participate in our great civic experiment that we call the United States of America, we will always hold the key to our future.

When we are in the sanctity and secrecy of the voting booth, no one can question our decisions -- no party, no candidate, no relative, can cast judgment. Please vote today, wherever you call home, and join me in being a good citizen. Spread those eagle's wings, Bradford County.

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Key Change”With the end of Daylight Saving Time and clocks winding back an hour, yo...
11/06/2023

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Key Change”

With the end of Daylight Saving Time and clocks winding back an hour, your Facebook feed may have been inundated with Cher-related memes based on her hit, “If I Could Turn Back Time.” What is it about that song that enthralls people? Aside from the song’s universally relatable title, I think it’s the key change. It’s the moment where Cher – a gifted, unrelenting, daring soul – kicks up the chorus a minor third and lets all her contralto power out for the last thirty seconds of the song. [While I haven’t had the chance to see Cher live in concert to experience that key change firsthand, I did see Bon Jovi perform “Livin’ On A Prayer” almost twenty years ago.] I can attest: the key change, as a concept, is a very real and powerful thing for folks waiting for it.

I think Bradford County’s residents by and large are waiting for the key change, too: the thing that will take the county from “good enough” to “better than ever,” the tonal shift that will drive up the energy level and bring out the best in what our county has to offer. If you’ve met me, I hope you’ve sensed the passion I have for this area, the belief I have in our capabilities, and my willingness to always seek improvement.

The election for county commissioner is taking place on Tuesday, November 7. I wouldn’t change anything about the campaign I’ve run over the past ten months. I’m pleased to have offered an issues-driven platform, and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to speak to so many residents of Bradford County and to hear their joys and concerns. I can’t turn back time, but with your support, I can be a part of the county’s future. Please get out to vote, and share this message with your friends so that they will vote, too.

Zachary spent the morning at the Bradford County Library's Open House event. Being there reminded him of many Saturdays...
11/04/2023

Zachary spent the morning at the Bradford County Library's Open House event. Being there reminded him of many Saturdays from his youth, with good friends, neat programming, and of course, BOOKS! Thanks to everyone who organized today's event, and to Steve Sliwinski (who explored his mural with a captivated audience).

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Diamonds And Rust”As a candidate, I drive a lot. A LOT. I glance to each side of ...
11/03/2023

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Diamonds And Rust”

As a candidate, I drive a lot. A LOT. I glance to each side of roads I know and roads strange to me. Without the cover of foliage, there is clarity in November. I sometimes see a bustling storefront or an active farm, alive with people. But, too often, I see a main street with multiple shuttered businesses, or fields and lawns overgrown with weeds. I catch myself wondering what happened to the Bradford County in which I grew up, the one I once knew.

There is a tendency in difficult times to yearn for the “better” days of old – or to convince yourself that the present time is good enough. That’s when we most need the clarity of a chilly November day, or the right song. “Diamonds and Rust”* is an apt reminder that we can’t get too starry-eyed, and instead should examine our lived experience with cool precision:

"Now you’re telling me you’re not nostalgic /
Then give me another word for it /
you who are so good with words and for keeping things vague /
I need some of that vagueness now, it’s all come back too clearly /
I loved you dearly /
But if you’re offering me diamonds and rust, I already paid. . . . /
I don’t want no more diamonds . . . and rust.”

Folks around Bradford County have openly described for me their personal diamonds and rust, what they like and what does not sit well with them about the county over the past few years. Like the photo below, the horizon ahead of them is blurry. I listen, and I learn. Throughout my campaign, I’ve strived not to offer the residents of Bradford County either vagueness or diamonds and rust. Through clearly outlined plans, my focus has been to keep the good things, yes, but also to recognize that local improvement is both possible and necessary if we are going to be competitive, prosperous, and considerate in the years ahead. I owe as much to the people I would serve, and that's what I'm offering.

*Please "like and share" if this post meant something to you. And if you need to hear a good rendition of the song I mentioned, the live Judas Priest cover of Joan Baez’s classic in my opinion captures, through Rob Halford’s haunting tenor, the conflict and sobering reality of recollection.

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Mr. Gestwicki and Mr. Strzelecki”We are now five days from the election on November...
11/02/2023

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “Mr. Gestwicki and Mr. Strzelecki”

We are now five days from the election on November 7. I’m thinking about two of my history teachers from Troy High, both of whom sadly are no longer with us: Ralph Gestwicki (American government) and Mark Strzelecki (world cultures).

Twenty-five years ago, Mr. Gestwicki let me borrow a book by Sam Keen entitled “Faces Of The Enemy: Reflections of the Hostile Imagination.” The book explored, among other themes, how some folks believe they must vilify their opponents, often through emotionally triggering propaganda, in order to mask their own discomfort. As Keen wrote, “So long as we can visit pain on another, we need not feel our own pain. Anger lifts depression. For a time, purging our rage on a scapegoat relieves us of the feeling.” That book’s lessons about the less principled parts of human nature have served as an important check for me all these years. It’s why I’m proud of running a campaign only based on issues, driven by my vision and values.

Recognizing the problem doesn’t insulate one from it, of course. In modern politics, it may feel at times like there is not fairness. And for those instances, I’m reminded of what Mr. Strzelecki used to say to those of us from the Troy area whenever we were disappointed: “Fair comes to town once a year.” Of course it would not be a fair fight – no meaningful endeavor ever is. I’m grateful to be able to use my campaign experience as a lesson for my children.

I’ve been asked recently what people can do for me. I say this: Vote with purpose, and get your friends to vote, too. There is no greater tribute to Mr. Gestwicki and Mr. Strzelecki that I can offer, than to be a catalyst for people to exercise their right to vote.

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “On Air”You may start hearing my campaign’s radio spots on WHGL, The Oldies, WAVR, ...
11/01/2023

Today’s Thought From The Candidate: “On Air”

You may start hearing my campaign’s radio spots on WHGL, The Oldies, WAVR, and The Bridge. Some of those stations I’ve listened to since I was a child hearing them in Springfield through an old transistor radio my Uncle Leslie gave me. This morning, I also sat down with Shane Wilber and Kristie Dibble at WHGL for an interview. I was pleased to have the chance to spread my message of optimism and readiness to all corners of Bradford County.

Radio, like newspapers, is still a critical means of communication for my neighbors. It informs us of community events, advertises our businesses, warns us of weather or traffic dangers, lifts us up on a bad day with just the right song or message. As I sat in the studio, I was reminded of this line from Queen’s homage to the medium, “Radio Ga Ga”: “So don't become some background noise / A backdrop for the girls and boys / Who just don't know, or just don't care / And just complain when you're not there.”

I think this observation also encapsulates my feelings about elected officials and the people they serve: Voters know and care, and they want their public servants to be present in the struggles and opportunities they face, not just “some background noise.” Because like the song also says, Bradford County had its time and had its power – but it’s yet to have its finest hour. It deserves leaders who feel that way, too, and are willing to make the investment of time and resources to see that future happen.

Please do everything you can to vote in the November 7 election, and share with your friends that Bradford County’s finest hour is yet to come.

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Halloween Parade"It's the season for Halloween parades. This Thursday, I attended ...
10/28/2023

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Halloween Parade"

It's the season for Halloween parades. This Thursday, I attended the Burlington parade. Today, I'll be in three parades: the Valley, Canton, and Towanda! On Halloween, I will be at the Troy parade.

Sarah, Isaac, Adrienne, and Jesse are in the spirit with fun costumes, and we have LOADS of candy bags to share. Please tell your friends to look out for us around the area today.

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "With Everything"As we close in on the November 7 election, I have made sure to visi...
10/24/2023

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "With Everything"

As we close in on the November 7 election, I have made sure to visit local businesses in between meeting voters and putting up signs. Today's mid-day stop for me was at American Sandwich Co. in Wyalusing. The cheesesteak - loaded with onions, peppers, and mushrooms -- was the best I've had since my summer internship in Philadelphia 20 years ago. Kudos to Matt Kennedy and his staff for making me feel at home with delicious food and good conversation.

The abundantly dressed cheesesteak (shown below), with everything on it, reminded me that people rightfully expect a lot of qualities in their elected officials: approachable, but serious; knowledgeable, but inquisitive and eager to learn; confident, but humble; professional, but transparent; lawful, yet willing to look for new ways to solve problems; principled, yet able to build consensus among differing groups. Like rustling up amazing cheesesteaks, finding a good political candidate can be difficult. But when you find one ... you want to tell your friends.

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Beauty"Before heading out to visit voters in Towanda this afternoon, I gave a frien...
10/22/2023

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Beauty"

Before heading out to visit voters in Towanda this afternoon, I gave a friend a ride to church in Big Pond. On the way back through Springfield, I came across these eight beauties. I love fall in Bradford County.

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Get Out The Vote"Please spread the word about the October 23, 2023 deadline for pe...
10/20/2023

Today's Thought From The Candidate: "Get Out The Vote"

Please spread the word about the October 23, 2023 deadline for people to register to vote before the November 7, 2023 election. THAT'S THIS MONDAY! I sincerely want as many people as possible to vote this election, and every election, in whatever lawful way they can.

And also don't forget that there's another upcoming deadline, for qualified voters to request a mail-in ballot: that's October 31, 2023. Remember, I have CONSISTENTLY supported our Commonwealth's regulated and trustworthy mail-in voting process, because I know it's an important way for more senior citizens, persons with severe illnesses or disabilities, and working adults to easily participate in the important oversight of our republic.

So get out the vote! I am grateful for the many people who are eager for me to be elected -- I'm excited, too, but it all starts with people voting! Please find ten of your friends, and come up with an election day plan (more on that in a future post). I have said since the earliest days of my campaign that the will of the voters is paramount. I look forward to seeing the results on November 7.

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122 Elmira Street
Troy, PA
16947

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