Former supervisor running for Berks controller
It’s impossible to fully replace Sandy Graffius, that much Joe Rudderow is sure of.
She has served as Berks County’s controller for the past two decades, becoming a wealth of knowledge and experience. She’s seen it all, she’s done it all, she knows it all.
But when 2023 comes to an end, so will Graffius’ tenure. The 86-year-old has decided not to run for reelection.
Rudderow knows that whoever follows her, whoever takes over her role as controller, will have impossibly large shoes to fill. And he believes he is uniquely qualified to give it a shot.
“I want to continue the great work Sandy has done over the last 20 years and give me an opportunity to continue to help county government be more efficient,” he said.
Rudderow, a Maidencreek Township Republican, has officially announced that he will be running for the office of county controller. He is the first candidate from either party to throw his hat into the ring for the race.
Rudderow said he thinks his experience as the owner of a hardware store and previous position as a township supervisor make him a perfect fit for the office.
“I have been very involved in my local community, having served on the board of supervisors in Maidencreek Township and on a number of committees at the county level,” he said. “And I would like to bring that local government experience and my background as a small business owner to the position of county controller.”
Rudderow said the controller is the financial watchdog of the county, which is
an appealing post for him because he has made fiscal responsibility the top priority in the previous positions he has held.
“I have always been very careful and wise in recognizing that the government is spending taxpayer money,” he said. “Being the controller will allow me to continue that work on an even bigger level.”
The primary is May 16.