New mayor sworn in
Lifelong resident Jim Schlegel takes the helm as Kutztown mayor
Jim Schlegel, life-long resident of Kutztown, has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Kutztown.
The Honorable Judge Gail Greth conducted the swearing in ceremony during Kutztown Borough Council’s Reorganization meeting on Jan. 2.
Schlegel ran uncontested on both Democratic and Republican ballots in the Nov. 7, 2017 general election and was elected Mayor. His term starts January 2018.
“I feel great. I grew up here,” Schlegel said. “When I was a young boy, I often use to think, ‘I would like to be Mayor of Kutztown someday.’”
Schlegel served on Borough Council for the past 10 years. The late Mac Eidle, former council president, was one of his mentors. Since officially retiring from full-time work, Schlegel decided to run for Mayor in the 2017 election.
“Kutztown is my town. I grew up here. I graduated high school here,” he said.
Some of his goals as the new Mayor of Kutztown is “One, to keep Kutztown a great place to live in and visit.”
Schlegel also wants to recognize all the different local organizations that are proactive in serving the citizens of Kutztown, such as the Lions Club, Optimist Club, Rotary Club, Woman’s Club, and Kutztown Day Committee, to name a few.
“Keep Kutztown a safe place to live by working with the po-
lice, KUBoK (Kutztown University Borough of Kutztown neighborhood watch) and Kutztown Strong,” he said.
Schlegel also plans to work with Kutztown Community Partnership and the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce to encourage business growth in Kutztown.
Other goals include to “maintain a great relationship with Kutztown University,” and “improve the relationships with our neighboring municipalities.”
Schlegel said he wants to see Kutztown continue to be a good little town.
“That’s my main goal. Keep it a good destination, a good place to come to, good place to visit to go to the shops and always feel good when you leave this town.”
Schlegel is an Army veteran and a cancer survivor. He and his wife, Merry, reside in Kutztown. They have two grown sons, Dan and Andy Schlegel.