Barron “Boots” Hetherington was appointed the next Schuylkill County Commissioner Tuesday. He’ll replace and fill the unexpired term of Frank Staudenmeier, who passed away earlier this year while on vacation in Florida.
Hetherington was selected by the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas judges.
Here’s a look at the order signed on Tuesday:
Staudenmeier was elected to another 4-year term just back in November, so Hetherington’s term lasts until January 2024.
Boots Hetherington Named Schuylkill County Commissioner to Replace Late Frank Staudenmeier
The county judges extended the deadline for applications for Schuylkill County Commissioner due to the coronavirus pandemic. The previous deadline had been April 1 but was pushed back to April 6.
Common Pleas judges William Baldwin, Cyrus Dolbin, Jacqueline Russell, Charles Miller, and James Goodman convened to appoint Hetherington.
When reached for comment, Schuylkill County GOP chairman Dan Daub told The Canary, “I am very happy for Boots. He has been a solid and longtime loyal Republican who has done much for his community, his profession and our county and state. I am confident he will make an excellent Commissioner and wish him the very best!”
Many people likely know Hetherington as owner, along with his family, of B&R Farms just outside Ringtown. The pick-your-own strawberry patch in the Spring is likely the most popular of its kind in Schuylkill County.
Previously, back in 2007, Hetherington, a Republican, made an unsuccessful run for Schuylkill County Register of Wills. However, he’d go on to serve as a special advisor to then-Gov. Tom Corbett and also served on the Penn State University Board of Trustees. Hetherington’s also been a vocal advocate for farmers and rural communities in Pennsylvania.
When he graduated from Penn State back in 1975, Hetherington took a job with Procter & Gamble. He worked with them for six years before deciding to become a full-time farmer. B&R Farms operates about 400 acres in the Ringtown Valley and in addition to strawberries, also grows grains, fruits and vegetables, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association.
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