CLEARFIELD – Republican Bill Rishel of Curwensville is announcing his candidacy for Clearfield County Commissioner.
Rishel’s father Robert “Bob” Rishel Sr. owned the Texaco service station on Turnpike Avenue and was in the coal and retail business in Clearfield County for many years. Rishel was born and raised in Clearfield County and is the youngest of four sisters and two brothers. He attended Clearfield Area Schools and graduated in 1962.
From the mid-’60s to early ’80s, he maintained a career in management, working for some of the largest automobile dealers in and around the Washington, D.C., area. He completed many Dale Carnegie classes and attended numerous seminars on business management and public speaking. Rishel said the training provided him with the education and experience necessary to own and successfully operate three businesses.
He acquired his first business in 1982, the second in 1991 and the third business in 1997.
Rishel now lives in Curwensville and said he has a passion for helping the communities in Clearfield County grow and prosper.
He is involved in several Clearfield County civic activities including acting as event liaison and now is the assistant to the executive director of the Clearfield Chamber of Commerce. Rishel said he as insight on the needs of Clearfield County businesses and residents.
Rishel said that as full-time county commissioner, he will work with all 51 municipalities to help them grow stronger and help secure the financial opportunities that are offered by the state and federal government. He said that because Clearfield County is centrally located in Pennsylvania with easy access to rail and interstate highways, Clearfield County provides opportunities for many industries.
He said a Clearfield County Commissioner must provide leadership for meaningful economic development to occur, and as a full-time commissioner, he will provide the effective leadership that is necessary to positively lead Clearfield County into the future. Rishel said his business experience will provide the financial understanding and the importance of having and implementing a strategic financial plan. He said that as commissioner, he will work to put Clearfield County at the forfront and will aggressively market the county’s business resoures and help build a strong community infrastructure.
Rishel added, “The young people will shape our destiny and having community colleges to provide our high school graduates a continuing education as a positive point to attract industry to Clearfield County.”