By Amanda O’Rourke
FREEBURG — Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk will make an announcement at 7 tonight at the Freeburg Community Center concerning his decision on running for the 10th Congressional seat held by Democrat Chris Carney, of Dimock.
Although the Facebook page “Derk 2010 for Congress” gave no definitive indication what the announcement will be, a recently posted photo on the page was a campaign sign that read “Derk for Congress” with the Web site www.derkforcongress.com.
A visit to the site was diverted to Derk’s personal Web site, www.malcolmderk.com.
In an open letter to supporters that was posted on “Derk 2010 for Congress” on Thursday, Derk said: “I have been seriously considering a decision to seek the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. I have traveled across northeastern and central Pennsylvania, and everywhere I go, I continue to hear the same message: We need responsible, conservative leadership in Washington, D.C. I hope you will join me for an announcement regarding my candidacy for Congress.”
The 10th District includes all of Montour, Northumberland, Union and Snyder counties and all or portions of Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Wayne Pike and Wyoming counties.
Derk would not disclose his plans Sunday.
A Republican, Derk was elected a Snyder County commissioner in 2007. He serves as vice chairman.
A Selinsgrove Area High School graduate, he graduated from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, where he received a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in political science and religion. Upon graduation, he began working for Susquehanna University’s business services office and later for the university relations office, where he served as the assistant director of the Susquehanna University Fund.
He started his political career as a member of the Freeburg Borough Council. He served on the council for six years before being elected a county commissioner.
He is also involved in the Snyder County Republican Committee.
He and his wife, Erin, live in Freeburg.
The “Derk 2010 for Congress” Facebook group, which boasted 232 members on Saturday, is administered by Shannon Dewees and Eric Sweeney, both students at Susquehanna University.
