Longtime County Board Fixture Willard Peterson Makes Bid for District 3 York County Commissioner

Peterson has been a fixture at county commissioner meetings for over 16 years, now he's running for a seat.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:07pm

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Willard Peterson, a longtime fixture at York County Commissioner meetings, is running for a seat on the County Board. Peterson has attended nearly every commissioner meeting since 2010, often speaking during public comment. Though he's never held an elected position before, Peterson believes he can do more good as a commissioner than just attending meetings. He's running against the incumbent, Andy Bowman, but says he has no grudge against him and simply wants to help the community.

Why it matters

Peterson's long history of involvement in county government and his reputation as a vocal community member suggest he could bring a unique perspective to the County Board. His campaign also highlights the potential for long-time public commenters to transition into elected roles, which could impact the dynamics of local government.

The details

Willard Peterson has attended 99.7% of York County Commissioner meetings since 2010, often speaking during public comment. He's currently a member of the county's Planning and Zoning Commission and Aging Board, where he assembled a team of volunteers to deliver meals to housebound seniors. Peterson believes his campaign will have strong community support, as many people have encouraged him to run, though he's not taking victory for granted against the incumbent, Andy Bowman.

  • Peterson has attended nearly every county commissioner meeting since 2010.
  • Peterson is running against incumbent Andy Bowman in the 2026 election for York County District 3 Commissioner.

The players

Willard Peterson

A longtime fixture at York County Commissioner meetings who has attended nearly every meeting since 2010, often speaking during public comment. He is now running for a seat on the County Board.

Andy Bowman

The incumbent York County District 3 Commissioner that Willard Peterson is running against.

Joe Burgess

A York County Commissioner who says both Peterson and Bowman want to help the community and put in a good amount of time.

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What they’re saying

“I have been at 99.7% of every county commissioner meeting since 2010 … it wouldn't take all your toes and fingers to count the number of meetings where I did not say something at public comment.”

— Willard Peterson

“He already comes to all of our meetings… he's a familiar face around the courthouse.”

— Joe Burgess, York County Commissioner

“Ever since I retired, you would not believe how many people have told me, 'You need to run. We need you on that board'.”

— Willard Peterson

“That's not why I'm running at all … Andy is an OK guy. He has different opinions than I do sometimes, but I'm not going to say he is wrong. If I did, then I would be wrong in a different way.”

— Willard Peterson

What’s next

The York County District 3 Commissioner election will take place in November 2026.

The takeaway

Willard Peterson's long history of civic engagement and his reputation as a vocal community member suggest he could bring a unique perspective to the York County Board of Commissioners if elected. His campaign highlights how long-time public commenters can transition into elected roles, which could impact the dynamics of local government.