Jerry Rovner rejoins Borough Council after 24 years.
By: Cynthia Koons
ALLENTOWN Former Democratic Councilman Jerry Rovner is putting on his old political hat, this time with a conservative plume.
Recently appointed to the Allentown Borough Council, Mr. Rovner will fill the unexpired term left vacant by former council President Peter Pantages who resigned due to work obligations last month.
Mr. Rovner, who first sat on Borough Council in 1979, said he became involved in politics after his opinions on the rising school taxes earned him some attention at a local meeting.
"I was asked to by the Democrats (to run for council)," he said. "I shot my mouth off at a meeting of the school board when the taxes were going up. One thing led to another."
A 25-year Allentown resident, Mr. Rovner spent 12 years on council before leaving the post to attend to his duties of commanding officer of the military unit in the naval reserve.
Mr. Rovner’s history in the Navy included being a deep sea diver and nuclear submarine rescuer, among other jobs.
During the 12 years that followed his first Borough Council tenure, his political leanings shifted to the right.
"Let’s call it philosophical differences with our national leadership and now our governor," he said. "Being a very strong person in homeland defense I didn’t agree with all of the policies that were going on."
He is second in command of the state guard and said his displeasure with the way the government is handling the guard is one of the reasons he’s re-entering the political scene.
"We are heavily involved in the state politics on this issue, of naval militia and homeland defense and why it’s not being done adequately in the state," he said. "I’m seriously considering challenging for Assembly seat in the 30th District. Not that anybody’s done a bad job, I think the way to fight any of these battles is from the inside."
He said he hopes to bring his state political ties to his seat on the borough council.
"I talked to Mayor Stuart Feirstein and we’re going to sit down and go through some things because of some of the ties I’ve made with the state," he said. "I’m going to try to help Allentown see what we can do from a statewide (perspective) and get some funding."
He said securing the money for road improvements is a priority of his, along with any projects the mayor and council present to him.
Councilman Mike Schumacher said he knows Mr. Rovner as both a neighbor and member of Planning Board and thinks he will be a worthwhile addition to the council.
"He brings a great deal of experience in dealing with budgets," he said. When Mr. Rovner last served, he said, it was during a time of financial trouble for the borough.
"I think basically that’s what being a member of the Allentown Borough Council is all about," Mr. Schumacher said, "getting in there and getting the job done and doing the best for the people. I think (Mr. Rovner) will be very capable of that."
The term Mr. Rovner is serving ends this year, in April, he said, he will decide whether he’ll run for council and if he’ll run for Assembly.
"As I’m finding out, the only way to get things done in the state is to be in the middle of it," he said.

