Paul Ridley has announced his intention to seek re-election to the Bradford Area School Board.

He has filed petitions to seek both a Democratic and Republican nomination.

A 1980 graduates of Grove City College, Ridley holds a BA in accounting. Following graduation, he was employed by McGill, Power, Bell & Company, CPAs. In 1986 he joined the Grove City office of Sundahl & Co. Insurance moving to Bradford in 1987 to assume the position of vice president.

Ridley is in his 18th year as a director on the Bradford school board, and his 8th year as president; is a member of Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9, serving his second term as president; and has been a director of the Bradford Hospital Foundation since 2014, and currently serves as vice chairman.

He resides in Bradford with his wife Mary. They have four adult children, sons Joshua, Justin and Micah and daughter Elizabeth who all came through the Bradford Area School system.

“I believe the combination of three areas of experience uniquely qualify me to serve the Bradford Area School District as a board member,” Ridley said. “First my education and broad business experience, including an extensive background and understanding of fund accounting utilized by Pennsylvania school districts, will serve as a solid foundation for analyzing the financial condition and direction of the district, while, keeping an ever keen eye on the goal and mission of the school district to deliver a quality education within the means of the community that supports it.

“Secondly, involvement with a broad group of community organizations places me in touch with the electorate enabling me to ascertain the opinions and attitudes of a good cross section of the people of our district,” he said. “Lastly, and most importantly eighteen years of experience in a leadership role on the Bradford Area School Board is invaluable as we continue to navigate the very challenging environment of public education.”