Father and son Ziegler step down from Columbia elected bodies

By Columbia Spy -

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Two members of the Ziegler family have stepped away from Columbia's elected bodies within weeks of each other, leaving one vacancy on the Columbia Borough School Board and, pending a vote, another on Borough Council.

School Board 
Thomas G. Ziegler's resignation from the school board was approved and took effect October 9. He was appointed to the board in December 2025, according to the district's website. His brief letter to the board gave no reason for leaving.

 The school board must try to fill its vacancy within 30 days to comply with state law, according to the board's website. (Letters of interest for the school board seat were due on Thursday, October 29.) The board plans to interview interested community members at a committee meeting Thursday, November 5.

*****************
Borough Council 

Thomas J. Ziegler 

Councilman Thomas J. Ziegler, his son, has also resigned — from borough council — Columbia Spy reported October 29. Ziegler, a Republican, won a council seat in the November 4, 2025, municipal election and was sworn in January 5, 2026.

Council is scheduled to vote on the resignation Thursday, November 5, according to council's workshop agenda. Council members then have 30 days to appoint a replacement by resolution at a public meeting.

An appointee must be a registered voter in the borough and must have lived in the borough continuously for at least a year immediately before the appointment. For more information, contact borough hall at 308 Locust Street, or call 717-684-2467.

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