Veteran Presence: Leinbach Selects Will Tobin as New Running Mate for 2027 Berks Commissioner Race

Longtime Republican Commissioner Christian Leinbach has introduced decorated Army veteran Will Tobin — deputy director of the Berks County Veterans Affairs Office — as his running mate for the 2027 commissioner race, after Commissioner Michael Rivera announced he will not seek a third term. A look at Tobin's background, his platform, and what it means for the balance of power on the county board.

Reading, PA A major shift is coming to the Berks County political landscape. Longtime Republican County Commissioner Christian Leinbach announced a new alliance on Wednesday, introducing decorated military veteran Will Tobin as his running mate for the upcoming 2027 election cycle. The announcement, held at a campaign event at the Reading Regional Airport, comes in the wake of current Commissioner Michael Rivera's decision not to seek a third term. Leinbach and Tobin will campaign together as a ticket to secure the Republican nominations, aiming to maintain the party's majority control of the three-seat Board of Commissioners. A united Republican front at the Reading Regional Airport: Commissioner Christian Leinbach (left) stands with his hand-picked running mate, Will Tobin (center), as outgoing Commissioner Michael Rivera (right) — who is stepping aside after two terms — looks on. From Military Service to County Governance Tobin currently serves as the deputy director of the Berks County Veterans Affairs Office. A retired Army chief warrant officer, he brings 23 years of military experience to the race, including deployments in both Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Addressing the crowd, Tobin shared a deeply personal story about his motivation to run, citing a sense of profound gratitude for the region. Moving to Berks County from Brooklyn at age seven with his single mother and brother, he recalled the community's early support during lean times. After overcoming obstacles — including dropping out of high school at 16 before earning his GED in the summer of 2000 through Reading Area Community College — Tobin credits local educators and military recruiters for setting him on a path to success. "I am not a politician. I am just a regular guy who cares about this community and the people who have given me so much." — Will Tobin Following his retirement from the military, Tobin worked as a county park ranger before transitioning to the Veterans Affairs Office — a division he proudly notes has become "the best in the state" through collaborative teamwork. The new face of the ticket: Will Tobin, the decorated Army veteran and deputy director of the Berks County Veterans Affairs Office, will seek the Republican nomination for county commissioner in the 2027 primary. Looking Ahead to 2027 Commissioner Leinbach, who has held office since 2008, strongly endorsed Tobin's entry into the race, framing the veteran as the future of the county's leadership. Leinbach confirmed that if he is successful in 2027, it will mark his final term in office. The dynamic of the county board is guaranteed to change. Commissioner Rivera, the first Latino to serve on the board when elected in 2019, is stepping away to focus on his family's real estate business. Meanwhile, the current minority member, Democratic Commissioner Dante Santoni Jr., has not yet announced his reelection intentions, and no other Democratic challengers have stepped forward publicly. Tobin emphasized that his platform will focus on ensuring local economic stability, citing a desire to protect ongoing long-term projects initiated under the Leinbach-Rivera leadership. These priorities include: Transportation Infrastructure: Pushing forward with efforts to revitalize the Reading Regional Airport and fully restore passenger rail service connecting Reading to Philadelphia. Higher Education Expansion: Encouraging regional colleges to establish satellite campuses in downtown Reading. Fiscal Management: Maintaining the steady economic growth and high credit outlook of the county. Under Pennsylvania law, voters will choose two candidates from each party in the primary elections. The top three vote-getters in the fall general election will secure seats on the governing board. The Mifflin Report Investigates The Mifflin Report will continue to follow the 2027 commissioner race, vet the candidates' records, and hold whoever holds the county's purse strings accountable to the taxpayers of Berks County.