WAYNESBORO – Dade Royer, a Waynesboro Borough councilman, has announced his bid for mayor. As a councilman, he said represents Republicans, Democrats and Independents and will run as a Republican in the May 2025 primary.
Royer was appointed to the Borough Council in April 2018 to fill a vacant seat and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He currently serves as the vice president of the Borough Council, chair of the Personnel Committee, and liaison to the Recreation Board. Royer is also a member of the Public Safety Committee and Police and Fire Department Negotiations Committee.
Previously, Royer served as president of the boards of Renfrew Museum and Park and the American Cancer Society of Franklin County. He also served on the boards of the YMCA, Rotary Club of Waynesboro and the Management Oversight Team at Otterbein Church in Waynesboro.
Announcing his candidacy, Royer highlighted his leadership goals and prior accomplishments. “I am committed to making the Borough a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. If elected, I will strive to keep Waynesboro safe by having a strong and dedicated police department. We have made great strides during my time on the Borough Council. We upgraded the lights on Main Street to increase pedestrian and traffic safety. We made upgrades to Memorial Park and Mount Airy Park. The Council also built the Ed Miller Trail, which runs from Memorial Park to Renfrew Park and connects to Otterbein Park.
Regarding improvement plans, Royer said, “We are currently working on the Heritage Trail Project, which will emphasize and interpret many historic buildings and sites in downtown Waynesboro. This project has the potential to increase tourism and play a positive role in Waynesboro’s economic development.”
Royer is a native of Waynesboro with deep family roots dating back to the 1700s. He spent seven years as the executive director of Renfrew Museum and Park before retiring in 2019. Before that position, he owned a healthcare recruitment business and worked as an area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He volunteered for several years as a youth coach in multiple sports and was also a high school wrestling coach.
Royer lives in Waynesboro with his wife of 40 years, Wendy, and his grandson, Noah. He has a son, Jared, who lives in Camp Hill with his wife Lauren and their two children, Dasha and Isla.
