Republican Gail (Diehl) Burket has announced her candidacy for a four-year term as Snyder Township tax collector.
She was born and raised in Snyder Township, not leaving the mountain of Alder Run Orchard. She and her husband now have a family business, Burket’s Auto Repair, at that location.
Gail is the daughter of Dolores M. Diehl and the late William F. Diehl. She has four brothers and two sisters, and she married James I. Burket in August 1981. Together, they have a daughter, Nichole, and two sons, Justin and Drew.
She graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1980 and wanted to further her education by attending the Computer Learning Network to become an office professional. She graduated in 2003.
Gail also has a variety of work experiences. She started at C-Cor Electronics in 1980 and left there in 1986 to raise her children. She worked part-time at Gee Bee Jr. as a cashier for four months in 1988. Then, she worked at Jostens as a proofreader from 1986 to 1989.
In 1995, she started working at Commercial Printing in State College, part-time which turned into full time. The business ended up closing, so in 2002, she helped open up the new Dollar Tree in Altoona at the Pleasant Plaza. Within months, she became one of the managers.
In 2003, she worked for Nancy Kilmartin, Snyder Township tax collector, helping with taxes and office duties.
During her job at the Dollar Tree and working for Nancy Kilmartin, Gail was also going to school at CLN three nights a week. In August 2003, she obtained a position at Altoona Builders Exchange and is currently employed at that location.
“I really would like to serve the community,” Burket said about running for the position of tax collector. “I feel that my work experience, schooling and working for Nancy would show that I am qualified for the position of tax collector, Snyder Township.”
