Son of Franklin County coroner running to replace his dad
Franklin County’s longtime coroner, Jeff Conner, will retire at the end of this year. His son and deputy, Jordan Conner, is running for election to replace him.
Jordan is seeking the Republican nomination in the municipal primary election on May 16, according to a news release.
Jordan has worked in the office with his father and Chief Deputy Coroner Ted Reed for 10 years, first as a volunteer and then as a part-time staff member. Reed also plans to retire at the end of the current term.
“Jordan has the compassion and integrity necessary to lead this office for years to come,” Jeff wrote in an email.
The coroner's office investigates sudden, unexpected deaths in Franklin County and others as legally required, according to the office's page at franklincounty.gov. The coroner is among three full-time employees in the coroner's office, Jeff said; there are also five part-time/on-call deputy investigators and two dozen other deputies that serve in an on-call capacity as transporters and assistants.
The coroner's salary for 2023 is $86,993.50, a Franklin County spokesperson said Wednesday.
Jeff Conner will miss job's 'challenges'
Jeff Conner joined the coroner’s office 24 years ago, working under the former coroner, Kenneth Peiffer Jr., before taking over a few years later.
Over the years he and his team have worked to advance the office’s technology and expand and improve training opportunities.
Jeff said he felt it was time to “slow down a little” and retire.
“I have five amazing grandchildren that are growing up way too fast and I believe it is time to spend a little more time enjoying every moment with them,” he told the Public Opinion.
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Reed, a former federal firefighter at Letterkenny Army Depot and currently an officer at Pleasant Hall Volunteer Fire Co., has been Jeff's deputy for most of the latter’s tenure. They are also both grandfathers (“he has even more grandchildren to spend time with,” Conner said) and are the same age.
“We both decided it is our time to redirect our interests and passions in life,” Jeff said.
Jeff began his career in emergency services as a junior firefighter at Marion Volunteer Fire Co., he said. He later became an EMT. He served as deputy ambulance chief at St. Thomas Volunteer Fire Co. and as a driver for the original Medic 1 out of Chambersburg Hospital.
“When tragedy strikes, no one is ready for it, but I have been blessed to provide care and compassion to those families over the years,” he said.
Speaking for victims and seeing many families get justice have been highlights of his years on the job.
“I will miss the challenges of the job the most. Every case could bring something new, and it is our job to meet those challenges,” he said.
About Jordan Conner
Should Jordan be elected Franklin County’s next coroner, he would continue keeping up with the leading technology and “push for the highest level of training among staff and local law enforcement to better serve our communities,” according to a news release.
He also intends to complete the process to bring the coroner’s office into national accreditation.
Jordan is a state-certified death investigator and is nationally certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
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In addition, he has participated in “hundreds of hours of training across a broad range of crime scene investigation," according to the release. He’s done training with the Pennsylvania State Police and the St. Louis School of Medicine.
He is a former paramedic with Medic 2 with Waynesboro Hospital.
Jordan currently serves as the district director for state Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-89, in Chambersburg.
The news release about Jordan’s campaign included a statement from Kauffman: “There is no one more qualified than Jordan Conner to lead the Franklin County Coroner’s Office. His commitment to justice for our communities and families is unmatched. His leadership and compassion will drive the Office for years to come!”
The release also stated he is supported by state representatives Paul Schemel, R-90, and Rich Irvin, R-81, law enforcement, emergency responders and funeral home staff.
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.