Borough Council

Mayor Sean Shultz was elected to the Carlisle Borough Council in 2013, and had previously filled a vacancy on council in 2005 before serving an elected, four-year term from 2008 through 2011.  Sean has been the president of the Carlisle Volunteer Firefighters Association since 2012, and he is a member of the Carlisle Fire Department through his membership with Carlisle Fire and Rescue Services.  Sean earned his Juris Doctor at the Penn State-Dickinson School of Law and is an attorney with Saidis, Shultz & Fisher.  He has served our community as a volunteer for numerous organizations, including president of Carlisle Summerfair, president of the American Literacy Corporation, and with the United Way.  Mr. Shultz currently serves as the chairperson of Council’s Public Safety Committee and also serves as a co-chair of the Economic Development Committee.  Sean’s current term expires December 31, 2029.

Safronia Perry is the CEO and owner of S. Perry Consulting & Coaching LLC, offfering services to businesses of color and women-owned businesses as well as non-profit organizations.  She is the mother of 2 sons, a daughter-in-love, and a grandmother of 2. She attended the OIC of Carlisle, the Academy of Medical Arts and Business in Harrisburg, University of Phoenix, took classes through Messiah College, and graduated from Leadership Cumberland in 2018.  She previously served as a commissioner for the Carlisle Human Relations Commission, president of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Advisory Council, member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Inter-task Force, board member of Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties, member of Heart Soul committee, and member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Harrisburg Chapter. She is currently running the Racial Justice Coalition in partnership with the YWCA Carlisle, a board member of Leadership Cumberland, and the PA Humanities Council. Safronia serves as the chair of the Budget & Finance Committee and the vice-chair of the Sustainability & Community Planning Committee. Her term expires on December 31, 2029.

Rachel Lynn James was elected to the Carlisle Borough Council in November 2025 and currently serves as Chair of the Employee Relations/Citizen Participation Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. Rachel is an attorney with experience in litigation and municipal law, advising individuals, businesses, and local governments on a wide range of legal matters. She earned her Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law, where she serves on the Law School’s Leadership Council Advisory Board, and holds undergraduate degrees in political science and journalism from Drake University. Rachel is a proud member of the Carlisle community, including prior service on the Carlisle Planning Commission, ongoing involvement with the United Way, and previous participation on the Carlisle Pride Committee. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog and loved ones, volunteering, and reading classic literature.

Cate Mellen was appointed to the Carlisle Borough Council in January 2022 and was elected to a full term in November 2023. She is a native of Carlisle and a graduate of both Carlisle High School and Dickinson College. In addition, she received an M. A. in Art History from Syracuse University and an M. A. in History from Cornell University.  She has worked in the non-profit sector in Carlisle for nearly two decades, first as the Coordinator of Adult Programs and Community Relations at Bosler Memorial Library and later as the Board Liaison and Development Director at the Carlisle Family YMCA, where she helped to spearhead the recent $10.7 million building expansion. She is now the Executive Director at the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County and is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Cumberland. Ms. Mellen serves as the Chair of the Public Works Committee and Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee. Her current term expires December 31, 2027.

Jackie Roos is a Carlisle native. She moved home in the summer of 2021, after ten years in New York City. She ventured to the Big Apple to pursue a Master’s degree in religion at Union Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Columbia University. After graduating, Jackie began working as an Executive Assistant at the Women's Prison Association, a historic non-profit that supports formerly incarcerated people and their families. After cutting her teeth in the non-profit sector, she made the transition to tech; joining WeWork during its highly publicized ascendance before spending time at Glossier, Lyft, Cameo, Level, and DigitalOcean. In addition to her work with Borough Council, Jackie is a member of the Junior League of Harrisburg, a board member at the Carlisle Area Dog Parks Association, and is Co-Chair of Giving of the R-MWC Alumnae and Randolph College Alumni Association. She loves being back in Carlisle with her husband, Sam, their French Bulldog, Noodles, and their cat, George-Meatball. Jackie is proud to have earned the opportunity to be a public servant in the town that raised her, and excited for a future of progress! Jackie serves as the chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee and co-chair of the Employee Relations & Citizen Participation Committee. Her current term expires on December 31, 2027.

Mitch Shiles was elected to Borough Council in November of 2025, after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2024. He originally began volunteering with the Borough in 2020 as part of its Climate Action Commission. Mitch works as an artist and a college-level instructor. He earned his Bachelor of Science in 2011 from Penn State University and a master's degree in studio art from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2014. He also has training in data science. Mitch first moved to Carlisle after his spouse took a job at Dickinson College, and they fell in love with the community-minded spirit of the Borough. You can see Mitch riding throughout the Borough on one of his cargo bikes, or walking around with his wife and two young sons. In 2022, Mitch teamed up with members of the Carlisle community to form Bikelisle with the goal of connecting people and advocating for those who get around the greater Carlisle area without a car. His passion is working at the intersection of sustainability, energy, transportation, and economic justice. Mitch currently serves as Chair of the Sustainability and Community Planning Committee and Vice-Chair of the Public Works Committee. His current term expires December 31, 2029.

Jeff Stuby was elected to Carlisle Borough Council in 2019. In addition to serving on council, Councilor Stuby works as a Research Manager with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and volunteers with a variety of local organizations, including Hope Station, the East Side Neighbors Association, Cumberland Valley Rising, and the United Way. His service in the community has provided him the opportunity to help plan an annual Black History Festival, community cleanups, a nonpartisan civic education series, and various other events. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University, a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University, and bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from Penn State University. Councilor Stuby currently serves as Chair of the Public Works Committee and as Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Committee. His term expires December 31, 2027.