Some officials said the trend is alarming. In Somerset County alone, there are 76 races without any candidates, with dozens more in Cambria County. In several communities, there is no one running for mayor, such as in East Conemaugh Borough.

"You can't really blame anybody. For the hassle you get and the work you have to do, it's a no-win situation," said Steve Coy, East Conemaugh Borough Council president.

Coy said calling it a thankless job would be an understatement. While WJAC-TV News was interviewing him, a borough resident came to his business to complain about a sewer fine.

"When you are active and you do work, you get a lot of flack. And if you're a councilman or a mayor that doesn't do any work, you also get flack," Coy said.

Coy said, unfortunately, you make a lot of enemies and get little in return, which is why it's becoming increasingly more difficult to find people willing to run for a job that's really important.

"(The mayor) basically oversees the police department and breaks any ties in a council vote," Coy said.

As for Coy, he said he works 12 hours a day at his auto repair shop and several hours on top of that for the borough, never taking a penny for it. Though discouraged, even after 12 years in office, he's running again. Because he said it's his responsibility to make the community better for his family and the other 1,250 people who live there.

"That's what all the council members try to do. We just try to make things easier and better and control what we can control," Coy said.

Coy said he hopes a write-in candidate gets a significant amount of votes. Otherwise, the borough council will have to appoint a new mayor.