Ending nearly two decades in the state Legislature, incumbent Lynn Herman is endorsing Barbara Spencer for the Republican nomination for state representative for the 77th district.

Spencer will likely announce her intention to run late next week but Herman said he will serve as the chairman of her campaign committee.

Herman did not disclose if he would be donating money to Spencer's campaign.

Spencer will become the fourth Republican seeking the nomination at the May 16 primary.

Matt Shaner and Ken Bailey announced their campaigns late last year and Charles Gable, member of the State College Planning Commission, is considering entering the race.

State College County commissioner Scott Conklin is the only Democrat who has announced a bid in the legislation race.

A Penn State alumna, Spencer is also a farmer. She is a third-grade teacher at West Branch elementary school, a reserve Navy commander for 25 years, former Halfmoon supervisor and has been nominated to the Halfmoon Planning Commission, Spencer said.

"My passion is urban sprawl. I am a farmer and am very concerned with growth and development," she said.

Spencer said smart building and development and good utilization of land and resources will be her priorities in Harrisburg.

"[Spencer] has the best qualifications and educational background and work experience to represent the district," Herman said.

"She is the best one who could fill my position on the education committee very ably and will be well received by Penn State students, staff and faculty," she said.

Spencer has also worked in a local government capacity where she was able to solve problems for her area, he said.

"She is the one who would be a very effective legislator and hit the ground running [if Spencer] is elected to the state Legislature," Herman said.

G.T. Thompson, Centre County Republicans Party chairman, said he doesn't believe multiple candidates is either a positive or negative thing but gives the voters more options from which to choose.

"I suspect that we won't be limited to four candidates," Thompson said. "Any time there is an open seat, both parties have a number of individuals come forward. I think it is early to say the number is four. We have two more weeks until deadline."

Bailey said he welcomes more candidates into the race, adding that more people running means he does not need as many votes to win.

"When I was just running against Matt Shaner's father's money, I needed 34 percent of the vote. I need 26 percent now with four people," Bailey said.

Shaner said he believes the biggest issue of the campaign will center around the job market since Pennsylvania is not competitive in that area and is the No. 1 state for young people leaving the state to find employment.

"We need the strongest Republican candidate possible to go against the strong Democratic candidate," he added.

Gable, who has not formally announced his intention to run but is considering, said every candidate is bringing a different life experience to the race and with more options, the voters are given a true choice, opposed to picking from just two or three candidates.

"I think ultimately I would make a stronger candidate compared to Scott Conklin," he added.

Democratic candidate Conklin said the most important issues of the campaign will likely concern affordable housing, decent transportation and health care, and another person entering the race does not change his campaign strategy.

"At this point, whoever wins the primary, I am going to work hard," he said. "It's not going to change my campaign. I am going to run hard and I respect my opponents."