Election ’09 draws near

Abington Journal // News

October 21

Don McGlynn, Adam Roberts
and Gerard Hetman, Abington Journal Staff

Abington Township Supervisor

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Tom Durbin

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Linda J. Mokay

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Tom Durbin (R)

Durbin has served on the Abington Township Shade Tree Commission for the past three years and currently is the Commission Chair. Durbin’s additional previous community service includes president and board member of Armstrong (PA) County Memorial Hospital (10 years) and president and board member of Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County (20 years).

Susan N. Malone (D)

Malone feels her 15 years experience in the architectural field will aid in the Township when it comes time to review for building permits and land development. And, she has some feeling about what the board should be seeking.

“One big issue is the deregulation of electricity, which will begin in our area in January 2010. The township power bill is a great cost to taxpayers, and this deregulation will increase that immensely,” said Malone in an emailed statement.

Abington Township Tax Collector

Lynn H. Nichols (R)

Abington Township Auditor

Patrick J. Walsh (D)

Abington Heights School Board

Region 1 - Michele M. Tierney

Region 2 - Michele M. Pusateri

Region 3- Jeanne Cadman

At Large- Louise Clauss Brzuchalski

Clarks Green Borough Mayor

William Thorburn (D)

Clarks Green Borough Tax Collector

Janice F. Brown (D)

Clarks Green Borough Council

V. Gerard Alberigi (R)

A 10-year resident of Clarks Green, Alberigi plans to bring communication to the borough. “I think the community can be served by a council that is more communicative with the public,” Alberigi said.

He hopes to address the concerns of seniors. He hopes to readdress the refuse contract and place a ban on burning. Alberigi would also push for roadwork on S. Abington Road. To combat speeding on that road, Alberigi also proposes the use of digital speed detection signs.

Courtney Palmer (D)

Upon the completion of her four-year term as tax collector in Clarks Green, Palmer is the lone Democrat vying for the three available council positions. As of the primary election, Palmer said she will bring fresh ideas and a sense of community to the council. She would also like to address the refuse contract.

William Plantholt (R)

Jill Shanrock (R)

Shanrock joined the race as a write-in during the primary. Shanrock has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with 15 years of owning and managing a small business. She joined the race because of communication issues with the council. “I was really disappointed with the lack of communication, especially with the refuse removal contract,” she said. If elected Shanrock would look into ways to assist residents with foreclosure related problems.

Todd Zimmerman (R)

Clarks Summit Borough Mayor

Harry Kelly (D)

Clarks Summit Borough Tax Collector

Judy A. Belch (R)

Clarks Summit Borough Council (Four Year Term)

Gerrie Fitzgerald Carey (D)

Having served three terms on borough council as vice-president and president, , Carrey has represented the borough on the Abington Business and Professional Association, Abington Council of Governments, county and state conferences, as well as various neighboring communities. Saying that “putting more financial burden on the taxpayers is not an option” Carey added that all of her efforts will be focused on finding a resolution to the Grandview Street litigation that offers minimal tax implications, but maximum benefit to all of our taxpayers.

Raymond Davis (R)

A 25-year resident of Clarks Summit and a former member of borough council from 1994-2002, Davis is seeking to bring fiscal responsibility and accountability to the borough. Working with other council members to have lower taxes in the borough by 42% during his last tenure on council, Davis said that Clarks Summit taxpayers need a “watchdog” to protect their investment in the community.

Roy Davis (D)

Prior to the primary, Davis, a member of Clarks Summit council for the past five years, said he would like to see the continuing improvements to sewer and paving.

Patrick Williams (D)

The current vice-president of Clarks Summit Borough Council, Williams said prior to the primary that he is running on the platform to maintain the character of the town.

Clarks Summit Borough (Two Year Unexpired Term)

Barbara Grabfelder (D)

Dalton Borough Mayor

James H. Gray (R)

Dalton Borough Tax Collector

Margaret Peg Sheppard (R)

Dalton Borough Council

Michael H. Chase (D)

Looking back on his first four-year term, Chase is proud that while on council he has not had to raise taxes over the last 4 years.

If elected, Chase said he is planning to work at “keeping the budget where it is.” And, to continue with work the borough has started in improving road conditions.

Susan A. Davidson (R)

A resident of Dalton for the past 23 years, Davidson said she is hoping to become a member of council so she can help lead the borough into a change for the betterby making the council a more visible presence to the community, and by updating and revising all the borough’s ordinances to make them clearer.

“The zoning ordinances are so vague they can be interpreted several different ways,” said Davidson.

Aaron Holzman (R)

Prior to the election, Holzman, a physics teacher at Scranton Prep stated that with his role as a teacher, he has overseen several projects. He is hoping to join the council with a forward thinking mentality by seeing in which projects the borough can afford to invest. Holzman hopes to keep the community from stagnating by looking at the borough’s infrastructure.

J. William Montgomery (R)

After sitting out this past term, 10-year council member Montgomery is hoping to make a return to the council so he can get back to helping his community.

“I thought it was the thing to do, I missed it, and there are a few things I’d like to get done,” said Montgomery.

Montgomery said he’s happy to see the borough has begun some improvements to road conditions, and, if elected, would work to continue with that progress.

Mark Sujkowski (D)

The 22-year Dalton resident was asked by the council to fill a vacant spot on council in 2008. Now that his initial 16-month appointment is coming to a close, he is running for his first full term.

If elected, Sujkowski said he’s looking forward to helping the borough balance the budget, while still continuing to make strides towards paving the roads in the area.

Lackawanna Trail School Director

Region 3- Edward J. Clarke, III

Joseph F. Ross

Glenburn Township Supervisor

David Jennings (R)

Glenburn Township Tax Collector

Judith Weeks Comerford (D)

Glenburn Township Auditor

Randall S. Campbell (R)

Jermyn Borough Council

Anthony Fuga Jr. (R)

Robert P. Parks III (D)

Lakeland School Director

Jill Demming- Yoniski

A resident of Scott Township, Demming-Yoniski said prior to the primary that she decided to run for the position because she was unhappy with way issues are handled. If elected she said would like to see more involvement from the parents.

Casey Patuk

Patuk, of Scott Twp., serves as a police officer in the township, as well as the department’s youth liaison officer. He vows to be available for questions or concerns at all times. Patuk says he will address safety and security issues while looking at the district’s hiring practices. “I want the best education by the best educators,” said Patuk.

Mayfield Borough Council (Four Year Term)

Thomas Gallagher (D/R)

Finishing up his first four-year term, which he ran for after filling in for four months due to a vacancy left on council, Gallagher said the proudest moment as a council member was “the groundbreaking of the baseball field in the athletic complex,” on Rt. 6. Putting in almost three years of time between planning and construction of the field, he is hoping if elected to another term he will finally see the completion of this project.

If re-elected, Gallagher also plans to do what he can to balance the budget.

Janice Joyce (D/R)

Running for what will be her first full term, Joyce has already had a taste of what life will be like as a council member. In March of 2007, she filled a vacancy left on council for eight months. If elected, Joyce said she plans to thoroughly investigate and prioritize what issues are most important for the town.

“If elected, I will be dedicated to serving all residents,” said Joyce.

Linda Saniski Marino (D)

George Pittsman Jr. (D)

As a member of Mayfield Council for the past eight years, Pittsman has tried to help the community by keeping an open mind and listening to what the community wants.

“I’ve tried to give everyone their fair share, and I will continue to do so if they want me to,” said Pittsman.

Pittsman said his proudest moment as a member of council has been the construction of the athletic complex on Rt. 6. Pittsman has been coordinator on the project, which includes a baseball field that he is hoping will be ready for use this spring.

Mayfield Borough Council (Two Year Term)

William Filburt (D)

James DePoti (D)

DePoti, a current councilman, is democratic candidate for a two-year term to retain his seat. He is a lifelong Mayfield resident and U.S. Air Force veteran.. As councilman in charge of roads and bridges, Depoti, along with the borough employees and unpaid volunteers, has been repairing streets in Mayfield- the first ever in-house paving program undertaken on such a large scale. If elected, Depoti said he will continue to work toward infrastructure improvements and will continue his volunteer efforts..

Newton Township Supervisor

Douglas Pallman (R)

Newton Township Tax Collector

Ruth E. Hayden (R)

North Abington Township Supervisor

Ernest J. D’Agata (R)

North Abington Township Tax Collector

Betty L. Opsasnick (R)

North Abington Township Auditor (Two Year Unexpired Term)

Cynthia Lempicky (R)

Ransom Township Supervisor

William ‘Bud’ Brown (R)

As a 52-year Ransom resident, Brown has served on the planning commission, zoning hearing board, and vacancy board. He also spent 13 years as the landfill inspector at Alliance Landfill. Brown sees financial stability as the greatest challenge in the township. He plans to work closely with the residents to achieve his objectives.

Dennis Macheska (D)

Macheska has been a supervisor for the past eight years and has been involved in a variety of government positions for the past 25 years. He spent 12 years as a state constable. In his capacity as supervisor, he said he is most proud of the township’s acquisition of 500 acres of strip mining land two years ago. “There are lots of things we can do with this property in the future,” Macheska said.

He will continue to pursue solutions to roadwork issues. .

Ransom Township Tax Collector

Lenay Blackwell (R)

She served as tax collector for the past 20 years. Over that time, Blackwell said she has had the opportunity to meet and develop a rapport with tax clients, mortgage companies and courthouse representative.

“I have gained valuable hands-on experience in dealing with different tax questions and concerns,” Blackwell wrote in an e-mailed statement.

Linda J. Mokay (D)

An office supervisor/ tax preparer at Liberty Tax Service, in Scranton, and a former tax examiner for the I.R.S., Mokay saw the position as a good way to serve her community with the skills she has acquired over the years, and feels she can bring some change to the position.

“It is time for the office to be updated and computerized so that all taxes, property and school, are paid within the township and collected by one individual,” said Mokay.

Currently, all school taxes have to be mailed to Clarks Summit.

Scott Township Supervisor

Michele Ducknik (D)

Duchnik has held the supervisor position for three years. In that time she oversaw upgrades at the civic center’s gym as well as lighting in the back of the facility. She also contributed to a new sewer project which will break ground this week. Duchnik is committed to decrease debt without raising taxes. She also wants to continue to fund the township police department and develop children’s programs.

Michael Giannetta (R)

With six years as a supervisor, over two years as a solicitor and over six years as a member of the sewer authority in Scott Twp., Giannetta believes he has the experience to turn the township around. Giannetta foresees a large tax increase in the future because of overspending and wants to stop it. He believes the township shouldn’t add any more full time police officers, because part time officers would be cheaper. “I won’t agree to police contracts we can’t afford,” Giannetta said, adding he has experience in contract negotiation.