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NANTICOKE — Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said Tuesday’s first Cabinet In Your Community event was a success, adding that he will take the input back to Harrisburg and answer all questions raised.

That was the exact reason Gov. Tom Wolf initiated the program, which attracted more than 200 attendees at the Luzerne County Community College’s Education Conference Center.

The town-hall style event was the first in a statewide series of regional initiative updates in which members of the community are given the opportunity to interact with cabinet secretaries and talk about issues important to each region.

Joining Secretary Rivera were Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin, and Department of Labor and Industry Acting Secretary Jerry Oleksiak. The three department secretaries provided region-specific updates on major projects, accomplishments, and answered impromptu questions from the audience.

“I am excited that so many members of the community came out to hear from and ask questions of our cabinet officials today,” said Gov. Wolf in an emailed statement. “It’s important that we continue to have this type of valuable dialogue all across the commonwealth and that everyone has an opportunity to feel connected to Harrisburg no matter where they live.”

After the two-hour session, Rivera said he felt it was time well-spent for the cabinet members and the public.

“I was very impressed with the questions asked today and with the diversity of the topics,” Rivera said. “The audience was very knowledgeable and everybody will benefit from this event.”

Rivera said Gov. Wolf established the Cabinet In Your Community program to provide a forum for cabinet members to learn what issues are of greatest relevance in each region of the state.

“The governor wants to assure that the needs and concerns of all Pennsylvanians are being addressed,” Rivera said. “We look forward to holding these programs across the state.”

Health care, schools, opioids

Secretary Davin said education and job creation go hand in hand. He said the recent announcement that Amazon is seeking to locate a second headquarters has awakened leaders at all levels — government, business, community — to work together in the name of economic development.

“Amazon wants to locate in an area where there is a ready workforce of well-educated, talented people,” Davin said. “They want a good, solid talent pipeline with a strong community with strong schools.”

Cassandra Coleman, Gov. Wolf’s director for the northeast and central regions, said the Cabinet In Your Community program is part of the governor’s three-pronged approach to improving Pennsylvania — government that works, jobs that pay, and schools that teach.

Questions from the audience ranged from topics like utilizing local businesses rather than out-sourcing work overseas to concerns about Medicare and cost-of-living increases for people on pensions and fixed incomes. Also discussed: stabilizing health care for senior citizens; funding for municipal fire departments; school district consolidations; the opioid epidemic; and workplace safety.

The questions that were not aired at Tuesday’s event will be answered by the appropriate cabinet secretary via email, Coleman said.

The next Cabinet in Your Community event is scheduled for Dec. 13 in Lock Haven and will include secretaries and acting secretaries from the departments of Community and Economic Development, Agriculture, Revenue, Labor and Industry, Transportation, and State.

Retired state employee Wayne Namey asks a question during the Cabinet In Your Community roundtable event at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgRetired state employee Wayne Namey asks a question during the Cabinet In Your Community roundtable event at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke on Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Dennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

State cabinet members Dennis Davin, Pedro Rivera and Jerry Oleksiak speak at the Cabinet in Your Community event at LCCC.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgState cabinet members Dennis Davin, Pedro Rivera and Jerry Oleksiak speak at the Cabinet in Your Community event at LCCC. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Dennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions from the public Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions from the public Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Davin
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217Dennis-Davin1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDavin Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Rivera
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217Pedro-Rivera-1.jpg.optimal.jpgRivera Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Oleksiak
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_Jerry-Oleksiak-1.jpg.optimal.jpgOleksiak Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Dennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity2-2-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

State cabinet members Dennis Davin, Pedro Rivera and Jerry Oleksiak speak at the Cabinet in Your Community event at LCCC.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity3toned-1.jpg.optimal.jpgState cabinet members Dennis Davin, Pedro Rivera and Jerry Oleksiak speak at the Cabinet in Your Community event at LCCC. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Dennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions from the public Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL112217cabinetincommunity4toned-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, answers questions from the public Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Oleksiak
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_Jerry-Oleksiaktoned-1.jpg.optimal.jpgOleksiak Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Bill O’Boyle

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.