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Register of Wills

October 25, 2009

Stankovic stresses her years in office

Gina Nevenglosky challenges the incumbent for the Luzerne County post.

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Register of Wills Dottie “Stanky” Stankovic says she has the experience in recording and preserving all wills admitted to probate.

Stankovic, who is seeking a fifth consecutive term, faces challenger and relative newcomer, Republican Gina Nevenglosky, in the Nov. 3 election.

The popular Democratic incumbent has received and filed accounts of executors and has been working with the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court for the past 16 years.

“I love my job. I’m a people person and all the people in my office are people-friendly.”

A 1960 graduate of Marymount High School, she wants to keep it that way.

Stankovic, 67, and her husband, John, 71, of Nanticoke, have two daughters and three grandchildren.

The register of wills office has jurisdiction over probate of wills and the grant of letters, testamentary or of administration to a personal representative, as well as issues marriage licenses and maintains original documents.

Stankovic has established a satellite office in the Hazleton area with no cost to taxpayers.

Nevenglosky, 51, and her husband, Joe, 59, have been married for 33 years. They have three sons and one daughter and live in Mountain Top.

“I am looking to bring some honesty and integrity back into the Luzerne County Courthouse,” said Nevenglosky, an entrepreneur who is managing a small business from home.

Nevenglosky, a Republican committeewoman for the Dorrance area, said she will be accountable to taxpayers and would set an example by having “a model office for other county offices to be patterned from, emphasizing operating efficiency.”

“I feel people need to know that I’d be there full-time,” she said.

Nevenglosky, a 1975 graduate of Panther Valley High School, Lansford, said some of her goals would be maintaining records of individual fees and keeping the office open during lunch hour.

The register of wills office, located at Penn Place Annex, is closed weekdays 12 to 1 p.m.

“I’m there to serve the people of Luzerne County,” Nevenglosky said. “We need to be better stewards of the taxpayer’s money.”

Stankovic said she has computerized the office and provided a computer networking system, which is compatible with the state and the recorder of deeds office.

“I’m preserving and maintaining all the records and docket books,” said Stankovic who has more than 40 years of business experience.

Nevenglosky said she would make commissioner reports available to the public and would not take the county’s health benefits.

“I want to save that money for our taxpayers,” she said. “I want to watch any spending that is unnecessary. I will only spend what is necessary.”

Nevenglosky signed a pledge to a “HEART” contract, which stands for Honesty, Ethics, Accountability, Reform and Transparency.

Stankovic lectures to the public on the value of wills and services in the county.

Nevenglosky is involved with area churches and home school groups.

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