Political briefs

Joe Caffrey, a former teacher, guidance counselor and coach in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board.

A native of Wilkes-Barre, he earned his bachelor’s degree from King’s College and his master’s degree from the University of Scranton.

Caffrey served the school district for 35 years. He serves on the Children and Youth Advisory Board, the Dr. Moses All-Star Game Committee and the board of directors of Coaches vs. Cancer of NEPA. He is a member of the WVC Boys Basketball Coaches Association and is a hospice volunteer for Celtic Health Care.

Caffrey will hold a fundraiser at 7 p.m. April 10 at Touch of Class, 228 George Ave. Tickets are $50 per person. For information, contact The Committee To Elect Joe Caffrey at 905-4960.

James “Red” O’Brien has announced his candidacy for magisterial district judge for District 11-1-04. The district is composed of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Yatesville boroughs, Jenkins Township, Pittston Township and Pittston.

O’Brien, of Pittston, graduated from Pittston Area High School and attended Luzerne County Community College and Marywood University, where he studied business administration and computer information systems.

He was mayor of Avoca for three years, was elected to three terms on the Pittston Area School Board — serving as board president in 2007 — and served as Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds for a four-year term.

He is active in the Pittston area, where he is a member of Our Lady of Eucharist Parish, Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians Avoca, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Pittston YMCA.

He will cross-file as a Democrat and Republican in the May primaries.