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The Luzerne County manager, Robert Lawton, is refusing to honor the county’s responsibility to our veterans. For more than a year, he has not made it a priority to ensure that the Luzerne County Veteran Affairs office is adequately staffed.
Apparently, a vacancy has existed since the retirement of a longtime employee. It is my understanding the director, Jim Spagnola, has submitted a plan to address the vacancy, improve training and reduce the office’s overall budget.
To date, the county manager has failed to act responsibly to the director’s proposal, a clear slap in the face to our veterans.
The Luzerne County Veteran Affairs Office serves as an essential resource for our veterans and their surviving spouses, helping them to get the benefits they so rightfully deserve. When our nation calls upon our men and women to serve, a select few answer that call without hesitation. The county manager should not hesitate to take the necessary actions to ensure the Veteran Affairs Office is fully staffed and trained. That is the true measure of honoring our commitment to our veterans.
Managing and budgeting are about priorities. I urge my fellow veterans and their families to contact the members of Luzerne County Council to urge them to demonstrate their leadership and to convey to the county manager that the Veteran Affairs Office is a priority: 570-825-1634 or [email protected]
Elections are right around the corner. If our elected leaders cannot ensure the commitment to our veterans is honored, then it’s time to elect candidates who will.
Sam Austin
Kingston