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Saturday, March 15, 2003 Page: 2A
JACK SMITH HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR WILKES-BARRE MAYOR AS A DEMOCRAT.
SMITH RAN FOR MAYOR IN 1991.SZAFRAN JONES SEEKS PLAINS TWP. OFFICE MELISSA
SZAFRAN JONES, A DEMOCRAT AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PLAINS TOWNSHIP, HAS
ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WILL RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONER. SHE HOLDS
A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM KING’S COLLEGE AND HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A
GRADUATE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, WHICH OFFERS ONLINE COURSES
OVER THE INTERNET. SHE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE OSTERHOUT FREE LIBRARY, SOUTH
BRANCH, WHERE SHE HELPED RAISE MORE THAN $25,000 IN MONETARY AND IN-KIND
DONATIONS OVER THREE YEARS FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS. SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST GRADE
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHER AT SS. PETER AND PAUL CHURCH, PLAINS TOWNSHIP. SHE
HAS ATTAINED A MASTER CATECHIST CERTIFICATION FROM THE DIOCESE OF SCRANTON.
SZAFRAN JONES IS SECRETARY TO THE FRIENDS OF THE HOYT LIBRARY, AND A MEMBER OF
THE BOARD OF THE LAFLIN LIBRARY. SHE LIVES ON HENRY STREET WITH HER HUSBAND.
Smith said he advocates lower taxes, strong police and fire departments and
eliminating the expensive blue city garbage bag in favor of free garbage
collection.
Smith is a graduate of Meyers High School and East Stroudsburg University,
and taught and coached in the Wilkes-Barre Area schools, according to his
release. He also was a Golden Gloves boxing champion who fought as “Irish
Jackie Smith.”
“I’m still Irish and I am still a fighter,” he said. “Now I want to
fight for the forgotten guy, that unsung hero, the taxpayer, and our oppressed
business community.”
Smith authored “Now is the Time,” a book based on his personal
experiences, and speaks throughout the country and on the international
circuit, according to his release. He is married and has six children and
several grandchildren. He is a former Marine, businessman, and has been a
substitute CCD teacher at St. Aloysius Church for the past 10 years, and is a
Fourth Degree of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.