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He replaces Joe Oliveri, who quit board and pleaded guilty last month to accepting bribe.
YATESVILLE – Dr. Ross Latona is the newest member of the Pittston Area School Board after school directors voted unanimously for him to fill Joe Oliveri’s seat.
“I feel they need a lot of help and I will do nothing more than to help them….I want to watch out and make sure the students and the taxpayers are getting the bang for their buck,” said Latona, a chiropractor.
Oliveri resigned his post in August, while he was still in his first term as a school director, because he agreed to a plea deal on federal charges of accepting money in exchange for awarding a contract last month.
Latona, 33, beat out three other candidates – Joseph Long of Pittston, Robert Lampman of Pittston Township and Kim Marie Alfano of Pittston – to serve the remainder of Oliveri’s term.
Latona will serve until December, and then if he wins in the November general election, he will be re-sworn into office in December. Latona, of Duryea, won the Democratic and Republican nominations during the May primaries, so there is a good probability he will have no problem winning a seat on the board in November, board President Mark Singer said.
“We felt that was the will of the people and from all these applicants he would be the most logical choice,” Singer said.
All four candidates were given the opportunity to explain why they felt they would be the best candidate for the post.
Latona and his competitor Lampman explained they’re regular attendees to the meetings, so they know what issues the board is currently facing and wouldn’t have to be brought up to speed on matters.
“I think the board and myself can benefit from an earlier appointment by being able to tackle the issues now and ease the transition in January,” Latona said.
He also believes his appointment will help the district to restore the public’s trust because he received the second-highest number of votes in the spring elections.
Long, a school principal in the Greater Nanticoke Area School District and former Pittston Area employee, said he was interested in the post because he wanted to help highlight some of the good activities happening in the district.
Alfano believed her experience of working in the Riverside School District for more than 20 years in various capacities would help her properly serve on the board.