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WILKES-BARRE — Ralph Yanora of Pittston Township was sworn in as the newest commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) in a special ceremony held at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday evening.
Yanora is the first person from the Northeast to serve as PUC commissioner in almost 75 years, or as master of ceremonies Pat Solano put it, “since I bombed Berlin.”
Solano had nothing but kind words for Yanora as he led the ceremony, which began with an invocation from Judge Thomas F. Burke Jr. of the Court of Common Pleas.
“I think that Ralph, and I know a lot of you feel the same way, is a terrific family man and the right candidate for the job.”
Solano introduced the gathered judges and elected officials, offering praise for state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, who had a speech prepared to officially welcome Yanora to the PUC.
“What she [Baker] does, she does the best,” Solano said. “She has done a lot of big things.”
Yanora was sworn in before a panel of judges from the state Supreme Court, as well as Baker and state Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca. Also in attendance were Yanora’s wife, Carmela, as well as his daughter Christine and numerous members of his extended family and staff.
Baker gave a speech following the official oath of office taken by Yanora, where she spoke to his strengths as a worker and leader.
“For more than 30 years, Ralph has built a reputation as a doer, implementer, team player and effective manager,” Baker said.
After Baker’s speech, Yanora took to the podium to offer some brief remarks.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead, and fulfilling this role to the best of my ability,” Yanora said.
He was initially voted in on Oct. 23 by a 45-3 vote after being unanimously recommended the day before by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. A brief ceremony in Harrisburg was held Oct. 24, where Yanora was sworn in to his new role.
Yanora enters his new position with over 40 years of experience in the field, having served as the CEO of the Pennsylvania Water Services Co.
He also held the post of Pittston Township supervisor in 2018, a position that he has since resigned in order to fulfill his new PUC role.
Yanora will serve a five-year term, succeeding Norman J. Kennard in the position after Kennard’s term expired on March 31.
