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WILKES-BARRE — Mayor-elect George Brown on Monday announced attorney Charles McCormick will be his city administrator.

Brown said McCormick also will be a member of his transition team as he assembles a new administration for his upcoming four-year term beginning in January.

“Attorney McCormick shares my vision for the future of Wilkes-Barre and is genuinely concerned about the serious economic conditions our city is currently facing. We will work to provide an open, transparent administration to the residents, business owners and visitors to our great city,” Brown said in a press release.

McCormick will not enroll in the city’s health care benefit program, Brown said. The mayor-elect also declined to participate in the program and reduced his own annual salary to $60,000 from the $82,000 outgoing Mayor Tony George receives.

For more than 42 years McCormick has practiced in Wilkes-Barre, with a primary emphasis on family, estate and municipal law. He has experience in contract negotiations, contract litigation and employment law. He serves as solicitor for the city’s Planning and Zoning Hearing Board.

McCormick’s municipal experience includes:

• Assistant solicitor for Luzerne County.

• Solicitor for Ashley, Avoca, Harveys Lake, Nuangola, Wright Township, Salem Township and Penn Lake.

• Luzerne County Transportation Authority Pension Board.

• Solicitor for the Washington Square Apartment complex.

In addition, McCormick’s participation on community boards includes:

• United Way of Wyoming Valley.

• Chairman of the Wilkes-Barre Industrial Development Association.

• Child Development Association.

• American Red Cross.

• Luzerne and Schuylkill Workforce Development Board.

McCormick is a 1969 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and a 1973 graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service where he earned a triple major in history, government and economics. He holds a law degree from Duquesne University School of Law.

McCormick and his wife Marie are lifelong residents of Wilkes-Barre. She previously served as City Administrator under former Mayor Tom Leighton. The couple’s daughter Shaelan is married to Christopher Brown, the son of Mayor-elect Brown and his wife Marianne.

Attorney Charles McCormick has been selected as city administrator by Wilkes-Barre Mayor-elect George Brown. Aimee Dilger file photo|Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_C-McCormick-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAttorney Charles McCormick has been selected as city administrator by Wilkes-Barre Mayor-elect George Brown. Aimee Dilger file photo|Times Leader

By Jerry Lynott

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Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.