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2015 Voters’ GuideLACKAWANNA COUNTY

COMMISSIONERSDEMOCRATICThomas J. LukasewiczMy name is Tom Lukasewicz and I am

a candidate for Lackawanna County Com-missioner. I was born, raised and nurturedin Dickson City and became a resident ofThroop 30 years ago. Igraduated from MidValley High School in1976 and earned a bach-elor’s degree in criminaljustice from MansfieldUniversity in 1980.I have been serving

the public for 35 years.As a small constructioncontractor, I have beenwelcomed into yourhomes for 29 years. Ihave gained your respect and trust throughmy hard work and dedication to the com-munity. The voters of Throop have sup-ported and trusted me for 22 years. Theyhave elected me for six consecutive terms.I have worked with all council members toensure that all revenue sources are spentprudently with respect to current and fu-ture needs.I will bring the knowledge gained

through my life’s experiences to the com-missioner’s office. I have plenty to offerand will work resolutely for the people ofLackawanna County. I will not be partof the problem. I pledge to be part of thesolution. I will not be the one that kicksthe can down the road, I will step on thecan and crush it! It will roll no more! Iwill move Lackawanna County throughthis stressful post recession economy and

launch Lackawanna County into the 21stcentury.

Patrick O’MalleyI became a Lackawanna County Com-

missioner in 2012, and am running forreelection on the Democratic ticket withincumbent commissioner Jim Wansacz.During my first term in office, I fulfilled my2011 campaign promisesby taking the countybudget from a $1.8 mil-lion budget deficit to an$8.4 million budget sur-plus, and making countygovernment the mostefficient it has been indecades. During my firstterm, the county openedan Office of EconomicDevelopment and es-tablished a nationally recognized SmallBusiness Administration Loan Fee WaiverProgram to help small businesses set upshop in Lackawanna County. The countyalso built a brand-new stadium and res-cued its baseball franchise by negotiatinga deal with the New York Yankees, whichensures that the stadium will be kept inthe same condition as the day it openedfor 30 years. Finally, the county investedmore than $5 million in 60-plus commu-nity projects countywide. A lifelong resi-dent of Scranton, I am a graduate of WestScranton High School. I served threefour-year terms on the Scranton SchoolBoard, during which I was instrumentalin the construction of the new ScrantonHigh School. I have served as assistant di-rector of the Lackawanna County Depart-ment of Parks and Recreation and worked

as a corrections officer at the LackawannaCounty Prison and manager of my family’sbusiness, Fiorelli Catering. I have been ac-tive in numerous community events andcharitable causes. I live in Scranton withmy wife, Christine, and our sons, PatrickIII and Vincent.

Jerry NotarianniMy name is Jerry Notarianni and I am

an independent Lackawanna County busi-nessman with the experience and knowl-edge to run a more responsive and efficientcounty government.As a businessperson working hard every

day to create and retain jobs, make payrolland balance my budget,I know firsthand howoppressive our countytax structure is. Endingthe skyrocketing taxes ismy No. 1 concern.I have a three-point

tax stabilization planthat I will execute fromday one. We need prop-erty tax relief now. Weneed sound county reve-nue enhancements. Weneed better jobs through real workforcedevelopment.I will fight for the maximum level of

property tax relief for Lackawanna Countyproperty owners. I will work with the gov-ernor’s office and our leaders in the Gen-eral Assembly to get the relief LackawannaCounty property owners deserve.We can’t keep raising revenue on the

backs of the county taxpayers. As an in-dependent businessman, I know you haveto raise revenue in creative and fiscally re-

sponsible ways. Every dollar counts. Weneed to be creative and smart about oureconomy.In Lackawanna County, we are well

known for our excellent workforce and ourstrong work ethic. Economic developmentdepends on effective workforce develop-ment. We need to train our workforce withthe technical skills to attract the best com-panies that provide the best jobs.My record as an independent busi-

ness person and civic volunteer makes meuniquely qualified to be the well-roundedleader our county government needs toreach its fullest potential.

Jim WansaczI serve as the chairman of the Lacka-

wanna County Board of Commissioners,having taken office in 2012. I am runningfor reelection on the Democratic ticketwith incumbent Commissioner PatrickO’Malley. During myfirst term in office, I ful-filled my 2011 campaignpromises by taking thecounty budget from a$1.8 million deficit toan $8.4 million surplus,and making countygovernment the mostefficient it has been indecades. The countyalso opened an Office ofEconomic Developmentand established a nationally recognizedSmall Business Administration Loan FeeWaiver Program to help small businessesset up shop in Lackawanna County, creat-ing jobs and reducing unemployment. We

Please see VOTERS GUIDE, Page 6

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MOOSIC BOROUGHCOUNCIL

DEMOCRATICRobert “Bob” BeseckerI, Robert “Bob” Besecker, am announc-

ing my candidacy for my second term onMoosic Borough Council. I am a lifelongresident of Moosic being raised by my par-ents Robert and Nancy Gordon-Beseckeron Brook Street. I am a 1980 graduate ofRiverside High Schooland I have resided at506 Park Street with mywife of 20 years, Denise,for 18 years. Togetherwe have four children;Cheryl, Bryan, Kaelynand Kyle and two grand-children Fallyn and LeoHart. I have been in-volved in my commu-nity for many years serv-ing as co-vice president,fund-raising coordinator and coach of theMoosic Redwings Girls Softball along withbeing involved with the Moosic RaidersJunior Football Association.I was elected to Moosic Borough Coun-

cil in 2011 and began my first term in2012. I intend to keep Moosic Borough asafe, family-oriented and affordable com-munity. I have been committed to work-ing with my fellow council members andmayor to maintain parks and recreation forthe youth of our community and a frugaltax budget for the residents of Moosic Bor-ough. I also take pride in working hard tomake sure that the Moosic Police Depart-ment has the equipment and technologyto keep Moosic safe. I also plan to keepthe Department of Public Works equippedwith the machinery that will allow themto keep Moosic Borough well maintainedfor everybody that lives here, as well asworking with other agencies, such as theGreenwood Fire Department, to make sureresidents are safe.

Stanley KaniaMy name is Stanley J. Kania and I am

running for a seat on Moosic BoroughCouncil. I am 56 years of age and I am alifelong resident of Moosic, where I residewith my wife Janet and my two sons Stan-ley (S.J.) III and Paul Kania who are both

work for you.I’m listed first on your ballot for com-

missioner. A good vote is your first choice.

CLERK OF JUDICIAL RECORDSDEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANRobert CaseyMy name is Robert Casey and I am cur-

rently running for the position of Lackawa-nna County Clerk of Judicial Records. I am25 years old, resident of Scranton, and amabout to graduate from East StroudsburgUniversity with degrees in business man-agement, history and political science. It ismy belief that I am thebest candidate for Clerkof Judicial Records. As aScranton School Boarddirector and a memberof the NEIU board of di-rectors, I have displayedmy intense commitmentto public service and thebetterment of Lackawa-nna County. During mytime on the ScrantonSchool Board, I was responsible for over-seeing and directing a $128 million budget,making numerous difficult personnel deci-sions, and the handling of legal documentsand records. If elected to this position, Ihope to continue the fine work of MaryF. Rinaldi. I plan on bringing the officeof Clerk of Judicial Records into the 21stcentury by continuing the process of digi-tizing the office’s filing system. If elected, Iwill increase the accessibility, transparencyand efficiency of the Lackawanna CountyClerk of Judicial Records Office. This of-fice plays a critical role in the legal and lawenforcement framework of LackawannaCounty, and I believe that I have the bestqualifications to adequately serve thoseimportant communities and the citizens ofLackawanna County.

Teresa ColarussoI am Teresa Colarusso, and I would be

honored to serve you as the next Clerk ofJudicial Records. After earning my degreein political science from Loyola UniversityMaryland, I spent 10 years in Harrisburg,working first as a legislative aide in thestate senate and then for Governor Rendellin the Department of Education. During

these years, I gained experience in govern-ment operations, grant writing, and imple-menting innovative practices to improvethe lives of Pennsylvanians. After leav-ing the Rendell administration, I returnedhome to the Mid-Valleyto help expand my fam-ily’s restaurant business.In addition to strength-ening my managerialskills, I learned how tobuild upon what existsusing available resources— a skill not easily ac-quired through govern-ment experience alone.As the next clerk, I willuse these skills to continue to improve of-fice function by establishing an electronicfiling system and reducing physical storagerequirements by scanning documents filedprior to office computerization. Havingboth government and private enterpriseexperience, I believe I am uniquely quali-fied to implement these measures, whichwill improve efficiency and accessibility,while also providing savings to the taxpay-ers. I would greatly appreciate your supportand ask for your vote on May 19.

Kevin Haggerty

Mauri KellyThis office plays a vital role in our legal

and law enforcement communities. There-fore, it is critical that the next Clerk of Ju-dicial Records have thenecessary experienceand qualifications toadequately serve thosecommunities as well asthe general public. I amthe only candidate whohas the relevant expe-rience to oversee theday-to-day operations ofthis office. My qualifica-tions include 25 years’experience in legal document preparationand record keeping. For my entire careerI have worked with the very professionsand communities that the Clerk’s officeserves. Moreover, as records supervisorat the Lackawanna County Prison, I workclosely with the Clerk of Judicial Recordsstaff on a regular basis in its civil, crimi-nal and family divisions. If elected I will

make it a priority to integrate new tech-nologies as they become available to makethe Lackawanna County Clerk of JudicialRecords office one of the most accessibleand efficient row offices in the region. Ialso pledge to be a full-time clerk and willhave no outside business interests that willinterfere with my position.

Bob SheridanI am a lifelong resident of Scranton and

I care deeply about this community andthe individuals in it. I have dedicated mylife to community service, helping others,and doing my part to keep Scranton safe.I served as a police officer for the City ofScranton, I am still a Pennsylvania StateDeputy Constable, andI am the only candidateendorsed by the Frater-nal Order of Police. Asa school board memberfor the Scranton SchoolDistrict, I fought to in-crease security in ourschools with updatedfront door security, met-al detectors, and propervisitor identification. Ifounded the Dutch Hollow NeighborhoodAssociation, worked to secure a $1.3 mil-lion FEMA grant for the Stafford Mead-owbrook Flood Project, and initiated theAnnual Halloween Parade and Party atSouthside Shopping Center that is enjoyedby more than 1,000 families. My track re-cord proves my commitment to the better-ment of our area, as well as my willingnessto go above and beyond the call of duty.As your Clerk of Judicial Records, I willmake every effort to maintain the integrityof Lackawanna County’s court system andthe preservation of our documents.

Kim Yencho

COUNTY CONTROLLERDEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANGary A. DiBileo

COUNTY TREASURERDEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANEdward W. Karpovich

COUNTY CORONERDEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANTim Rowland

2015 Voters’ Guide

Please see VOTERS’ GUIDE, Page 10

FROM PAGE 6FROM PAGE 6

MAY 7, 2015 THE TRIBORO BANNER 7




FROM PAGE 7graduates of Riverside Jr./Sr. High Schooland Marywood University in Scranton,Pennsylvania. I am a graduate of BishopKlonowski High School and have a degreein Business Management from Lackawa-nna College. Prior to my retirement, I wasemployed by the Commonwealth of Penn-sylvania for 27 years as a claims managerfor State Workers Insurance fund.In my opinion, we are very fortunate as

residents of Moosic Borough. We have adedicated police force, DPW and volunteerfire company that serve all the residents ofMoosic in an exceptional manner. In orderfor these departments to provide excellentservice to the residents, they must have thenecessary equipment needed to performtheir duties. We must ensure that we havequality police cars for our officers to protectand serve our residents. Our DPWworkersneed the proper equipment and machineryto keep all our roads and alleyways pavedand pothole free. We need to keep ourparks in good condition for our children toenjoy. Finally, we must be fiscally respon-sible and transparent as to where the tax-payers’ money is being spent and as alwayskeep an eye on taxes to keep them as lowas possible.

Eugene “Buddy” PrusinskiI am seeking support for re-election for

my third term as a Moosic Borough councilofficial. As a small business owner and life-long resident of Moosic,I take great pride in ourborough and its growth.During my past eightyears of service, I havedemonstrated my com-mitment to residentsby spearheading theKane Street storm wa-ter grant, creating asmall business recyclingprogram to sustain ourrecycling efforts, reviving our recreationalplayground equipment, and ensuring pub-lic safety through the management of ourflood-control program.I will continue to honor my pledge to

residents by maintaining the current taxmillage rate, which has not increased in19 consecutive years; monitoring our aginginfrastructure for sewer, and storm watermanagement; and will seek opportunities

for energy-efficient programs.In addition to my commitment to coun-

cil, I have the honor of serving as presidentof the Lackawanna County Association ofBoroughs, your elected Third Ward Dem-ocratic Committee Representative andchairman of the Moosic Borough publicworks committee.With your support, I will ensure respon-

sible fiscal management of tax dollars and“continue the progress” of the great Bor-ough of Moosic.

John SegiliaI, John Segilia, am proudly announcing

my candidacy for Moosic Borough Coun-cil. I currently reside on Hollenback Streetwith my wife of 22 years, Marie, along withour two sons, Johnny and Jeffrey. I ama lifelong resident ofMoosic. I graduatedfrom Riverside HighSchool. I am the son ofLoretta Segilia and thelate Moosic Mayor JohnM. Segilia. I have beenemployed by the Penn-sylvania Departmentof Transportation forthe past 30 years as anequipment operator.I am an active member of our great

community. I have been a volunteer forthe Greenwood Hose Company for almost40 years, and I continue to serve the resi-dents of Moosic as an active member of thehose company. I served as vice president ofthe hose company for two years, served aspresident for 12 years, and I am a memberof the board of directors. I also serve as anusher at Divine Mercy Parish.Moosic is a great place to live and is

filled with hard-working people who sharethe same love for this town that I do. I be-lieve our residents deserve honest and dili-gent representation, and I vow to providesuch for them. I am committed to servingMoosic as my late father did, in a positivemanner. I pledge to work tirelessly for thegood of the community. I thank you foryour support.

Jerry SelwockiI am announcing my candidacy for

Moosic Borough council and seek your sup-port to continue serving residents whereI have done so for the past six months as

your councilman. As a lifelong resident ofMoosic, I am familiar with the town, it’sresidents, and their needs. I currently re-side in Moosic with my wife Sharon wherewe raised our three children, Christina,Joshua and Jerry Jr.I attended St. Mary’s Elementary

School, South Catholic High School andgraduated with a bachelor of science de-gree from Wilkes Uni-versity.As a youth, I was a

member of Troop 18Moosic and later be-came a committeemanwhen our sons wherescouts, and served as amerit badge counselor.I also coached softballwhen our daughterplayed Miss E Ball atKobesky Field, and had the opportunity towatch our sons play Little League on thesame field I did as a boy.I am a Veteran of the United States Air

Force serving from 1969-1973 as a medic.I am retired from the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania Department of PublicWelfare. During my 20 years of service,I worked with the Lackawanna CountyChildren and Youth Agency providingmedical benefits for children in placementsand adoptions, The Blind Association forapplicants applying for state blind pen-sions, and public assistance programs forthe residents of Lackawanna County.With your support, I will establish pro-

grams that reassure the growth and pros-perity of residents and “continue the prog-ress” of the great Borough of Moosic.

OLD FORGE BOROUGHCOUNCIL

DEMOCRATICJennifer CordianoMy name is Jennifer Stone Cordiano

and I am announcing my candidacy for theOld Forge Borough Council. I have resid-ed in Old Forge for the past 15 years withmy husband Rich, a graduate of Old ForgeHigh School and longtime resident. Ourson Stone is in the third grade at Old ForgeElementary. I have resided in Old Forge for15 years, and have been a homeowner forthe past 13.I am a graduate of Temple University

with a bachelor of arts degree in commu-

nication sciences and have been employedat VaxServe, a Sanofi Pasteur Company,for the past eight years in contractingand business support. I am a United Wayvolunteer and Community Care Teammember benefiting lo-cal organizations suchas, The Boys and GirlsClub, Marley’s Mission,Bread Basket of NEPAand EOTC. I am also afounding member of theSnow Forge Committee,and have volunteeredwith the Old Forge Li-ons Little League, OldForge Athletic Associa-tion, Old Forge Youth Basketball and theOld Forge Elementary PTA.My vision for Old Forge is to give each

resident a voice when it comes to impor-tant decisions in our community. In mak-ing those decisions we need to have a plan— and enact that plan — to best cultivatethe great resources our community offers. Iam proud to be part of a team that sharesthat same motivation and vision whilecommitting to set a positive example forall residents of Old Forge.

Lou FebboMy name is Lou Febbo and I am a can-

didate for the Old Forge Borough Council.I am a lifelong resi-

dent of Old forge and agraduate of Old ForgeHigh School. In addi-tion, I am a veteran ofthe U.S. Navy.I received a Bachelor

of Science degree in spe-cial education and ele-mentary education fromMansfield Universityand a master’s equiva-lency in special education from MarywoodUniversity and Penn State University. Iwas a special education teacher for NEIU19 for 32 years. In addition, I was co-own-er of Febbo’s Auto Sales and Johnny’s AutoSales.I married Rosemary, an alumna of Old

Forge High School and we raised two chil-dren, Louis and Maura. We also have a





FROM PAGE 10grandson, Louis.I am deeply involved in my community

serving on several organizations. I am cur-rently president of The Sons of Italy Glo-ria Lodge in Old Forge. I am a member ofthe Felittese Association, the DowntownBocce Court League, the Connell Rod andGun Club, and the Public School Employ-ees’ Retirement System.Currently, I counsel “at risk “ students

and their families and work together tohelp the students successfully completetheir education to gain part-time employ-ment and move forward to become success-ful citizens of the community.As your elected councilman and work-

ing with you, my constituents, I plan to usemy educational, business and managementexperiences to revitalize Old Forge withcreative and innovative ideas and restoreits reputation as the gem of the Down Val-ley.

Chuck Karam

Allan McAndrewMy name is Allan McAndrew, and I am

announcing my candidacy for Old ForgeBorough Council.I have resided in Old

Forge for more than30 years, raising threedaughters, Katie, Jamieand Theresa McAn-drew. I hold an associ-ate’s degree in businessadministration fromthe Pennsylvania StateUniversity along witha paralegal certificate. Iretired from the Commonwealth of Penn-sylvania where I worked for the StateWorkers’ Insurance Fund, serving manypositions, including claims manager, divi-sion chief and investigator during my 37years there.I have previously served as president of

the American Federation of State Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME),and life member of the National Rifle As-sociation. I am also a member of the Facto-ryville Sportsmen’s Club and the NationalWild Turkey Federation (NWTF) – Lack-awanna Longspurs Chapter.I have raised three daughters here in

Old Forge, the best place in northeast

Pennsylvania and now have a grandsonwho, with your support, will grow up withthat same experience. We are challengedby a need to modernize and a desire to goback to the good old days. We can do bothwith a plan developed by listening to thepeople, calling on the talents of both ourmature and young citizens. There is nosubstitute for the experience of life or theenthusiasm of youth.Our plan will be guided by our vision to

move forward and preserve the traditionswe are so proud of. Past generations haveearned this. Future generations deserve noless. I ask for your support for our team.Russ Rinaldi

Dominick VenderMy name is Dominick Vender and I

am seeking your vote forreelection to Old ForgeBorough Council. I re-side in Old Forge withmywifeMary. I have twosons and daughter-in-laws, and five grandchil-dren. I have more thana decade of experiencein local government in-cluding: chairman of theSewer Agency, chair-man of DPW, memberof the Planning Commission, memberof the Finance Committee and previousmember of the Personnel Committee. Iam currently involved with paving proj-ects, improvement to our recycling pro-gram, and in the process of upgrading theDPW vehicles without additional costs totax payers. I strived and succeeded not toincrease borough property taxes over thepast eight years and substantially reducedthe sewer rates.We are presently renovating Miles

Street Park for the youth of Old Forge. Iam looking forward to new ideas for the fu-ture of borough council. I am always opento allocating my time to the concerns andneeds of the community. I am asking foryour vote so that I may continue to serveour community with the same passion anddedication that I have in the past. I willcontinue to move our town in a positivedirection for a bright future. Thank youand I appreciate your vote.

REPUBLICAN

Joseph FerrettTAYLOR BOROUGH

COUNCILDEMOCRATICTom Bracey

Francis “Frank” DeAngeloMy name is Francis DeAngelo, Sr. and I

am a candidate for Taylor Borough Coun-cil in the upcoming primary election. I am

a lifelong resident ofTaylor and a graduate ofRiverside High School.I served in the U.S.Army and, after beingdischarged, I continuedto serve my country inthe Army Reserves for23 years. I retired from

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Tobyhanna Army Depot with 39 years ofemployment.Currently, I am the chairman of the

Taylor Planning Commission and I am ful-ly abreast of all important projects ongoingin the Borough.I also chair the Taylor Veterans Memo-

rial Committee. This committee took overthe planning of the memorial and workeddiligently until the project was completedto the point that we were able to dedicatethe memorial this past Veterans Day.I currently serve on the Lackawanna

County 911 Committee, which plans theFlag Day Ceremony at the LackawannaCourt House and the 911 Ceremony atMcDade Park.I would like to see more economic de-

velopment, which would raise our tax baseand generate revenue and also more com-munity involvement.My wife Delphine and I recently cel-

ebrated our 45th wedding anniversary.We have two children and three grand-children. I am a member of Divine MercyParish. I am an active member of the R&LCivic Club, Taylor Post 306, VFW OldForge, the Victor Alfieri Society and theDante Club.You, “the citizens of Taylor,” will be my

No. 1 priority.I respectfully ask for your vote on May

19 and pledge to the citizens of Taylor thatI will be your full-time councilman.

Edward DerenickMy name is Edward Derenick and I am

running for Taylor Borough Council inMay to hopefully replace Eugene Galla-gher, who has resigned his position whenit was revealed that he forged absenteeballots in order to win his seat on TaylorCouncil. He proved to be more concernedwith winning than the will of the peopleand their right to choose their representa-tives.I’ve lived in Taylor my entire life, grad-

uated from Taylor High School in 1956and raised my three sons here with mywife, Helen Marie. All I’ve ever wantedto do and what I worked for when I wason council was to help our community andbuild a town where our voice matters andisn’t taken away from us when it mattersmost, in the ballot box. I built an auto re-pair business here and I want to help other

businesses in growing the our communityand continuing to thrive.Your vote matters and if you vote to re-

turn me to council I will use my 36 yearsexperience on that council to fight forwhat you and your families need, try to bea watchdog against those who might abuseyour trust in them, but most of all improveour town. I will never take you for grantedand will work hard to try and give you thehome town you deserve.

Brian FallonI, Brian Fallon, am a lifelong resident

of the Taylor Borough, and a Democraticcandidate. I reside here with my wife Janet.We have two sons, Brent and Dane, andalso three grandchildren.I am a graduate from Riverside High

School, and I received my associate’s de-gree from Johnson College in mechanicaltechnology and machinist field.My work history includes being a ma-

chinist at the now defunct AmemostatCorporation for 10 years, as well as being aPPL lineman, substation electrician, for 27years. I was also the owner and presidentof Winola Water Company for five years.I’m currently serving on the Taylor

Planning Commission, and I have been forapproximately 14 years. Projects I have un-dertaken are the planning and overseeingof the colliery area, storm water manage-ment, Oak Street, Third Street, and otherunderdeveloped areas in Taylor.These and other ongoing projects in

Taylor will bring about growth, and devel-opment, resulting in much needed revenuefor our town.If elected, I will strive to keep taxes as

low as possible, bring new businesses intoTaylor to improve revenue, and makingthe overall quality of life better.I am asking for your voting consider-

ation on Election Day.

George KofiraI am a lifelong resident of Taylor and a

16-year member of Taylor Borough coun-cil. I have been involved with numerousorganizations and committees, includingR&L Club and Taylor Little League andhave been honored for my service by manyof them. Upon reelection my focus will beon storm water upgrades, working to final-ize the patch and colliery projects, as wellas address the paving issues in the borough.The borough is highly populated with

senior citizens who live on fixed incomes.It would be in everyone’s best interest forcouncil and school board to work togetherto develop new policies to avoid further taxincreases. Also, I strongly believe that ifyou are a teacher in the district, you shouldbe a resident of the district as well. This isanother issue that needs to be addressed.

REPUBLICANGloria Gazda ThielHaving previously served four years as

a council woman, I bring, not only experi-ence, but also a working knowledge to theposition.During my tenure, I

served on many coun-cil committees, mostimportantly the PublicSafety Committee; hav-ing co-authored the po-lice department’s codeof ethics.Moving forward,

some of the key projectsI foresee are:1. Increasing busi-

ness opportunities for the borough andmaintaining and strengthening the currentstructure of the police department.2. Aggressively promoting the develop-

ment and sale of the colliery land.3. Further enhance communication be-

tween borough council and the communi-ty by providing weekly updates to promoteborough initiatives and events.I am married to James Thiel and have

two children, Amber and Ryan, alongwith three grandchildren. I am a lifelongresident of Taylor having graduated fromTaylor-Moosic High School and Lackawa-nna College, majoring in business. Prior tomy retirement I handled administrative re-sponsibilities and sales for Schneider Pack-aging Equipment.My work responsibilities, as well as my

previous experience on council, indicate Iam well qualified, capable and prepared todo my best for the citizens of Taylor.I ask for your support and your vote in

the upcoming election.

OLD FORGE SCHOOLDIRECTOR

DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANMarie Pero CiuferriI, Marie Pero Ciuferri, am seeking re-

election to the Old Forge School Board.

I am a lifelong resident of Old Forge,where my husband Rich and I raised ourtwo daughters, Dr. Maria Ciuferri Wansaczand Gina Ciuferri Dominick. Rich and Iboth graduated fromOld Forge High School,and our daughters arealso Old Forge HighSchool graduates. Theyboth reside in Old Forgewith my sons-in-law,Jim and Joey, and mygrandchildren, Nadiaand Jace Wansacz, andJoey, Briella and AlyssaDominick.I am retired from the Old Forge School

District where I served as an administra-tive assistant for 28 years. I am also a life-long member of St. Mary’s Church and thePrince of Peace Parish, and a member ofthe Lackawanna County Commission forWomen. I am a former member of the OldForge PTA, Old Forge PTSA and the OldForge School District’s ComprehensiveStrategic Plan Steering Committee.As a retiree, I know the importance of

keeping the cost of education affordable toour community, but I also know the impactan Old Forge School District educationcan make on our children first-hand, andthe importance of giving our children thetools needed to succeed after high school.We need to strike a balance of both with-out surrendering the value of education.

Debbie Stallone DeSandoMy name is Debbie Stallone DeSando

and I am a candidate for reelection tothe office of school di-rector in Old Forge. Iam a lifelong residentof Old Forge and amproud to be a memberof OFHS Class of 1981and a 1985 graduate ofThe Pennsylvania StateUniversity. I have beeninvolved in communityand school organiza-tions since my childrenwere in kindergarten, serving on the ex-ecutive board of the PTA, as well as hold-ing the office of vice-president and presi-dent of the Old Forge Elementary PTA. In2007 I had the privilege of being elected



FROM PAGE 11



to the Old Forge School Board and havededicated the last eight years working toensure our school stays positive, progres-sive and fair despite challenging economictimes. My goal has always been to be thevoice for everyone in our town — regard-less of your name or your family affiliation.My focus will continue to be taxpayers,parents, school employees and, most im-portantly, the students. We have come toa time where we cannot sustain our districtdoing business “the way it always was.”Tough decisions need to be made and theyneed to be made without bias or conflictsof interest. These decisions will lead tocreative solutions that must be mindful ofour taxpayer burden without compromis-ing our children’s education. I ask for yourhelp in this challenge on May 19 by votingDebbie Stallone DeSando for Old ForgeSchool Board. Right team, right time,right reasons! Thank you!

Julie GrimesMy name is Julie Grimes and I am run-

ning for the Old Forge School Board. I aman Old Forge native and a 1981 graduate ofOFHS. I attended Wilkes University earn-ing a bachelor of science degree in comput-er information systems graduating magnacum laude and I was named CIS graduateof the year. From there,I attended Drexel Uni-versity graduating with amaster of science degreein information systemsearning a 4.0 GPA. Af-ter graduating, I special-ized in large scale enter-prise business systemsas a project managerand efficiencies expert,where I streamlined pro-cesses, negotiated contracts, and ensuredprojects were on time and on budget. I alsoworked as an adjunct assistant professor atDrexel University. Additionally, I workedas the department chair and instructor foran online university, developing coursecurriculum and serving as administratorfor the computer science department. I be-lieve in Main Street America and our com-munity. I also believe in our children andthe public school system and attribute mysuccess to the solid foundation I receivedat Old Forge. I have no conflicts of interest,

no family ties to any OFHS teachers, andno hidden agenda. My goal is to representall taxpayers in the borough including, ourteachers and staff. In these unstable eco-nomic times, I believe my education, solidwork ethic and management and negotiat-ing skills make me the ideal candidate forOld Forge School Board. I humbly ask foryour vote on May 19. Right team, righttime, right reasons.

James J. HooverMy name is Jim Hoover. I am running

for a second term as an Old Forge schooldirector. I am a lifelong resident of OldForge. I graduated in 1976 from Old ForgeHigh School, went on to Johnson Schoolof Technology, and received an associatedegree in drafting and design technologyand auto cad design. Iam currently employedat Pennsylvania Ameri-can Water Company.My wife Kimberly and Ihave a daughter, Taylor,who is a junior at OldForge High School. Sheis a member of the peermediation team and theLady Devils Basketballteam. Our district mustmake changes for the better, but we can-not instill the cost of these changes as a taxburden on the 8,500 residents of our greatcommunity of Old Forge. We must be fis-cally responsible because the decisions thatwe make affect not only the district, butthe well-being of the entire community.We need to provide the best possible pro-grams and educational skills while beingaware that our local tax burden cannotbear the entire cost. The district cannotbe sustained at the current rate. Over thelast few years we have come to some verycritical issues in the district but we haveto stay united as a community and meetthese challenges head on. We must dowhat is right for students and the district.On May 19 I ask that you vote Jim Hooverfor school director. Right team, right time,right reasons! Thank you!

Megan McCabeMy name is Megan Orr McCabe. I’m

a candidate for Old Forge School Board.I graduated from Scranton Prep in 1993,the University of Scranton in 1997 and the

University of Delaware in 1999. Althoughnot a lifelong resident of Old Forge, Ihave immersed my family into our townwholeheartedly for almost 10 years. I havefive children in the district (kindergartenthrough 7th grade). I’veserved on the PTA ex-ecutive board and amcurrently PTA presi-dent. I have workedwith local communityleaders to bring healthand safety programs intothe school. I respect oursmall school district andall of its employees. I ama parent, a taxpayer, avolunteer and a unionmember. I truly believe I can bring a new,diverse and unbiased perspective to theboard. My priority is and always will beto provide our children with the best qual-ity education that we, as taxpayers, can af-ford. Things need to change or we face thepossibility of losing our district as we knowit. We need to work together, compromiseand creatively think outside the box to findways to keep the programs we already havewhile hopefully bringing in new ones. Weneed to show our teachers they’re valuedwhile still being fiscally responsible to thetaxpayers. We need to bring our focus backto the education of the students! Pleasevote Megan McCabe for Old Forge SchoolBoard on May 19. Right team, right time,right reasons!

Debbie Nocera PepsinMy name is Debbie Nocera Pepsin and

I am a candidate for the Old Forge SchoolBoard.I am a lifelong resident of Old Forge

as was my late husband, Stanley PepsinJr. We both graduated from Old ForgeHigh School, as didour daughter Ariane,who will graduate fromTemple University thisspring with a degree injournalism.I continued my edu-

cation at East Strouds-burg University whereI graduated summa cumlaude with a bachelor’sdegree in elementaryeducation, and have served the Old Forge

School District as an educator for 33 years.I have also served as head cheerleadingadvisor for 18 years and have been ath-letic director for the past 10 years. I alsovolunteer my time with Race for the Cure,Coaches v. Cancer, St. Joseph’s Festivaland the Catherine McCauley Center, in-volving our students in these activities aswell.My desire to serve as on the school

board is fueled by my unyielding belief inthe public school system. I believe that, asa community, we have the opportunity toeducate every child to the best of our abil-ity, providing everything we can to supportour children while weighing financial deci-sions carefully for both our taxpayers andour students. My loyalty to our district isunwavering, and I will work to the best ofmy ability to ensure our “One Town, OneSchool” motto remains intact for years tocome.I humbly ask for your support, and

thank you for your consideration.

Dana Koval PezzutiMy name is Dana Koval Pezzuti, and I

am announcing my can-didacy for the Old ForgeSchool Board.I have resided in Old

Forge for more than 13years with my husbandBobby – a lifelong resi-dent and a graduate ofOld Forge High School.We have two children,Bobby (6) and Maddi-son (3).I am a licensed and registered occupa-

tional therapist for the past 15 years, earn-ing my associates degree in occupationaltherapy and letters in arts and sciencesfrom the Pennsylvania State University.While working full-time, I earned a bach-elor’s degree in health sciences and a mas-ter’s degree in occupational therapy fromMisericordia University.My motivation to seek a seat on the Old

Forge School Board stems from my passionto help people and steer our school districtin the proper direction so our children re-ceive the best possible educational basewe can offer them to prepare them to gainhigher education. It is our responsibility asparents to provide a healthy environment



FROM PAGE 12



for our children to learn in, and it is ourresponsibility as adult leaders in a greatcommunity to assure we promote this en-vironment in an economically responsiblemanner.In closing, I feel I have many great qual-

ities to offer on a personal and professionallevel, and I want to share my expertise asan Old Forge School Director. I am a hardworker, self-motivated and work well withpeople of all ages. I thank you for your sup-port and consideration.

Chris SickleMy name is Chris Sickle, and I am a

candidate for one ofthe five open seats onthe Old Forge SchoolBoard.I am a resident of

the Borough of OldForge for the past 13years with my wife Mi-chele, and our two chil-dren, Christopher (13)and Karen (9), both ofwhom are students inthe Old Forge School District.I earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary

education citizenship studies from Blooms-burg University and currently work as anaccount manager for W. W. Grainger. Iam also a past board member of the OldForge Athletic Association, and have vol-unteered as a coach in the Old Forge LionsLittle League, the Old Forge Youth Basket-ball League, and for the Old Forge Jr. BlueDevils.I have chosen to seek election to the

Old Forge School Board because I am afervent supporter of both public educationand the well-rounded education providedby our school district community. I believethat it is our responsibility to develop andimprove that education, rather than sitback and complain about the status quo.I am proud to have my children edu-

cated in the Old Forge School District andrealize our community’s most importantmembers are our children. I have witnessedthose children do everything short of movemountains to make our school communityproud in both academics and athletics.They deserve the same effort from theirleaders.I humbly ask for your support, and

thank you for your consideration.

RIVERSIDE SCHOOL DIRECTORDEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICANGeorge Bieber

Caryn EmilianiI am 1985 graduate of Riverside and I

am seeking nominations on both the Dem-ocratic ballot (position8) and the Republicanballot (position 2).I am excited to take

this first step toward be-ing elected to the Riv-erside School Board. Ihave been honored andhumbled by the amountof support I have alreadyreceived and I hope thatthe residents of Moosicand Taylor view me asa great choice to represent them on theboard of education.I’m running for the board to ensure each

student who graduates leaves the districtwith pride after receiving a quality educa-tion, obtained in a safe and encouragingenvironmentMy goal is to maintain fiscal responsibil-

ity to the district and for our taxpayers.I reside in the Greenwood section of

Moosic with my son Ryan, a seventh gradestudent at Riverside. I served for five yearsas the treasurer of the Riverside East El-ementary PTA and also served as treasurerfor the Riverside Marching Band BoosterClub. I am a 1987 graduate of LackawannaCollege with a degree in business admin-istration.I am employed as an insurance under-

writer for Excalibur Insurance Manage-ment Services and I am responsible for theadministration of several hundred public-entity insurance policies across the Com-monwealth of Pennsylvania.Thank you for your support on Election

Day, May 19.

Kenneth Hammerstedt, III

Linda Smerdon JoyceI am a lifelong resident of Moosic, mar-

ried to John Joyce and have a daughter,Colleen. My parents are the late Ken “Pea-nuts” and Irene Smerdon.

A graduate of Riverside High School,I received a bachelor of science degree inbusiness administration from Bethel Col-lege, McKenzie, Tennessee, as well as anelementary education degree from Mary-wood College, Dunmore. I worked forNEIU 19 for 32 yearsand received numerousin-service credits fromthem and the Pennsyl-vania Department ofEducation.As a previous board

member, I served aspresident and chairedmany committees, oneof which was instrumen-tal in starting our soccerprogram. While on the board I was able tosecure $375,000 in grants for the district. Ialso served two years as representative tothe Career Technology Center Joint Op-erating Board as treasurer, the NEIU 19board of directors and as Riverside legisla-tive representative.I have always been active within the

Riverside community, be it in the schooldistrict or Moosic Borough. I presentlyserve as co-chairperson for the annualSpike Island Easter egg hunt. In the schooldistrict, I have served as president of themarching unit booster club, was active inelementary plays and as county PTA Re-flections chair.As a school board member you always

invest in the best tools to educate childrenin the classroom or extra-curricular ven-ues. I will be transparent to the taxpayersand make choices that are in the best in-terest of the school district, not the politi-cally correct ones.

Charles R. Maurer Jr.I, Charles Maurer Jr. of Scott St. in

Moosic, am seeking a seat on the RiversideSchool Board in the upcoming primaryelection. I am a lifelong resident of Moosicand a graduate of Riverside High School.My wife, Marion, and I are the proud par-ents of three children, Marion Lynn, Vir-ginia and Ashley, who are all graduates ofRiverside High School, and a granddaugh-ter, Kayla who currently attends RiversideHigh School.For the past 43 years, I have been em-

ployed by the Moosic Borough Police De-partment and for the last 24 years as the

chief of police. If I am elected to the River-side School Board, my priorities would beto work with our professional educators toensure the best possible education for ourchildren, strengthen our special needs edu-cation programs, work to improve existingprograms and to expand extracurricularactivities. I would also develop a compre-hensive business plan in order to pay downour debt and to hold the line on taxes,explore additional grant opportunities forcomputer and green technologies, as wellas renewable energy. I would be open andaccessible to the concerns and needs of thestudents, taxpayers, parents, and our pro-fessional staff.I am asking for your support and prom-

ise I will always work faithfully for thestudents and taxpayers of the RiversideSchool District.

Mary Antoniacci McHughAs a resident of Moosic, here is where

I raised 3 children, Frank, Michael, andMandy all Riverside alums, and have sixgrandchildren. My fami-ly and I are active mem-bers of Divine MercyParish.I graduated from the

University of Scran-ton, with a degree inbusiness/ economics. Icontinued my educa-tion while working andreceived a certificationfrom Marymount Col-lege, New York, in risk management andmy CFP (certified financial planning). Ihave served on various boards in both mycommunity, and in business.My 32 years in the insurance industry

(healthcare and workers’ compensation)has afforded me leadership positions atBlue Cross of NEPA, EBI Companies,Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Indus-try and currently at WR Berkley. I possessstrong knowledge and understanding ofself-insurance, actuarial reporting, reserv-ing practices and fiscal reporting. I haveentered into and negotiated contracts andworked with unions and collective bar-gaining agreements.My extensive knowledge and unique

skill sets will enable the board to plan, setpolicy and evaluate results. I will partner



FROM PAGE 13



2015 Voters’ GuideFROM PAGE 14

with legislators to restore state funding andaddress and seek innovative solutions toaddress our deficits.The betterment of our community de-

pends on the caliber of education andprovide in our schools for our studentsand teachers. I am blessed to have raisedmy family in a wonderful community of“Viking Pride,” and am passionate aboutelevating it to the fullest potential. I re-spectfully request your vote.

Laura McGowan

James SchiavoMy name is James Schiavo; I am a resi-

dent of Taylor for 40 years. As a lifelongDemocrat, I have always done my best tomake the right decisions for all parties. Iam seeking re-election to the RiversideSchool Board on both Democrat and Re-publican ballots.As a lifelong Triboro resident, I have

been involved in numerous youth activitiesin the Taylor area. These include the Tay-

lor Recreation Com-mission, Taylor LittleLeague, Taylor Lions Jr.Football, Girls Softball,the Riverside SoftballBooster Club and asa basketball coach forthe Taylor CommunityCenter, Holy Cross andSt. Ann’s leagues.I am currently su-

perintendent of theOld Forge Cemetery, a board member ofthe First Credit Union and a member ofthe Taylor Lions and R&L Clubs. I heldthe position of paymaster at the ScrantonPost Office and steward for the APWU, formore than 40 years.I feel that children need to be well-

rounded, so a quality education is my toppriority. I am interested in exploring ad-ditional recreational opportunities forour youth to help them achieve their fullpotential. These goals must be achievedin the most efficient manner to avoid anywaste of taxpayers’ dollars. Thus, we cangive our youth a reason to stay in this areaand/or return following a college educa-

tion.My wife, the former Barbara Lashevicki,

of the Greenwood section of Moosic. Wehave five children (James, Matthew, Wil-liam, David and Susan) and a granddaugh-ter Samantha McGraw, all graduates ofRiverside.

Dave SweetmanI was born in 1967 in Taylor, Pennsyl-

vania and have resided in Taylor for allbut the recent five years, when I lived inMoosic. I have four children who have allattended and graduated from the RiversideSchool District. I also have one grandchildattending Riverside and two more ages fiveand eight months soon to attend. I servedas a volunteer firefighter with Taylor HoseCompany 95-1 from 1986 to 2006 where Iwasfirecaptain2005-06.Whilemychildren

were in school, I was a coach for bothMissyLeague softball and Junior Vikings football.Currently I am employed as a terminalmanager for JED Trucking where my du-ties include coordinating freight deliver-ies to a multitude of destinations, review-ing and verifying all paperwork such asbills of lading and cargo lists, assigningresponsibilities to employees, and enforc-ing compliance policies. In maintain-ing customer satisfaction, I have devel-oped very strong communication andnegotiation skills in order to establish astrong and positive customer relationship.I believe that I would make a valuable ad-dition to the Riverside School Board. Iam devoted to this school and community,and would work to ensure that the boardand community be able to meet all chal-lenges that lie ahead.

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