After 37-Year Drought, Dems Control Schuylkill Courthouse; Elected Officials Sworn In
Ex-Commissioner Carl Finds Post in Private Sector
(For the Jan. 3, 2008, Call, Schuylkill Haven, PA, & the West Schuylkill Press-Herald)
By Bud Angst
Schuylkill County’s spacious Courtroom Number One was filled to overflowing Friday as county Democrats turned out to witness swearing-in ceremonies that heralded their party’s first “take-over” of county offices in 37 years. Following the Democrat victory in the recent elections, only the county offices of Recorder of Deeds and County Treasurer remain in Republican hands.
Taking their formal oaths of office Friday were Democrats Mantura Gallagher and Francis McAndrew who will constitute the Democrat majority in the County Commissioners office, and fellow Democrats Melinda Kantner, Controller; Peter J. Symons, Prothonotary; Stephen Lukach, Clerk of Courts; Register of Wills Michael McCord; and Republicans Frank Staudenmeier, County Commissioner, Matt Dudish, Recorder of Deeds, and Jacqueline “Jackie” McGovern, County Treasurer.
Symons, Lukach, Dudish, Staudenmeier and McGovern are incumbents while Kantner and McCord are newcomers to county office.
All received their oaths of office from Schuylkill County President Judge William Baldwin who, in company with Associate Judge Jacqueline “Jackie” Russell, moments earlier had been sworn into office himself. Baldwin and Russell were successful in their recent re-election effort.
Also taking the oaths of office were Magisterial District Judges Carol Pankake and Bernadette Nahas, both of whom were re-elected in November.
On becoming County Commissioner, McAndrew vacates the office of Sheriff which will be taken over by Howard Rowan, Pottsville.
All the newly-elected officials took their oaths of office individually while at the podium in the company of family members.
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremonies were Judge Joseph McClusky, now a state jurist but a former Schuylkill County president judge, U.S. Congressman Tim Holden, State Representatives James P. Goodman and his father, former PA Turnpike Commissioner James Goodman, State Representative Tim Seip, and County Associate Judges D. Michael Stine, C. Palmer Dolbin, and Charles Miller.
Robert S. Carl, Jr., who was defeated for re-election as county commissioner, did not attend the ceremonies and is reported to be on vacation. A former financial officer at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville and owner of a beverage distributorship in Pottsville, upon his return from vacation, Carl will be assuming a new position as director of real estate and development for Reading Anthracite.
Following the official ceremonies, the County Democrats hosted a well-attended celebration party at the nearby Humane Fire Company, Pottsville.
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