Candidates address Democratic breakfast

Rick Ainey, Melonie Kozlowski, Rick Franks, Commissioner MaryAnn Warren and Commissioner Leon Allen. Susan Jennings was not available for photo.

BY HELEN B. FOSTER

In the absence of Democratic Chairman Bob McNamara, Committeeman Rick Franks took over the job of being master of ceremonies for the Susquehanna County Democratic annual breakfast.

Held at the Harford Fire Hall on Saturday, Feb.  26, speakers for the annual event were County Commissioners MaryAnn Warren and Leon Allen and two candidates for auditor.

Warren and Allen are running for re-election and were given the opportunity to speak to those attending, along with auditor candidates Susan Jennings and Melonie Kozlawski. Any others who planned to enter the Democrat primary were given an opportunity to speak but no one came forward.

Commissioner Allen recounted some of the accomplishments of the office during his term. The purchase of a property next to the courthouse which will be used for expanding county services and the work of the Area Agency on Aging, were brought to the attention of those attending. Allen also spoke of his work with the Northern-Tier Regional Development. These were areas of accomplishment Allen highlighted.

“Cooperation between the commissioners has been good for the county,” Allen said, asking for support for the upcoming Primary election.

Warren spoke of her seven years as a commissioner as an opportunity to gain knowledge of the county and its residents, giving her a respect for everyone’s opinion..

She noted that the transition of the Susquehanna County Transportation program was accomplished by applying for grants and administering the funds to purchase new buses and vans without any county tax dollars.

While serving as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, serving on the State Conservation Commission and Pennsylvania’s Emergency Food Council, Warren said she has developed relationships with state and federal agencies to ensure they know Susquehanna County exists.

Warren said she had given testimony across the Commonwealth to encourage a ‘severance tax’ on natural gas drilling as every day without such a tax the state looses money.”The Commonwealth cannot continue to solely rely on pockets of the taxpayers for protecting our natural resources,” she said.

     “As your full time Commissioner, I humbly ask for your support and vote on May 17th as I continue to assist whenever needed as leading and learning go hand-in-hand,” she concluded.

Jennings and Kozlowski spoke of their qualifications and the duties of the auditor’s office, to prevent and discover fraud and to make sure all county procedures are followed.

County Commissioner Michael Giangrieco; District Attorney Jason Legg; Prothonotary Susan Eddleston; County Treasurer Cathy Benedict; District Justice Jeff Hollister; Hop Bottom Mayor Paul Henry were all recognized.

Breakfast Committee Nancy Hurley and Rick Ainey distributed the door prizes and awarded the 50/50 drawing to Bob Chamberlain.

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