Candidates to square off Friday

BY STACI WILSON

Before voters head to the polls May 17, they might want to take some time out this Friday to listen to what’s on the minds of candidates for Susquehanna County offices.

The Susquehanna County League of Women Voters is hosting a Meet the Candidates event, on Friday, May 6, 7-9 p.m., at Elk Lake High School auditorium.

Candidates seeking election as county commissioner, magisterial district judge and county auditor are expected to be in attendance.

In the municipal primary election on May 17, in addition to local council, supervisor and school board races on the ballot, six candidates (four Republicans, two Democrats) are vying for the three county commissioner posts.

Voters may cast votes for up to two candidates in both the primary and general elections. Elected county commissioners serve for four-years.

Three candidates are vying to fill the New Milford District Judge seat currently held by Peter Janicelli who is retiring at the end of this year.

Candidates are Jodi Cordner, Kathy Ragard and Raymond Telnock. All three candidates will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots.

The seat carries a six-year term. The district includes the townships of Ararat, Thompson, Jackson, Harmony, Oakland, Great Bend and New Milford and the boroughs of Thompson, Oakland, Lanesboro, Susquehanna, Great Bend, Hallstead, and New Milford. The Northern District Magisterial Office is located in New Milford Township.

MICHAEL GIANGRIECO

REPUBLICANS

The top two Republican vote-getters will secure a slot on the November ballot in the commissioners’ race. Four candidates are seeking election to the four-year post.

Michael Giangrieco, of Forest Lake, is seeking reelection to a second term as a county commissioner.

Giangrieco is a practicing attorney with an office in Montrose. In the past, he has served as the solicitor for Susquehanna County. He also serves as the solicitor for several townships and boroughs.

Alan Hall, Hallstead, currently serves as the president of the Blue Ridge School Board and has

ALAN HALL

been a board member for 13 years.

He is a Wilkes University graduate, earning a business degree, and has been employed in several management and supervisory positions.

For over 30 years Hall has volunteered with Blue Ridge Little League Inc.; and currently serves as the Regional Director for the Pennsylvania School Board Association.

Fred Baker of Auburn Twp. is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot who served in the Vietnam War. He retired from Procter & Gamble

FRED BAKER

after 25 years and attended West Chester University.

Baker is a life member of both the American Legion and Warren Lodge.

Ricky Oakley, Liberty Twp., has owned and operated an independent trucking company and mobile tire repair business on the side. For the past few years he has been hauling stone and has experienced the economic impact of state restrictions that small business owners throughout the county.

As a former dairy farmer, Oakley has been member of the Grange

RICKY OAKLEY

for 40 years, and serves as a leader in the Lawsville and Susquehanna County Pomona Grange.

Oakley describes himself as “the guy next door” who understands the concerns of the working man because he is one of them.

DEMOCRATS

MaryAnn Warren, New Milford, is seeking reelection to a third term as a county commissioner.

Warren serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Association of

MARYANN WARREN

Conservation Districts; the State Conservation Commission; and PA’s Emergency Food Council Committee.

Prior to serving as a county commissioner, Warren also served on New Milford Borough Council; and was the director of the Susquehanna County Chamber of Commerce.

Leon Allen, Springville, is also seeking reelection to the commissioner post.

Allen has experience as a business owner and is a school bus contractor with the Montrose Area School District.

LEON ALLEN

DISTRICT JUDGE

Jodi Cordner, of Harmony Twp., is a practicing attorney in Susquehanna County, and is currently a partner in the firm of Dewitt and Cordner in Susquehanna. She served for five years as the solicitor of the county’s Domestic Relations Department; solicitor for New Milford Borough and is currently a Judicare Liasion for Northern Penn Legal Services.

JODI CORDNER

Cordner has also been an Adjunct Professor at Binghamton University, teaching classes in family law and policy.

She has volunteered for the Susquehanna County Literacy Program; is a member of the Nellie Jane DeWitt Business and Professional Women; Louise Bache Women’s Club; and the Susquehanna County Council of Republican Women.

Kathy Ragard, of Great Bend, has worked in the Susquehanna County District Attorney’s office since 1996 and has been the office manager for the past 10 years. Through her work she has gained working knowledge of the Crimes and Vehicle codes.

Ragard has earned the certification required by the state to serve as a Magisterial District Judge.

For 12 years, Ragard served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for the Great Bend/Hallstead Ambulance Company; has been president of the Blue Ridge Triplets football team; and served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Knights of Columbus Council 356; and is a member of St. Lawrence Church, Great Bend.

Raymond Telnock, of Hallstead, has over 23 years experience working in law enforcement and is the owner of a private investigation firm.

Telnock has earned the certification required by the state to serve as a Magisterial District Judge.

RAYMOND TELNOCK

As a volunteer, Telnock has served as the vice president of NEPA Community Health Center; president of the Northern Tier Community Crime Watch in the Hallstead/Great Bend area; and  vice president of the New Milford Area Rotary.

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