2019 General Election: Schuylkill Row Offices
Schuylkill County voters will be voting for people to fill several row offices on Tuesday. Here’s a look at the candidates:
Prothonotary
Bridget McGowan Miller
Republican
Background: I was born and raised in Port Carbon, now reside in Orwigsburg with Dave, my husband of 33 years. I am a graduate of Nativity BVM High School and attended Luzerne County Community College. I have 20 years of banking experience. I started at a local bank where my dedication resulted in promotions to branch manager, mortgage loan officer and assistant vice president. I work as vice president of office operations for our family business.
Qualifications: Running for a county office is an opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me. My management style is “hands on.” I will lead by example to create a courteous, respectful and service oriented office. My 40-plus years in banking and the construction business have taught me to be efficient, organized and detail oriented. I work confidently within strict budgets and demanding guidelines.
Priorities if elected: Most importantly my work experience has taught me fiscal responsibility, which will be my number one priority from Day One. We must have full fiscal transparency in the Office of Prothonotary.
Mark Atkinson
Democrat
Background: I am a graduate of the Pottsville Area High School and The Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center Paramedic Training Institute. I worked in the Philadelphia Fire Department and earned unit citations for outstanding work and bravery in the line of duty while in Philadelphia. In 1992, I continued to work as a paramedic while serving on the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council — State Rescue Task Force, EMS for Children & Paramedic Advisory Committees.
Qualifications: In 1998, I left EMS to become a safety manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections where I served as a department liaison to the Pennsylvania Counter-Terrorism Task Force and adjunct instructor to the Department of Corrections Training Academy. In 2015, I became the safety director for E.J. Breneman in West Lawn. I am currently the safety & security supervisor at Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital.
Priorities if elected: I want to restore integrity and correct the fiscal mismanagement of the Prothonotary Office. I have served on Pottsville city council for nearly 10 years. Since 2015, I have served as the director of accounts & finance for the city of Pottsville overseeing an $8.5 million budget. Using a combination of my civilian and military leadership skills, I have gained the trust of the citizens of Pottsville for the past 10 years while judiciously administering the city budget.
CORONER
Dr. David Moylan
Republican
Background: I am seeking a third term as Schuylkill County Coroner. I am a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, with internship and residency in internal medicine at Bryn Mawr Hospital, and residency in radiation oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia. I have been a practicing physician for more than 40 years and a board certified radiation oncologist. I am currently the medical director of the Simon Kramer Cancer Institute, New Philadelphia.
Achievements: The virtual autopsy protocols I put into effect in 2012 have saved the county significant amounts of money by removing the need for open, traditional autopsies. A virtual autopsy is performed with an in-depth CT scan. A traditional autopsy would cost the county about $1,000 each — if we must obtain a board-certified forensic pathologist, the cost exceeds $2,600. The cost of a virtual autopsy is $50 for the technician deputy plus $30 for two assistant deputies.
Priorities if elected: I am proposing to offer a new service to families of deceased patients. This new service would be the provision of genetic analysis to assess the risk of hereditary cancers for family. This will be done at no expense to taxpayers and at a truly minimal fee to families, to obtain this invaluable information.
Deb Detweiler
Democrat
Background: I am 47 years old, I was born and raised in Schuylkill County and it’s where I have chosen to raise my own family. I am a mother of five and a grandmother of five. I was raised in a large family setting where moral values and a strong work ethic were instilled in us. I have been employed by the county of Schuylkill for 26 years.
Qualifications: I work in both Schuylkill and Berks County Coroner’s Offices as a deputy coroner. I am state certified as a death investigator. I have handled well over 500 death investigations during my career thus far and have the knowledge of pertinent laws, statues and ordinances normally associated with the Coroner’s Office. Having been given the privilege to work as a deputy coroner in Berks County has allowed me to see where improvements can be made in Schuylkill County’s Office. I would like to bring those ideas and solutions to our county.
Priorities if elected: To restore integrity back into the office of the coroner and to be there for the families when they are at their most vulnerable time providing the compassion, sympathy and support that they need. I believe the office is an important part of people’s lives, especially in the event of the death of a friend or loved one. The many solutions I bring to the table will attain better results than the status quo.
CLERK OF COURTS
Maria Casey
Republican
Background: A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Pittsburgh Law School. I am the daughter of Kathleen and the late Joseph M. Casey. Casey served as the former first assistant district attorney for Schuylkill County. My skills and over 28 years of experience are essential to properly administer the Clerk of Courts Office, which handles all criminal filings, processes bail, licenses private detectives and constables, and takes costs, fines and restitution payments.
Achievements: I brought much needed change to an office that was financially compromised and under investigation by state and federal authorities. Stringent internal controls now exist in the office to ensure that the taxpayers’ moneys are protected. I also work with the other row officers by having all moneys independently counted by the treasurer and transported to the bank by the sheriff’s office.
Priorities if elected: Protecting your taxpayer dollars is her primary focus. Casey’s other primary focus is putting victims first. Concentrating on restitution being restored to victims, her Office has paid over $901,000 in restitution to crime victims. Additionally, she implemented a new program where defendants who post their own bail must pay restitution to victims before getting their bail back.
Ron Pellish
Democrat
Background: I was born and raised in Pottsville and graduated from Nativity BVM High School and King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. Later, I earned my law degree from South Texas College of Law — Houston graduating in 1976. The Clerk of Courts Office handles criminal law matters. I have been practicing criminal law for 43 years. I have tried countless criminal trials. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve. My wife, Linda, and I have been married for almost 47 years. We have three children.
Qualifications: In 1978, I opened my own practice and have been practicing in Pottsville from that date to the present. I was a former board member, Vice President and President of the Schuylkill County Bar Association and Zone II Governor of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which oversaw the counties of Schuylkill, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon. I also served for many years on the house of delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Top priorities if elected: Management, meeting with all of the personnel working in the office for the purpose of formulating a plan to have the office run more effectively and efficiently, forming a team approach to management so that each of the employees could assist each other at any given time. I would formulate policies and procedures to be followed by all of the employees in the office. I want the office to be more uniform and organized.
TREASURER
Catherine Cat Mahon
Democrat
Background: I graduated from Pottsville Area High School and completed my bachelor’s degree in business at Penn State Schuylkill. After graduation, I enlisted in the United States Army and serve in the Corps of Engineers as a reservist. My MOS is 12N, a heavy equipment operator, and I am a specialist. I work at Evans Delivery in Schuylkill Haven as a system analyst, and I’m finishing my master’s degree in Information Systems at Drexel University.
Qualifications: I have the experience and education to support and innovate the office. Technology is critical to the management and improvement of any organization. You can use information systems to make things faster, more efficient, or more user friendly for the people. I am uniquely experienced and educated in this area and want to make these kinds of changes to the office.
Top priorities if elected: In today’s world, it’s easy for people to feel alienated by government organizations. I think that the key to changing that starts at the local level. I want to work with the individuals and organizations that use the office to make changes that benefit everybody. Many local nonprofit organizations work with the office to obtain the proper licenses to conduct fundraising activities.
Linda Gallo Marchalk
Republican
Background: I am a lifelong resident of Schuylkill County and reside in Barnesville, Ryan Township. I am a graduate of Blue Mountain High School and earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration as well as my Paralegal Certificate from Penn State University. I am vice president of Northeast Edge Associates, LLC and have been a small-business owner since 2005.
Qualifications: Conducted a first time in decades bidding process for Financial Institutions to bid on the custody of the taxpayer’s money. The interest income earned now exceeds $1 million. Lead the charge to move the pension funds money away from Actively managed Funds to low cost Passive Index funds to minimize investment fees. Scoured the County and the internet to bring Hotel and other properties into compliance with the County’s Room Tax Ordinance.
Top priorities if elected: I have made effective decisions and are always looking at how technology can streamline reporting and processing for the good of the public. By re-electing me, you are getting more for all the experience I have gained with my hands-on approach in the Treasurer’s Office. I look forward to making Schuylkill County fiscally responsible and a better place of live and work.
REGISTER OF WILLS
Joe Dutchie Ferraro
Democrat
Background: I was born and raised in Schuylkill county and that is where I have chosen to raise my family. I am a father of 3 great children and have been with my wife Maryjo, for 21 years. In 2000 I was hired in Port Carbon Borough as a part-time patrolman and in 2003 I was promoted to a full-time police officer for Port Carbon Borough and then was promoted to chief of police in 2014.
Qualifications: I have investigated hundreds of crimes with many of them being very sensitive cases which left no room for error. I feel with the experience I have in the police field I can transfer over to the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans Court.
Top priorities if elected: Handling sensitive documents, paying attention to detail and listening to the person that is speaking to me are all very important. Those are the qualities that are most important, and skills needed to make sure things get handled in the most efficient way. I would also like to extend night hours for more accessibility for the residents.
Theresa Santai Gaffney
Republican
Background: U.S. Army Reserves veteran, member Catholic War Vets post 1089, American Legion, St. Patrick’s Church, PA Register of Wills and Orphans Court Association, Salvation Army advisory board, Schuylkill Community Action, Schuylkill County Fair, Servants to All Homeless Shelter, President Pottsville Kiwanis, Schuylkill County NRA and Sportsmens’ Association.
Qualifications: I kept my word – accountability, zero deficiencies, transparency and public service. I has been a great honor to serve the people of Schuylkill County and I will continue to strive to be a good steward of the taxpayers’ money, to generate revenue and work together to improve our communities.
Top priorities: In the past seven years, I have implemented many changes, converted to a new computer system and replaced computers (using only internal automation funds), adding online service and credit card services for convenience. The office also offers mobile services upon request, we travel to accommodate the needs of the clients in Schuylkill and surrounding counties. The Register of Wills has offered extended evening hours until 6:30 and occasional Saturday hours.
