2019 primary election: Padora announces bid for prothonotary

Larry Padora announced his candidacy for prothonotary, citing the need for leadership to correct a row office in disarray.

Padora’s purpose is twofold. The immediate priority is to fix the financial mess. Within the past several months, the prothonotary has failed to comply with requests to inspect the office’s accounting records. The husband of a longtime employee and friend of the current prothonotary was hired as first deputy and is now running for the office.

“Those of us who’ve devoted our heart and soul to the community expect to have county government operating ethically and efficiently,” Padora said. “That’s far from what we’re seeing.”

Padora’s second purpose for seeking the office is to push to combine the office of Prothonotary with the Clerk of Courts, as several counties have done, which will save taxpayers $100,000 a year.

Padora, 45, runs Padora’s Italian Bakery, which produces 100,000 loaves of bread a year for grocers and caterers. Each Christmas, the bakery participates in the Toys for Tots campaign. While Padora will retain a leadership role in his business, he pledges to be a full-time prothonotary.

“Only a full-time prothonotary can devote the time needed to serve the people effectively,” Padora said.

Padora is a lifelong Republican and avid supporter of President Donald Trump. He is the president of borough council in New Ringgold, a town whose thrift has enabled it to increase public services while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in the county. Padora and his fellow councilmen saved taxpayers $142,000 when they came in under budget on the installation of a state-mandated sewage treatment system. Last year, Padora and his colleagues saved New Ringgold residents money by sealing cracks in the town’s roads themselves rather than hiring pricey contractors for the job.

Padora’s leadership in New Ringgold was a catalyst for him getting unanimously elected to serve as chairman of the county’s Tax Collection Committee. As chairman, Padora helped to negotiate one of the lowest tax collection rates in Pennsylvania.