Carbon clerk job unfilled

Carbon County’s clerk of courts position is still vacant two months after its longtime elected official retired.

William McGinley, a Democrat who held the position since 1990, retired on May 1, but as of today, no action has been taken by the state on the county’s nominee for the vacancy.

“As of now, the process is in the hands of Gov. (Tom) Wolf and the state Senate,” said Billy O’Gurek Jr., chairman of the Democratic Party of Carbon County.

The party sent its nomination of Francine Heaney of Nesquehoning to take over the office’s elected position in late April in the hopes of her being appointed before the Senate broke for the summer, O’Gurek said.

“We understand the process, including requiring Senate-approval, but are disappointed Francine’s appointment has not yet become official,” he said. “When it does we anticipate that Francine will be an excellent clerk of courts for Carbon County.”

The Carbon County Commissioners sent a letter of support for Heaney’s nomination to the state on April 26, and asked that the appointment be “done as expeditiously as possible.”

On Tuesday, Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that he was not sure why the appointment is being held up, but added that the position will most likely not be filled now until September because the Senate is in recess for the summer.

State Sens. David Argall and John Yudichak also weighed in on the delay.

“The governor has not yet sent any nomination to the Senate to fill this vacancy,” Argall said. “I have alerted the Senate leadership that when the governor makes his appointment, we should move quickly to fill this important Carbon County office.”

“I fully support the candidate chosen by the Carbon County Democratic Committee for the Carbon County Clerk of Courts. The bipartisan support from the Carbon County Commissioners for the candidate shows the urgency that everyone has taken in order to fill this position swiftly and with a highly qualified individual,” Yudichak said.

“Unfortunately, the process to appoint the candidate has stalled in Harrisburg, but once this matter is brought up in the Senate, I will put my entire support behind helping Carbon County fill this position.”

Second deputy Julie Harris is handling the office in the interim.

The clerk of courts’ duties include attending criminal court hearings, swearing in defendants, taking notes of court proceedings and preparing court orders for judges; processing and completing various forms and documents including warrants and orders as required by the office and the courts; accepting and processing bail money, assisting in collection or receipt of money due to the office, and maintaining accurate records and reports of such transactions; preparing reports to executive agencies including the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Revenue; and interacting daily with the public, other internal offices, outside employers, agencies and courts while maintaining effective working relationships with all.

O’Gurek said that the Democratic committee chose Heaney because she has experience in the Carbon County court system, as well as the office, having been employed in the clerk of courts office for over seven years.

“She has shown the qualities needed to be an effective clerk of courts, namely the ability to work well with others and the commitment to working tirelessly to meet the fast-paced schedule of the court system,” O’Gurek said.

An attempt to receive an update from the governor’s office on where the nomination stands was unsuccessful as of press time.