Greek wins Carbon DA race

Carbon County will have a new district attorney, and it will be a Republican for the first time in decades.

Attorney Michael S. Greek, 55, of Nesquehoning, defeated incumbent Democrat Jean A. Engler for the district attorney’s post Tuesday. Greek gathered 8,816 votes to 6,064 for Engler.

Engler was appointed to the district attorney post upon the retirement of Gary F. Dobias, a Democrat, who held the office since 1992. Engler, who served as Dobias’ first assistant, ran for her own term and won in 2015. She was the first elected female district attorney in the county.

Engler served in the district attorney’s office since 1989 as an assistant, under then DA, the late Richard W. Webb. She was later appointed first assistant by Dobias.

Greek has served in the district attorney’s office for 21 years. He served as first assistant DA upon Engler’s appointment as DA. He was replaced as first assistant by Engler, a short time after announcing his run for district attorney, but remained as an assistant district attorney. Greek was a Democrat until he announced he was a candidate, switching to the Republican Party.

Greek, a Nesquehoning native, is a graduate of Panther Valley High School and King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Widener University School of Law. In addition to serving in the DA office he also has been solicitor for various boroughs and townships and runs a general practice of law out of an office in Lansford.

He is the son of the Elaine (Sydorak) and Francis “Muckie” Greek. He is married to Michelle (Parano) Greek and has two children, Gabriella and Angelo.

Greek said of his election, “I was humbled by the support I received from so many people and I am very honored to serve Carbon County as district attorney.”