Pike County

Commissioner

Richard Caridi (Rep.)

Pike County requires qualified, experienced leadership to negotiate its future. As a result of my formal education, I have accumulated forward-thinking knowledge from the theoretical perspective. As a result of my service in the U.S. military, developing my own business, serving as a warden and varied municipal positions, I have acquired practical leadership experience, enabling me to make plans become reality. Simply stated, there is no substitute for leadership by example.

I have been married to my wife Bernadette, a teacher in the Wallenpaupack School District for 32 years. We have three children. Our children were born and raised in Blooming Grove Township and attended Wallenpaupack School District.

I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in business management, and a Masters in business administration (MBA). I was employed by Proctor & Gamble and American Brands. I was the proprietor of Caridi Enterprises in Lords Valley for twenty-two years and served as warden of the Pike County Correctional Facility for five years.

With my many years of community involvement and public service, I have been adequately prepared to bring sound decision-making and pro-active management to the office of Pike County Commissioner, for the benefit of all Pike County residents. The future is ours to design for the better. We must be willing to seek God’s guidance and work diligently together for the common good of our community, our county, our commonwealth and our country.

Harry Forbes (Rep.)

I am seeking my third term as Pike County Commissioner. I bring to the office a strong background in emergency services, township government, business and county government. I am a life member of the Milford Fire and Ambulance Department, have served as Milford Township Supervisor and was an independent businessman.

Throughout my eight years of service as a county commissioner, I have focused on providing services to all parts of the county, encouraging economic development and pursuing federal and state grants for local services. I was involved in expanding the Road Task Force to include all 13 municipalities, as well as the school districts. I am a member of, and strong supporter of, the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed District.

I am the long-time president of the Pike County Prison Board, a member of the Pike County Fire Federation and the Pike County Communications Advisory Board and have served as a governor’s appointment to the Deputy Sheriff’s Training and Education Board of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Through my efforts, funding has been obtained from state and federal sources for the PPL Environmental Center in Palmyra Township, Grey Towers in Milford Township, S.R. 2001 in Lehman, Delaware and Dingman Townships, the Milford Enhancement Project in Milford Borough, the Correctional Facility in Blooming Grove Township, the infrastructure grant for central sewage and water in the river corridor, the Mountain Laurel Center in Lehman Township and a grant for the Matamoras Water Authority.

My objective, if returned to office by the voters, is to implement plans that have been developed for the future and ones in the process of being developed. Planning must be implemented to be useful. It is a time for action as we direct our growth, not a time for reaction to our growth.

I reside in Milford Township with my wife, Julie, and son, Harrison.

Gerry Hansen (Dem.)

Why am I seeking a second term as Pike County Commissioner? Frankly, I believe my talents and experience, including the past four years as a commissioner, give the taxpayers that rare opportunity to re-elect a county official who is highly qualified to represent them. Not only have I invested financially in the county’s economy as a co-owner of the Dimmick Inn, but I have given back to the community as well, serving as president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, on the board of Bon Secours Hospital Foundation and of the United Way.

I represent Pike County on the Conservation District Board, MHMR Advisory Board, Pike County Planning Commission, Sussex County Community College, Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Board.

When I ran for office four years ago, I promised to be fiscally responsible. I’ve kept that promise. There have been no new taxes in the past two years and, through my efforts, the county had the largest tax sale in its history ($530,000).

My concerns and priorities for Pike County’s future are lowering property taxes, conserving open space and keeping the visioning process alive and active. Commissioner Wagner and I have run a bi-partisan, inclusive government and will continue to do so. Finally, I’d like to quote Peter Pinchot, who summed up Karl’s and my administration’s leadership in two words, “civil dialogue,” which he credits us for returning to county government.

Karl Wagner (Dem)

I have been a Pike County Commissioner since February 1999 and chairman of the board since 2000. I serve on the Children and Youth and the Area Agency on Aging advisory boards.

My background is as follows: After graduating from Gettysburg College and Villanova Law School and serving in the United States Air Force, I returned to my birthplace, Milford, Pennsylvania, and practiced law for 28 years with Beecher, Wagner, Rose & Klemeyer. I was Pike County public defender, and district attorney and solicitor for various townships and boroughs. I am married to Denise Bullock and have three children, Karl III, Joyce and Kimberly.

The main issue that concerns me as a commissioner is the fact thatPike County is undergoing a population explosion. We can’t stop it. However, we can plan for it. We need to decide today what we want Pike County to be in the future or we risk losing the ability later on to affect what we will be.

To me, that is the main objective in our project to update Pike County’s Comprehensive Plan. It will be today’s plan for the future. The plan must include smart growth, e.g. sound land use planning, to protect and preserve our quality of life, our environment and our natural resources and open space.

We must also keep taxes in check. Despite the recent economic slowdown and a reduction in the county’s receipt of federal and state funds, the commissioners have not raised taxes in two years. This year, I will do whatever I can to not raise taxes for 2004.

District Attorney

Eric Hamill (Non-party)

As a non-partisan candidate for District Attorney of Pike County, I entered the race to give voters a choice. I am committed to service to the community.

I find it my duty to run for the office of District Attorney, where I find that the public has not been properly represented by a prosecutor with sufficient ambition to try any cases during his term; where the DA was without sufficient independence to prosecute corruption and to advocate for the constituents of Pike County when the public trust was invaded; and where the DA was without sufficient interest in the protection of victims’ safety.

I am committed to the independence of the office and have the ambition and energy required for the job.

My background includes being a  teacher/educator/naturalist; park ranger, with certification as wildland firefighter and EMT (expired); worked with numerous government agencies (federal, state, county, city); and law clerk to Judge Harold A. Thomson Jr.

I graduated from Bucknell University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where I graduated cum laude, with Law Review.

I am an associate at Weinstein Schneider Kannebecker and Lokuta, in general practice, real estate, civil litigation and criminal law. I am solicitor to Delaware Valley School District, Pike County Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, Pike County Economic Development Corporation and Pike County Industrial Development Corporation.

I am married to Jennifer B. Hamill, MPH and have three children, Parker, Nash and Henry.

My volunteer work includes being on the Board of Directors of United Way of Pike County and serve on the Board of Trustees of the Pocono Environmental Education Center.

Douglas Jacobs (Rep.)

My qualifications for Pike County District Attorney include 18 years of experience as a prosecutor in the Pike District Attorney’s Office, 12 as First Assistant and the last four as the elected District Attorney. I have prosecuted thousands of cases, ranging from disorderly conduct and DUI to rape and murder. I have received the unanimous endorsement of all local and state police and the Pike County Sheriff.

A sample of the improvements made while in office:

1. I or an assistant district attorney are on call 24/7 to provide immediate assistance to the county’s law enforcement community.

2. All search warrants and the filing of serious felony charges must be reviewed and approved by my office.

3. Two additional county detectives were added to my staff to increase the investigative capability of my office and assist local and state police. A second detective was hired through a state grant.

4. Expanded Amber alert program initiated in conjunction with the Pike County Sheriff to recruit local businesses and volunteers in aiding in locating kidnapped or missing children, as well as elderly citizens.

5. A program to routinely verify the whereabouts of sex offenders residing in Pike County, who are required to register their residence under the current Megan’s Law.

6. Initiated a current feasibility study of a regional police force.

In closing, I believe that I have demonstrated my effective involvement in and leadership of the law enforcement community in Pike County for the past eighteen years and further believe there is no substitute for this experience in becoming an effective and successful prosecutor.

Auditor

Tom Foran (Rep.)

Ann Seaman (Rep.)

Missi Strub (Dem.)

Irv Rosen (Dem.)

Damascus Township

Supervisor

Jennifer Canfield (Write-in)

Having been appointed as interim Damascus Township Supervisor to serve out the term of Lawrence Newport, I have had the incredible opportunity to see first hand what my job as supervisor will entail.

I know I can bring to the position all of my experience in dealing with the concerns of people. Having been in business for 30 years and knowing how important it is to get information to the public when needed, I look forward to carrying that over to people of the township. For me, this comes at a time when I feel I can be of most help.

Demographics show that we will experience growth over the coming years in ways we have not seen before. As a leader, I expect to ask for cooperation so that we can be ready for it. Growth can be good if it helps everyone and has the least negative impact on life as we now know it. I look forward to bringing people together in the spirit of getting things accomplished.

I stand for sensible and balanced budgeting, encouraging involvement in planning for the future and a plan to bring roads up to the best levels possible.

As Damascus Township supervisor, I know I can be of help. So much can be achieved when people work as a team.

Fred Haase (Dem.)

Shohola Township

Supervisor (unopposed)

Henry Prigge (Dem.) Lackawaxen Township

Supervisor

Ron Tussel (Rep.)

Fred Gelderman (Dem.)