Pike chief clerk to head Pike Election Bureau

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA - Gary Orben, chief clerk of Pike County, has been appointed director of the county’s Board of Election.

He replaces Yolanda Goldsack, a controversial appointee, who was named this week to a secretary position in the commissioners’ office. Last week, Goldsack requested to be relieved of the position of director of elections after a number of her actions in the job were criticized by the Democratic Committee of Pike County and by several other individuals.

Some had questioned the commissioners’ wisdom in appointing Goldsack, who was very active in the county’s Republican Committee, as was her husband, who ran in the recent election for a position on the Delaware Valley Board of Education. Many saw Goldsack’s political involvement as a continual source of a conflict of interest. All three commissioners?Democrat Karl Wagner among them?supported her in the functions of the position of election director.

Orben will continue to work as chief clerk of the county, which is a full-time position.

“Mr. Orben is a consummately efficient public servant whose managerial skills are considerable,” said Rich Caridi, chairman of the commissioners. “I have complete confidence in his ability to handle this position with skill.”

Caridi said that Orben would fill the job while the commissioners consider a more permanent solution to the appointment.

When asked by a reporter how he felt about filling this additional position, he said, “I serve at the pleasure of the commissioners. If they ask me to do something, I do it.”

“For many years in the county, the chief clerk was also the director of the election bureau,” said commissioner Harry Forbes. “This function is even mentioned in the county code as compatible.”

Orben assumed his position on the election board on June 29.