HONESDALE, PA — After 12 years on the board of Wayne County Commissioners, Wendell Kay said goodbye on December 30.

“He never shirked a responsibility, he never turned a deaf ear and he never walked away from an issue,” Wayne County Commissioner Chairman Brian Smith said of his long-time colleague. Commissioner Joe Adams called him “incredibly intelligent and capable.”

During his tenure, Kay showed a special interest in human services and worked at the local and state level on behalf of those the department’s programs.

The commissioners, other county officials and staff members celebrated Kay’s contribution to Wayne County and its citizens, which former long-serving Commissioner Tony Herzog said he has served with distinction.

Kay thanked those who assembled for his farewell, noting all of them have been his mentors through the years and he thanked them for “taking the time to help me do a better job.” He also said—being a Democrat—he may have been the minority member of the board of commissioners but that it never entered into decisions or appointments and “people ought to recognize that.”

 “I have been fortunate to have a family that indulges my interest in government, sometimes to their detriment,” Kay said, adding that he is looking forward to shifting his focus back to his family.

The commissioners marked the occasion with cake and punch, as well as a traditional eggnog toast for the New Year. Democrat Jocelyn Cramer will replace Kay as a commissioner, she’s also the first female commissioner in the county’s history.