The Dallas Post = Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 2, 1990 11 = ParLasPost PRIMARY '90 Ronald Bartizek, publisher: Charlot M. Denmon, reporter; Rich Johnson, reporter. Writing was done by Denmon and Johnson. candidates by The Post. Each was asked exactly the same question in the same order. None were given any indication of the nature of the questions beforehand. The interviews were conducted in The Post’s office over the past two weeks. Itis highly unusual to have so many candidates contesting for the nomination of a public office. Because of that, and since three of the hopefuls are Back Mountain residents, The Dallas Post has provided the information presented on the next three pages. This page contains biographies of the six announced candidates - five Republicans and one Democrat - who will be on the primary ballot May 15. The material was provided by the candidates. Fo The next page lists answers to questions posed to the Members of the public will have an opportunity to pose their own questions to the five Republican candidates this Sunday, May 6, when The Post and the Back Mountain Citizens’ Council sponsor a candidates’ forum. The event will be held at the Science Lecture Hall on the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus in Lehman beginning at 6:30 p.m. The third page contains excerpts from our interviews with the candidates in which they were asked to discuss other issues which they deemed important to the region and the state. Interviews were conducted by at least two of the following: NEE aN | er) A Do Ce Ka Scott Dietterick Scott Dietterick, the incumbent state representative "in the 120th District, is now one of the five Republican candidates running for the office. He lives on South Maple Avenue in Kingston. A 1958 graduate of Kingston High School, Dietterick attended Wilkes College in 1959 until he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was an electrical technician until 1963. Following his discharge from the Navy, ' Dietterick took various . insurance, real estate and . continuing education courses. He is a past president of the | Independent Insurance Agents ' of Wyoming Valley. Dietterick served on the Kingston Borough i Council from 1977 through 1986, serving as president from 1983 through 1984. He has taken an active role in community activities and was instrumental in helping to organize of the Back Mountain Jaycees. He is a past president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Jaycees and a past regional vice president of the Pennsylvania ~ Jaycees. He is also a firefighter with * the Independent Fire Company , | No. 1, Kingston; aboard member EE Phyllis Mundy ' Phyllis Mundy of Kingston is . ‘presently the only Democrat ' candidate for state \ representative in the 120th District. . Shes a graduate of Kingston . High School and Bloomsburg ' State College with a degree in ' Secondary Education. She is employed as abusiness manager for a group of related . manufacturing and service corporations with offices in - Laflin and West Pittston. . Sheis the daughter of William . and Barbara Block, formerly of i Kingston, now residing in Florida. Her son, Brian, is a + student at the University of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Mundy is active in many volunteer groups including, the League of Women Voters, | Volunteers for Literacy, Domestic Violence Service Center, Junior League of Wilkes- Barre and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. She has the distinction of having served on | the first lay Board of Elections in Luzerne County history. Mundy served as President of the local League of Women | Voters for four years as well as of the West Side Dial-A-Driver, a member of the Council of American Red Cross, and a past master of King David Lodge No. 763 F & AM. Dietterick and his wife Nancy, have two daughters, Jennifer and Julie. Elected as state representative in 1986, he is serving his second term in the Pennsylvania General Assembly House of Representatives where he has been amember of various committees including Federal and State Relations, Military and Veteran Affairs, Transportation, Republican Policy and also a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council. on the Board of the League of Women voters of Pennsylvania. During her 10 years with the League, she worked for legislative action on such issues as ethics in government, recycling and solid waste management, judicial reform, juvenile justice and child welfare and a host of others. Andrew Kotch Andrew Kotch, Howell Road, Shavertown, has been employed by WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre for 15 years as a photographer and reporter. Kotch resides with his wife Mary Jean and son Andy. He has stated a concern with the area's economic future, and would like to see more employment opportunities open up for residents. He says he would also like to see more emphasis placed on the improvement of the educational system. He is a. 1974 graduate of Mansfield University with a degree in education. / Kotch is a member of Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas, and also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Assumpta Council, in Luzerne. sutttt———_——————————— Candidate Forum Sunday, May 6 6:30 p.m. Science Lecture Hall, Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus, Lehman James Phillips Jim Phillips of Forty Fort has been active in business and politics for many years. He is a 1950 graduate of Forty Fort High School and earned a B.S. Degree in commerce and finance at Wilkes College, graduating in 1954. He was vice president of Phillips Seafood Kitchens, and Phillips Frozen Food Company from 1957-1976. Phillips is currently the owner of Phil-Son Associates Food Brokerage Co., Forty Fort. He has been elected twice as a Luzerne County Commissioner and has been involved in local, state and nationsl election campaigns since the early 1960's. Phillips was chairman of the Goldwater campaign in Luzerne County, was a coordinator for the Schaffer and Scranton campaigns, and ran the 1980 Reagan campaign in the county. He was a delegate to the 1980 Republican convention. Phillips is currently serving in his seventh year as a commissioner. He is a past Chairman of the ee —— — ——————————— Luzerne County Institution Board, which includes all county human services. Phillips also served in the Army from 1955-1957. He is a member of the Forty Fort Methodist Church. He and his wife Christine have three children, Bruce, John and Katharyn. Clarence Michael Clarence Michael, husband and father of three, is a long time resident of the 120th District. He is a 1956 graduate of Plymouth High School and a 1958 graduate of Wilkes College. Helater earned a Masters Degree at Montclair State University. He is currently a guidance counselor at the Wyoming West Valley Middle School. Michael serves as president of the Dallas School Board. He has served as Director of the West Side Voc-Tech School and Vice President of the Luzerne Co. Counselors Association. Michael served with the U.S. Army, 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion. He was stationed at the Berlin Wall as a German interpreter while at the Army Language School. He is a member of the Trucksville United Methodist Church, Plymouth Masonic Lodge #332, Bloomsburg Consistory, Associate member Irem Temple Chanters, and the AARP. He is an Assistant Scout Master, Troop #281 and is a Back Mountain baseball and soccer coach. Anne Vernon Anne Vernon is a long time resident of Trucksville. She is the mother of three children and grandmother of eight. The former executive director ~ of the Family Service Agency of Wyoming Valley, she is now the executive director of Pennsylvania Council of Family Agencies. Anne Vernon has been active in Republican politics for 20 years and has worked closely with Vern Pritchard, county party vice chairman, to help elect Republican candidates. She is an experienced leader having been president of Dallas School Board, a key member of the boards of the Greater Wilkes- Barre Partnership, Committee for Economic Growth, and 2020, bringing in new industry such as Nabisco and encouraging programs to support existing businesses and helping to plan for revitalization of the region. Anne Vernon has a Master's Degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon. She was a founder of the Wilkes- Barre Flood Office in 1972, formed to help thousands of families locate relatives and find Michael and his wife, Morag, live in Dallas Township with their children, Stefanie, Darre and Devin. sources of assistance after the Hurricane Agnes disaster. She is a founder of HELP LINE, a member of the Trucksville United Methodist Church administrative board, a member of Red Cross National Disaster Team and recently worked as a volunteer with victims- of Hurricane Hugo in Charleston, S.C. Anne is also a charter member of the Back Mountain Citizens’ Council. She has received numerous citations and awards, among them the Athena Award for Leadership from the Chamber of Commerce; City of Wilkes- Barre citation for outstanding service; Pennsylvania General Assembly citation for leadership and service; and the United Way award for community service.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers