News
Former Clarion Call editor runs for commissioner
Ron Wilshire campaigns for Clarion County Commissioner during the Autumn Leaf Festival Parade. Courtesy photo
Clarion, Pa – A former staff member of The Clarion Call is running for office. Ron Wilshire, a Clarion University alumnus, will be a candidate for one of the
three Clarion County Commissioner seats on the ballot Nov. 8.
Commissioners serve four-year terms simultaneously. Unlike most previous elections, none of the three incumbent commissioners, Donna Hartle, Dave Cyphert and
Tim Reddinger, are running for another term.
Two Republican candidates and two Democratic candidates were nominated in the May primary election.
On the Republican ticket, Butch Campbell and Wayne Brosious face off.
Greg Faller and Ron Wilshire are on the Democrat ballot.
The three candidates with the most votes after the Nov. 8 general election will begin their terms in office Jan. 2, 2012.
Wilshire said this election is especially important for Clarion County.
“The county has to become more involved with economic development,” Wilshire said, “and here, citizens have the chance to agree with that.”
Wilshire said his plan for economic growth is two-pronged.
The first, he said, would be to focus on supporting the jobs that are already in Clarion, namely at Clarion University and Clarion Hospital.
“Whatever we can do to support them is very important,” Wilshire said.
Second, he said he would focus on getting new jobs into the county.
“That’s where the marketing of Clarion County is vital,” Wilshire said. “We have such a strong and talented workforce.”
The three commissioners, together, are the chief executive office of the county.
Their duties include the county’s financial management, veteran’s affairs, human services and property assessment.
Wilshire said he hopes to bring valuable experience to the commissioners’ office.
He held the position of assistant vice-president of university relations for Clarion University for 32 years, and served on the Clarion Borough Council for the
past 24 years, 14 of those as president.
He said his best accomplishment on the council was his participation in the remedying of storm water overflow at Clarion’s sewage treatment center.
During his undergraduate studies at Clarion University, Wilshire spent three years as features editor at The Clarion Call, and also produced the editorial
cartoons for the opinion section.
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