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Brad Mason Resigns as Warden
County Commissioner Al Pingie confirms to WESB that Brad Mason has resigned as warden at the McKean County Jail. His resignation is effective Thursday, July 10. The commissioners oversee Mason in his role as warden. However his sheriff's position is an elected position. Pingie says he has not seen the resignation letter yet because he and commissioner Cliff Lane were out of town today, but Commissioner Joe DeMott informed them of Mason’s plans to resign. Speculation has been rampant as to why Mason took an extended vacation and leave of absence but Pingie says, as far as he knows, none of that was addressed in the letter. We’ll bring you more on this developing story later this evening.
Lane Ousts Church for Commissioner
Former McKean County Commissioner Cliff Lane has ousted incumbent Judy Church. According to unofficial results Lane garnered 2,552 votes to Church’s 2,276. The top two vote-getters were Joe DeMott with 3,519 and Al Pingie with 3,283.
DeMott, Pingie Fend Off Challenge
Joe DeMott and Al Pingie have kept their seats as McKean County Commissioners, staving off a challenge by former commissioner John Egbert. DeMott picked up nearly 38 percent of the vote while Pingie gathered nearly 37 percent. On the Democratic side, incumbent Judy Church garnered 45 percent of the vote while former commissioner Cliff Lane got 32 percent.
Commissioner Candidates Answer Variety of Questions During Candidates' Forum
The six candidates for McKean County commissioner participated in a forum Monday night at the Bradford Senior Center, hosted by the McKean County Chapter of Tea Party. You can hear it here One of the issues discussed was the Bradford Regional Airport and the federal Essential Air Service Program, which some lawmakers in Washington are trying to cut out of the budget. Current commissioner, and Bradford Airport Authority Chairman Joe DeMott, said, “Without the EAS program we would not have commercial air service (and) commercial air service is vital to our economic future.” “People who come here to buy lumber, to buy the products that our local manufactures make – those people fly in here,” he said. “When you’re bringing somebody in with a new industry, they’re flying in to Bradford. It’s very important that we have that service. It’s a long way to Buffalo, particularly in the winter.” Without the $1.3 million subsidy, the airport would lose commercial air service, he added. “People look...