SHAMOKIN - Samuel Schiccatano is in a unique position when it comes to the Northumberland County commissioner race.
On one hand, he is the only candidate from the coal region. On the other, that coal region is predominantly Democrat - and he's a Republican.
Still, "I hope it's a benefit," the 57-year-old Coal Township teacher said. "Most of the people know me and hopefully they'll support me. I think with the years I've been here, they've gotten to know the type of person I am, and I think they respect me."
Employed by the Shamokin Area School District
since 1976, he's also coached football, basketball and track for 30 years at Shamokin Area, Shikellamy and Our Lady of Lourdes.
After pulling out once in the commissioner race in 1995 due to health reasons, he is back as one of seven Republicans seeking two nominations in the May 17 primary.
His reason for running is simple. After witnessing countless headlines highlighting the controversies of Northumberland County, he wants the accomplishments to be recognized instead, he said. He'll try to succeed in that with, among other things, techniques he's learned from coaching: hard work, preparation and putting in the time necessary.
Tough 'at the right time'
In recent months, the county has been known for the infamous feud between Commissioner Vinny Clausi and Chief Clerk Kymberly Best and her subsequent firing, Commissioner Frank Sawicki's botched phone call in relation to the purchase of the Elk's building and, on a somewhat smaller scale, the grumblings when Commissioner Merle Phillips decided to run again despite his earlier proclamation that he wouldn't.
It's situations like these that fog the real issues, leading to Schiccatano not knowing what the commissioners even voted on during a meeting. Should he win the primary and eventually the general election in November, he said he wouldn't involve himself in the negativity unless he was privy to all the facts.
He's not against being "tough," but has learned in coaching "to be as tough as possible at the right time," he said, stressing the latter half of the sentence.
There's a time for addressing the negativity, and a public meeting with outbursts is not the place, he said. He wouldn't let the situation get out of control in the first place, but said if the public needed to know something, he would bring it to the media's attention.
Still, he said he would be able to work with any of the newcomers or the incumbents.
"You've got to listen to people," he said. "Some people think it's a fight and it has to be a shouting match and whoever's the loudest wins. That's not how it works."
On the related issue of the county's recently approved "Code of Conduct," Schiccitano said he doesn't believe it's necessary.
"I think you're born and grow up with the ability to act correctly at public meetings, to act correctly when you go to Wal-Mart and shop. They don't make you sign papers that you're not going to steal," he said. "I don't think you need to sign papers when you conduct a public meeting," he said.
Also, Schiccitano said he isn't bothered by the fact that incumbent Republican Merle Phillips changed his mind from his appointment as an interim commissioner to his candidacy for a permanent post.
"To me, Phillips in politics is like Joe Paterno in coaching," he said. "Nobody should tell them when to quit."
Cutting waste
One of the most important issues in the county is the budget, said Schiccatano, which requires cutting waste and saving money.
'I don't have a lot of experience with big budgets," he admitted, "but I think common sense tells us that whatever you take in during a month, that's what we can spend."
Although he would be as thrifty as possible, he noted that he couldn't say what he would cut now because he would have to research it first.
"I will research it and I will put the time in and make an educated and honest decision on what the county should be doing," he said.
Another important issue Schiccatano said he would have to research is the county's outstanding union contracts.
"I think we can meet with union employees and have respectful conversations and maybe compromise in some situations," he said. "I've learned in 35 years, if you can get people to believe in you and get people's respect, sometimes you can come up with answers for things with mutual compromising."
He agrees with the commissioners in saying the union employees should pay more in health care, but also said they should get something in return.
Asked about his position on the proposed off-highway vehicle park, Schiccatano said he has heard varied opinions, but needs more information before taking a position.
"I'd have to sit down and really talk, and see what's true and what's not true," he said.
Countywide meetings
If elected, Schiccatano wants to visit different areas of the county and meet with municipal officials. He would listen to their ideas and try to accommodate their needs, he said.
He would also work toward recreational activities for the youth of the county. He suggested forming a committee with teens on it to offer their views and be involved as much as possible.
On the other end of the scale, he wants to keep senior citizens active as well.
"They are often forgotten, but they're the backbone of the county," he said.
If elected, he said he would retire from his teaching position.
"I would work full time as a county commissioner," he said. "I think to do the right job, you need to research things, you need to put the time in, and I would put my entire time into that."