DANVILLE -- Bernie Swank has the distinction of being the woman who has served the most years as a Montour County commissioner.
By early January when she leaves office, she will have been a commissioner for 12 years, or for three terms. Other women, including Darla Gill and Esther Cotner, have served as commissioner but not for as many years.
Mrs. Swank also was the first woman elected as Danville's mayor. For two years, she served as both mayor and as a commissioner.
Her serving as mayor for eight years spurred her into wanting to contribute to county government, where she was commissioners chairwoman for three years and vice chairwoman for five years.
"I was honored to serve all three terms, and I thank all who supported me," said the Danville resident of 34 years.
She said the relationships she developed in those years were for the most part good and especially with the commissioners' office staff. "It's important to have a good working staff, and we have it in the commissioners' office. It is important to have a good working relationship with the row offices and their staff," she said.
While she said communication is the key, she said she fell short of it a few times, and "I hope all is forgiven. I think we've overcome that."
As a commissioner, she was involved with many projects, including the renovations at the courthouse, which she said were much needed. "People would stop me in the grocery store. They wanted it to be improved and the focal point of the community," she said.
In addition, the commissioners started programs for senior citizens at the Danville Area Community Center, brought a prescription plan to county residents to save them money and formed the county recreation commission to move the county forward, she said.
The reassessment the commissioners approved also was very much needed, she said. "That is where the county gets most of its revenues from," she said of real estate taxes. "Reassessment was needed after 48 years. People were moving here from out of state because we had the lowest county tax base. Reassessment puts the county in a better position with revenues. You couldn't expect the county to move forward on a tax base of 48 years ago when everything else was going up," she said.
As a commissioner, she represented the county on boards and found it rewarding to report to the commissioners on what was going on in those communities.
Leaving office is "naturally an emotional time. However, I feel I contributed to make the county stronger over the past 12 years. We often had to make some difficult decisions. I feel the finances of the county are pretty firm for the future," she said.
After Jan. 7, she will work full-time at Swank Salon and Hair Replacement on Mill Street. She and her husband, Red, work together as well as serve their own clientele at the salon.
Mrs. Swank, who has her teacher's license, also may teach cosmetology.
The 67-year-old, who is originally from Franklin County, said her main hobby will be spending more time with her twin grandchildren, an 11-year-old boy and girl.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com.
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