SUNBURY — Northumberland County controller Charles “Chuck” Erdman Jr. is seeking election to a fourth term.
Erdman, a Republican, said his reputation for professionalism, integrity and independence puts him in a position to guide fundamental reform that must occur in the culture and operations of Northumberland County government.
“If Northumberland County is to be a place where families want to raise their children, where businesses want to locate and expand, and where people want to visit, then county government must minimize its tax burden while maximizing the value of its services to its citizens,” he said.
The 36-year-old was elected to a first term during the Cwalina-Lewis administration and quickly became a vocal critic of its financial mismanagement that left the county millions of dollars in debt and resulted in a tripling of taxes since 1999.
Erdman supports competitive bidding for contracts, merit-based hiring and promotions and budget cuts to reduce the size and scope of county government.
He says he’s led by example to help improve the county’s financial condition, returning his own salary increase to the county treasury in 2004 and reducing the staff of the controller’s office by one-third since 1998. While costs in many county departments have ballooned, the budget of the controller’s office in 2009 is 24 percent less than it was in 1998.
Conceding there have been disagreements with present board of commissioners, led by Democrats Frank Sawicki and Vinny Clausi, Erdman said the administrators have been willing to listen and challenge the status quo. Erdman expects the commissioners to support his goals for his next term, including streamlining purchases that could save the county more than $100,000 annually, implementing stronger internal financial controls, enhancing the skill set of departmental fiscal personnel, and measuring departments’ performance against appropriate operating benchmarks.
A graduate of Line Mountain High School and Washington and Lee University, where he majored in business administration, Erdman worked as an investment adviser to local governments before being elected controller.
He is the treasurer of Pineknotters’ Days, a member of the board of directors of the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, and a government affairs committee member of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Erdman lives in Point Township with his wife, Stacy, and their three children.
News
Related Photos
Discussion
Erdman seeks a fourth term
- News
-
-
Trial set for May 14 in Jerry Sandusky abuse case
BELLEFONTE — Jerry Sandusky says a local jury would be no more or less biased against him in his child sex abuse trial than a jury from anywhere else in Pennsylvania.
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
LEWISBURG -- Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts. Lewisburg's proposed 2012-13 budget stands at $28.6 million, with no less but also no more money coming from Harrisburg. "Even a neutral budget is problematic," DiRocco said.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
LEWISBURG -- Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
SUNBURY -- While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
DANVILLE -- The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St. No appointment is necessary. Customers can just walk in.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
- More News Headlines
-
Trial set for May 14 in Jerry Sandusky abuse case
