Election Briefs

erry Yozwiak is seeking the Democratic nomination for Plains Township commissioner. Born and raised in the township, he graduated from Bishop Hoban High School, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from Penn State Wilkes-Barre with an associate’s degree in engineering, and from College Misericordia, Dallas Township, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has been employed by Frontier Communications Solutions, formerly Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Dallas, for 19 years and is a manager in the engineering group.
Yozwiak is a past member and former chairman of the Plains Township Planning Commission. He and his wife, the former Sue Sepela, have a daughter, Victoria, and two sons, Adam and Benjamin. They are members of the Catholic Community of Plains.
Yozwiak is active in high school and community sports.
His campaign philosophy is “straightforward, investment in the community and integrity in the candidate.”
ue Rossi, Butler Township, is seeking the Republican nomination for county Clerk of Courts. Born and raised in Hazle Township, Rossi has been a resident of Drums, Butler Township, for 25 years.
She and her husband, David, have been married for 29 years and have two adult children, Jennifer and Ralph.
Rossi has served as township tax collector for 14 years, and as a notary public for 17 years in her business, Sue’s Notary. She also works as an insurance agent at a satellite office for the Earley-Polli Agency.
SUGAR NOTCH MAYOR: Tracy McFadden, 36, is seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor of Sugar Notch Borough. McFadden is employed in the medical billing department at Medical Oncology Associates.
She and her husband, Bob McFadden, have been married for 16 years, and have two sons, Scott and Todd. McFadden is a member of borough council.
She graduated from Hanover Area High School and earned an associates’ degree in business administration from Luzerne County Community College and a bachelor of science degree in health care management from College Misericordia.
She was elected to borough council in 2005 as a write-in candidate.
She believes her management education and experience make her qualified for the position.
avid Buchinski, 34, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Newport Township commissioner. He and his wife, Amy, have an infant son, Jalen. Buchinski also has a stepson, Brady, 7.
Buchinski is a 1990 graduate of Greater Nanticoke Area High School. He attended Penn State University and served as a correctional officer at the Luzerne County prison for 10 years. He has been a volunteer for many years with the local Little Leagues and basketball organizations.
Buchinski supports improving communication among township residents and elected and appointed officials and would establish office hours that are more convenient for residents and those conducting business with the municipality.
ichael J. Figmic, 62, is seeking the Republican nomination for Newport Township commissioner. Figmic and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Mike and Sharon; and four grandchildren. He was born and raised in Glen Lyon and is a 1962 graduate of Newport High School. Figmic enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1962 and was a hand-to-hand combat instructor at Quantico, Va. He served with the 3rd Battalion 8th Marines 2nd Marine Division and with the 3rd Recon 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. He was a wounded Vietnam veteran and was honorably discharged in 1967.
Figmic was employed by General Motors Assembly Division in Linden, N.J., and served for seven years as a Reddington Township police officer. He returned to Glen Lyon in 1974, studied criminal justice at Marywood University and Luzerne County Community College. He worked at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, retiring in 2003 as a sergeant.
He is vice commander of the Glen Lyon American Legion and the VFW Post 5393 and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Figmic said he is committed to working closely with the police and fire departments, ambulance association, and the Emergency Management Agency.
illiam P. Hourigan is seeking the Republican nomination for Newport Township commissioner. He is not on the ballot but is conducting a write-in campaign.
Hourigan and his wife, the former Linda Bonkiewicz, have two adult children. Hourigan was born and raised in Glen Lyon and returned to the area in 2001. Hourigan attended C.W. Post College and he has a bachelor of science degree in business and finance. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Supply Corps and was employed in New York, and Connecticut and as assistant treasurer and business manager of the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Co.
His platform is to attract business and industry, encourage new residential development, improve public services, and increase and develop new recreational programs for adults and children.