I’d like to respond to both the editorial “Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew’s unforced error” (Dec. 21, TribLIVE) and former Commissioner Ted Kopas’ letter “High-paid commissioners” (Dec. 30, TribLIVE), since I was a commissioner candidate four years ago. The editorial says, “No one else offered up their paychecks.” This is not true. I was the first candidate to promise to donate 25% of my salary to local causes.
I think the only reason Chew offered 60% was because I was polling ahead of him. I told him that 60% was unrealistic and appeared desperate. I was already a Tocqueville Society member with United Way, which means a $50,000 commitment. I felt comfortable offering 25% as commissioner because when I previously committed $50,000 to the United Way, I ended up giving $76,000.
Kopas misses a very important point and campaign promise of mine when criticizing an ordinance that he could’ve changed when he was commissioner. Why do we need three commissioners and three staffs? Other Pennsylvania counties have a county executive and board. We don’t have three governors or mayors. Why does it take three people to decide, when the minority party is usually left out anyhow?
Westmoreland has added staffing and increased pay for many positions under the current administration. I agree with Kopas that we are using covid relief money to mask our $5 million debt. We can save $250,000 a year by having one executive and two staffs, as opposed to three and three.
John Ventre
Hempfield