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Nittany Lions Notebook: Penn State defense saves best for last

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WB police release photo of suspect in retail theft

Running an extremely large, exceedingly demanding, very complex county government is not only a rigorous task, it is a vigorous challenge &#8211; requiring multi-skilled, diversified leadership.And to handle this task capably and resourcefully we need a highly functional, problem-solving, decision-making team, a team that strives continuously to provide what every single voter wants: a sound, practical, productive government.Our Luzerne County Council is obligated to function as a vital linchpin between an effectual government and the larger community, and this can only be accomplished through the efforts of a dedicated team, a team that will strive to provide the most viable and valid programs for our county, and then work diligently to implement them in the most competent, cooperative and economically feasible way.Our politics should be the doctrine of the possible, the workable, the attainable. Our leadership team should exemplify two things: performance and results. We need to maximize the expenditure of our tax dollars while simultaneously implementing sound monetary policies. We must also effectively respond to our diminishing revenues by discovering alternate opportunities that do not burden the elderly on fixed incomes. This will help to establish a financially stable and administratively competent government that will eventually create a system of tax reform and tax equity our citizens so desperately need.Today one thing is certain: Our government has drifted into financially troubled waters, and we have a hobbled sense of direction. I believe to navigate back to the shores of a credible, respectable and fiscally stable government, we must commit ourselves to where we are going and how we are going to get there.We must mobilize our resources and unify our efforts within our government as well as establish a sense of order and civility within the political process.I know we will always have conflicting points of view, adversarial relationships and personal confrontations, but when they arise out of good intentions and are for the betterment of the government, we can resolve them properly.I believe conflict resolution should be achieved through cooperation, not character attacks. Healthy conflict, when handled properly, breeds what our government needs right now: creativity and productivity.At one time leadership meant strength and authority, but today it means getting along with colleagues and putting other people&#8217;s needs ahead of your own. Cooperation and teamwork, plus planning and goal setting, will lead to an improvement in services, more cost-effective fiscal policies and successful governing. This will not be attained without an effective system of communication between the county manager, county council, department heads and the taxpayers. To that end, I will establish a landline available for the taxpayers 24/7.Our commitment to the county&#8217;s future and the well-being of our residents can only be sustained through cooperation and communication.Eugene KelleherCandidateLuzerne County CouncilDallas

Letter to the Editor: Luzerne County Council requires newfound sense of cooperation