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Arc of Luzerne County’s new executive director opens up about plans

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<p>Luzerne County Council selected Pittston Area Middle School Principal Patrick Bilbow as the board&#8217;s new member Tuesday night, filling a seat vacated by Edward Brominski.</p><p>Although Bilbow received unanimous council support in a final vote, two of the 11 other applicants were nominated by council members Tuesday: former council members Elaine Maddon Curry and Eileen Sorokas.</p><p>Councilman Stephen A. Urban initially selected Sorokas, and council members Harry Haas and Linda McClosky Houck chose Maddon Curry.</p><p>The seven members supporting Bilbow in the first round of voting: Tim McGinley, Chris Perry, Sheila Saidman, Robert Schnee, Jane Walsh Waitkus, Eugene Kelleher and Matthew Vough.</p><p>The other applicants, all Democrats as required: Dominic Butchko, Gene Camoni, Martin Dartoe, Hal Gabriel, Michael Giamber, James Kennedy, Lois Komensky, Bonnie Markowski and Michael McGlynn.</p><p>An Avoca resident, Bilbow has 25 years of experience in public education, including 13 in administrative functions.</p><p>He has said he wants to work with the 10 council members to come up with the best solutions for citizens. As a principal, he said he is accustomed to making decisions and resolving problems.</p><p>He applied largely because he saw it as an opportunity to get involved instead of sitting back and complaining about and critiquing council&#8217;s decisions.</p><p>The 49-year-old will serve on council until Jan. 6, 2020.</p><p>McGinley, the council chairman, said he will reach out to Bilbow Wednesday to make arrangements for him to be sworn in to office so he can participate in next week&#8217;s council meeting.</p><p>According to Bilbow&#8217;s resume, which was released after the meeting, he has a bachelor&#8217;s degree in government and politics from King&#8217;s College and graduate and post-graduate degrees from Wilkes University and the University of Scranton.</p><p>Before starting at Pittston Area as a social studies and computer science teacher in 2000, Bilbow taught in the Tunkhannock Area School District and the Delaware Valley School District, his resume said.</p><p>In addition to membership in professional education organizations, his resume also said he belongs to the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Avoca Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus JFK Council in Pittston.</p><p>Bilbow did not attend Tuesday&#8217;s council meeting, but a few other applicants were there.</p><p>Walsh Waitkus thanked all who applied and subjected themselves to public questioning.</p><p>&#8220;They were all excellent candidates, and it took a lot of courage to come before council publicly,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Serving on council is a &#8220;tough job,&#8221; she said. Council members are paid $8,000 per year and must approve the county budget and larger contracts, enact codes and ordinances, evaluate the manager and fill seats on outside boards.</p><p>&#8220;The fact that all of them were willing to do the job makes me proud,&#8221; Walsh Waitkus said. </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bilbow </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Safe4.CMYK_-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bilbow </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston Area principal appointed to vacant Luzerne County Council seat