LAWRENCE COUNTY District attorney's job stays part time; resolution for full-time post withdrawn

The district attorney wants the bar association to study the issue.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County's district attorney will remain part time.
A resolution to make the position full time was withdrawn by county Commissioner Roger DeCarbo Sr. after he learned there was no support for the measure from the two other county commissioners.
Commissioner Brian Burick said Tuesday he would not vote to make the position full time after receiving calls from residents opposed to it.
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught was opposed to the change when it was introduced last week.
Burick praised District Attorney Matthew Mangino for getting the $250,000 federal grant that would pay the second half of his salary for the next two years, as well as fund another position and programs in his office.
But, Burick said he has concerns about the impact a full-time district attorney would have on the county.
Money
He questioned where the county would get the money to pay the district attorney's salary after the two-year grant ends. Mangino's salary would double to $120,225 per year.
Burick also questioned how making the position full time would affect who might seek the office in the future. The position is now part time, and the district attorney is permitted to have a private law practice. A full-time district attorney could not have a private law practice.
Burick said he is also concerned about the impact a full-time district attorney would have on the county public defender's office, which has a part-time staff.
Mangino said he respects the decision of commissioners to withdraw the proposal but he would like more discussion.
"This isn't something that needs to be rushed. It wasn't my intention to rush it through. I would encourage debate about it," he said.
The district attorney said he is considering going to the county bar association and asking it to study the issue of having a full-time district attorney in Lawrence County.
Mangino said he also plans to check if the federal money earmarked for his salary could be used for other programs in his office.