Ready to give up private law practice, district attorney looks to go full time

The district attorney's salary would more than double, to $120,225 a year.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County's district attorney is looking to make his position full time.
Atty. Matthew Mangino said he approached the county commissioners with the idea after learning that his office received a federal grant that would fund the second half of his salary for the next two years.
The $250,000 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Justice also would pay for an additional secretary, money for a gun-violence prevention awareness program and funding for a program in his office.
Ordinance planned
County commissioners are expected Tuesday to introduce an ordinance to make the position of district attorney a full-time job. All ordinances must be advertised for seven days before a vote can be taken.
Mangino would have to give up his private law practice if the ordinance is approved. He is in the second year of his second four-year term as district attorney.
"I think there is an opportunity to bring these resources into the community and being full time and dedicating all my time to work in the district attorney's office would be beneficial," Mangino said.
Mangino said there are 29 or 30 other full-time district attorneys in Pennsylvania.
His salary of $60,000 per year would increase to $120,225. District attorney's salaries are set by state law.
Lawrence County Commissioner Roger DeCarbo said he supports the change.
Against the move
But Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said he will not support the move to make the district attorney a full-time job. Fosnaught said he's worried that the taxpayers will have to pay the extra salary costs when the grant ends.
"We've got a heck of a deficit in the county budget. I think it's commendable that he's going out and finding money to beef up his office, but once the grant runs out the county has to fund it," Fosnaught said.
The position could only become part time again by ballot referendum.
County Commissioner Brian Burick could not be reached to comment.
Mangino noted that Pennsylvania state legislators are considering a bill that would make all district attorneys in Pennsylvania full time. The state would then fund the second half of the district attorney's salary.
Mangino said if that occurs before the federal grant expires, his office would be able to use the federal money designated for his salary for other programs in the office.
cioffi@vindy.com