Commissioner Lazor gets state's government award

Lazor is in her 14th year as a commissioner.
MERCER, Pa -- Mercer County Commissioner Olivia Lazor is one of eight Pennsylvania residents to receive the 2006 Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence.
The award, presented by Gov. Ed Rendell, is given for outstanding service to the community.
Lazor, a commissioner since 1992, has served in local and county government for more than 29 years.
She said Thursday the award "is for the people of Mercer County," adding that as a result of her efforts, the county "is being noticed by the governor's office."
She has been active in the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, including serving a term as CCAP president in 1998. She continues to serve on the CCAP's board of directors as well as the association's human services, strategic planning and personnel committees.
Rendell said that through Lazor's efforts, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to embrace the model of "sustainable communities," a concept advanced by the National Association of Counties and the National Conference of Mayors. She advanced the concept locally as well, and Mercer County adopted its own Comprehensive Plan for Livable Communities as a result.
The plan is structured to meet the changing needs to compete in a global economy yet maintain the important elements for sustainability consistent with those changes.
Locally, Lazor serves as a trustee of the UPMC Horizon Health System board and on the Westminster College Civic Engagement Task Force.