Seamans picked to serve remainder of Brooks' term

The judges ignored the recommendations of the Republican Party leaders.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County's four common pleas court judges unanimously selected former Mercer County commissioner and current Wilmington Township Supervisor Kenneth Seamans to serve the year remaining in the term of commissioner Michele Brooks, who was elected to the state Legislature.
Seamans will be sworn in at 8:30 a.m. Friday. He could not be reached to comment.
Seamans was selected from 22 county Republicans who submitted applications and r & eacute;sum & eacute;s to the judges, who interviewed the candidates Monday at the courthouse. Brooks is a Republican, and her replacement must be a Republican, according to law.
In a prepared statement, the judges said they chose Seamans based on his unquestioned integrity, ability and recent experience as well as his ability to work with the other two county commissioners and other county officers. Many county employees and organizations had voiced support for Seamans, they said. They also noted that each of the applicants was asked who, besides themselves, they would choose to serve as commissioner, and Seamans was the overwhelming choice.
In 2001, Seamans was chosen by the judges out of 47 applicants to serve the unexpired 26 months remaining in the term of Brian Shipley, who resigned after it was discovered he had used a county cell phone to make numerous calls to escort services, massage parlors and similar businesses. Seamans served out Shipley's term but did not run for re-election. Seamans has since been re-elected to a six-year term as Wilmington Township Supervisor.
Background
Seamans, who lives with his wife, Kay, on Pulaski-Mercer Road, Wilmington Township, has served as a Wilmington Township supervisor for 12 years, is a graduate of Union High School in Lawrence County and served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer. He earned an American University Certificate in Police and Public Administration in Washington, D.C., and is a retired police officer from the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. He had also worked for American Cyanimid Co., in New Castle and is now a self-employed farmer.
The judges, as they did in 2001, ignored the recommendation of the Mercer County Republican Committee for the vacant commissioner's seat. Contacted Monday night, Republican Chairman William Kirk expressed disappointment but said he congratulates Seamans and thanks him for "stepping up" for the second time. The committee had recommended three candidates: Atty. Thomas Dill of Sharon, Atty. Lewis McEwen of Wilmington Township and retired Pennsylvania State Police officer and current Westminister College security officer John Lechner of Hermitage.
Brooks resigned her commissioner post effective Nov. 30 to prepare to take office in Harrisburg. She was elected to the 17th District state representative post earlier this month. The law provides that the four common pleas court judges name a replacement for the unexpired term of the commissioner.
The judges are Francis Fornelli, Thomas Dobson, John Reed and Christopher St. John.
Other applicants
Here are the other 21 people who applied to replace Brooks:
Jeffrey Brandes, Jefferson Township.
Mary Buckwalter, Wilmington Township.
Joseph A. Burns Sr., Mercer.
Harry Canon Jr., Hermitage.
Michael Cooney, Grove City.
Thomas Dill, Sharon.
Joseph Goncz Jr., Pine Township.
Former Mercer mayor and county commissioner John (Jerry) Johnson, Mercer.
John Lechner, Hermitage.
Mary Ann McConnell, Coolspring Township.
Former solicitor for the county commissioners Lewis McEwen, Wilmington Township.
William Mills, Liberty Township.
Vonda Minner, Wilmington Township.
James Myhra, Hermitage.
Larry Pifer, Hermitage.
Richard Pokrant, Liberty Township.
Dennis Reichard, Hermitage.
R. George Ross, Shenango Township.
Phillip Steele, Pymatuning Township.
Charles Wallace, Sharpsville.
Richard Whitten, Pymatuning Township.