DUBOIS – Barry Abbott of Treasure Lake is a candidate for Clearfield County Commissioner on the Republican ticket.
Abbott has been a resident of Treasure Lake since 1987 when he was hired as the DuBois Area School District’s athletic director.
He was born and raised in Philipsburg where he lived prior to moving to DuBois.
Abbott stated there are a number of issues that need to be addressed at the county level including economic development and jobs, environment issues, cleaning of abandoned coal mines and polluted streams ( Moshannon Creek and Anderson Creek), ensuring federal monies for reclaiming are obtained by the county, landfill issues in Boggs Township, promoting tourism within the entire county, preparedness of emergency situations and making sure Homeland Security dollars are spent properly, protecting water supply of county residents, especially the supply that is bridged near Interstate 80, ensuring the county prison is run in a proper manner and looking into jobs that prisoners could do within the confines of the prison, finally, making sure the citizens of the county have adequate health care facilities, emergency personnel and ancillary services.
Clearfield County needs to be on the same page as our state and federal elected officials, making sure we get our fair share of state budgetary revenues.
Finally, Abbott will lay down a challenge to the Pennsylvania Gaming Board to develop a gaming property within the county.
He has been married to Karen Abbott for 35 years. They have three children, John Jr., Ryan and Shannon. They also are the grandparents of twin girls Paige and Paiton and boys Tyler and Colin.
Abbott was a graduate of the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School where he played football, basketball and baseball and participated in many high school theater productions. He graduated from Clarion University and received his master’s degree in education administration from Penn State University and also attended St. Bonaventure University, gaining his elementary and secondary principalship degree.
He is currently employed by the DuBois Area School District at the DuBois Area Middle School. He enjoys refereeing football, basketball and baseball. He has retired from umpiring baseball and college basketball and still officiates high school football and high school basketball.
Abbott is a life member of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, Philipsburg; a life member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Bald Eagle; a life member of Hope Fire Company No. 2, Philipsburg; and a member of the Garfield Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, DuBois.
Abbott encourages citizens of Clearfield County to contact him with concerns they may have about issues of county government.
“Each and every individual has a say in government. Be vocal, be supportive, and vote,” reminds Abbott. “Issues need discussed in an open and fair debate. Voting on issues need to publicized prior to votes being taken. Finally, all meetings need to be open to the press and the people. The government is “of the people and for the people,” so stated by our forefathers.