Clearfield County Commissioner Candidate: Tony Scotto

1. Provide a brief professional and personal background.

I am a graduate of Seton Hall University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in finance.

I am a successful small business owner.  I was a financial advisor, a licensed specialist at a local bank and a client services representative at Prudential Retirement Services. Also, before becoming commissioner, I was the county controller.

I have been happily married for 22 years to my wonderful wife, Rossella, and have two amazing children, Mario and Monica Scotto.

2. Why did you choose to run for the office of Clearfield County Commissioner?

I am very passionate about our community, and I would like to give back to the place where I raise my children.

As your current commissioner, I am running for re-election to continue fostering growth within Clearfield County.  My intentions are to build upon the foundation, which my running mate and I have laid in our first term together.

For instance, under our leadership, Clearfield County is experiencing low unemployment rates. At one point, it was as low as 4.2 percent.

In addition, we have collaborated with Penn State University to initiate a program that promotes entrepreneurship and creation of workforce.

Furthermore, we have accomplished economic development by bringing in, retaining and expanding industry within our area.

We have brought in companies like Makin Metals and Continental Carbonic, retained businesses such as TAFCO and witnessed the expansion of plants such as Danone Wave.

As an incumbent, I want to continue to apply my knowledge and experience in effort to nurture the current positive trends in place.

3. What do you think makes you the best candidate for Clearfield County Commissioner?

First, it has been an honor to serve as your current commissioner for almost four years. The experiences that I have incurred in that time, along with my previous position as controller and small business background, have been tremendous assets.

4. Do you think Clearfield County is healthy and successful? If not, why?

I do believe that Clearfield County is healthy and successful.  As I have mentioned above, we are experiencing economic development, which will aid other local businesses specifically the powdered metal industry.

We are retaining businesses, which keeps jobs here, which in turn helps local municipalities. Businesses such as Danone Wave and Paris have or are expanding their operations, which is creating opportunities for our younger generation.

We are experiencing very low unemployment numbers.

In addition, Penn State DuBois has started a program that will support manufacturing competitiveness and workforce needs, growing and attracting talented innovators and entrepreneurs and creating new high-knowledge, high-technology businesses in the region.

This initiative by Penn State will help the development of smaller- and medium-sized companies, which are the staple of our economy

However, while I do feel that the county is doing fine, we are suffering a drug epidemic that is causing both budgetary and jail overpopulation issues.

5. If elected, how would you actively build relationships with and gain the trust of citizens of Clearfield County? How would you engage citizens in the decision-making process?

I would continue to make myself available to the citizens by attending any meetings that the commissioners are invited to.

I would also continue to attend as many community events as possible, so that I can be out where the citizens and voters can see me and speak directly with me.

There is no better relationship a local elected official can have than to speak one-on-one with the people you represent so that they can share concerns and ideas with you.

Being available, listening and talking to voters are the key building blocks of trust, and I will continue to do this throughout my time as county commissioner.

Our commissioners’ meetings are open to the public, and the public is permitted to speak during public comment. Our meeting minutes are also available on our Web site for all to see.

One of the things we do is appoint people to various boards, and that allows citizens to have a direct impact on decision-making.

We always announce board openings that way if someone is interested, they have an opportunity to write us and express their interest in serving on a particular board.

In addition, we try to make the boards as diversified as possible. We do this by appointing people from different parts of the county.

6. What element of the county’s government is most effective? What element is most ineffective? Why?

I think that one of the most effective parts of county government is that it small enough for the citizens to engage directly with the commissioners.

The county does not have layers of employees to access the commissioners.  We are easily accessible to the public.

I feel that one of the most ineffective parts of county government is unfunded mandates.  As a result, the county suffers as well as the taxpayers.  It also does not allow the county to provide the best possible service to its citizens.

7. How would you fight the current drug epidemic that’s created a budget crisis for Clearfield County?

This drug epidemic is hurting families, not just our budget.  In some cases, children are removed from their homes, or have to be under constant supervision by Children, Youth & Family Services.

I believe we must identify the at-risk children who might turn to drugs and who are under supervision.  That way we can help them and break this vicious cycle.

In addition, we currently have an imbedded drug and alcohol counselor at the jail who could identify inmates that could benefit from treatment.

We need to also send the drug dealers to state prison, not just to county jail.

8. As county commissioner, what do you feel is the best way to address the overpopulation issue at the Clearfield County Jail?

As commissioner, many things are out of our hands, but I would like to see the courts use other alternatives on non-violent offenders.

I think the county will benefit from the drug court, and should also utilize home arrest, and drug treatment coupled with stringent probation and community service.

These are out of my hand, and up to the courts to implement, as well as giving state sentences to drug dealers.

Also, I think we need to improve our work release program so that inmates can return to being a productive member of society.

9. What one area of county government would receive more attention if you were elected?

If I were to be re-elected, I would continue to focus on the budget.  It is important to all the county departments and taxpayers to have a realistic budget.

10. If the county received a $1 million grant to use in anyway it wanted, how would you use it? Why?

I would use that money to identify possible at-risk youths who might turn to drugs, and establish programs to divert them from drug use.

In addition, I would use it for vivitrol treatment of inmates. Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors in the brain for one month at a time, helping patients to prevent relapse to opioid dependency following detox.

This would help in their counseling.  Identifying and treating the drug problem would greatly reduce our jail population, as well return people back to productive lives.

The drug epidemic is very real, and everyone is impacted by it.