Carol E. Duffy, current Republican McKean County commissioner, has announced her intention to run for re-election.
As a lifelong resident of Smethport, Duffy and her husband Roy have raised four children. For over 30 years, they co-owned and operated a construction and trucking company. Duffy is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford with a degree in business management and a concentration in accounting.
She has 19 years’ experience on the Smethport School Board and eight years as vice-president on the Intermediate Unit Nine Board. She has served as vice-president of Smethport Area Women’s Club, a member of the Smethport VFW auxiliary, Smethport American Legion auxiliary and also as a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she serves as council member and treasurer.
“First I would like to thank the voters for giving me the privilege of serving as your county commissioner. I began this term with the promise of commitment to community and dedication to progress and will continue to serve the next four years in the same capacity when re-elected as Commissioner,” said Duffy.
In addition to her daily responsibilities as county commissioner, she also represents McKean County on a number of boards and committees.
Duffy said, “I believe being an effective commissioner and leader requires listening to the critical needs within the community and working to form a solution. The county agenda belongs to the community and together we solve problems, create opportunity and growth, and sustain a safe and secure environment for our citizens.”
She mentioned she has worked on issues involving declining numbers of volunteers for emergency services in her current term in office.
“I have worked with individuals throughout a three county region to develop a youth first responder training program at our local Career Technical Center,” Duffy said. “This training focuses on developing the student’s ability to perform essential first responder skills such as fire fighter, EMT, and other safety services, provides the student necessary skills to be workforce ready, and to serve the essential emergency services in our community.”
Other areas of concern have been workforce, infrastructure and broadband, she said.
“To sustain and improve our local industry, education, and healthcare we must focus on improving our workforce, infrastructure and especially broadband connectivity. I am working with county departments to formulate a strategic plan for broadband ensuring that the county is prepared to capture the opportunity when it becomes available. I believe focusing on economic development is essential to improve the quality of life for our residents,” she said.
Duffy pointed to her accounting background as a positive for dealing with the complex finances of a county government.
“With the complexity of the county budget, it is important your commissioner has a strong financial background and the ability to understand the many revenue streams and expenditures,” she said. “I believe I possess that ability.”
