CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Roland V. (Rollie) Burns, of Clarion, has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Clarion County Coroner in the May 16 primary election.
Burns will have opposition from current Chief Deputy Coroner Randall Stom, who announced his intention to run in December 2016.
Current Clarion County Coroner Terry Shaffer said Monday he will not run for re-election. Shaffer has worked in the coroner’s office for 12 years after 30 with the Pa. State Police.
Burns, 48, a lifelong Clarion resident, is a licensed funeral director and owner of the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, and The R.V. Burns Crematorium, Inc., both in Clarion, and the Burns Funeral Home and Crematorium in Rimersburg.
Burns and his wife, Tammy, have three daughters, and a granddaughter, and the Burns family is expecting their first grandson this March.
Burns attended the Immaculate Conception grade school, Clarion Area and Clarion Limestone high schools, and Clarion University.
He graduated in 1994 from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science with an Associate’s degree in Specialized Business and Funeral Service Management and a Diploma in Mortuary Arts and Science.
He is a member of the Immaculate Conception Church; the Knights of Columbus; the Eagles Club; the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge; the Lions Club; the Masonic Lodge 277; the Clarion County Shrine Club; Clarion Area Chamber of Commerce; and the Clarion Oaks Golf Course, all of Clarion.
Burns completed the coroner’s education board course in Medico – Legal Death Investigations in 1997, at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey.
To maintain his certification, Burns has attended mandatory continuing education classes each year.
Those courses were in Blood Borne Pathogens; Forensic Photography; Forensic Death Investigation; Mass Disasters; Traumatic Injuries; Grief Counseling; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Toxicology; along with a number of other courses.
Burns has 23 years in the funeral business and eight years as Clarion County Coroner.
In announcing his candidacy as coroner, he will again use Dr. Cyril Wect for autopsies and his personal advisor.
Burns pledges to work together with law enforcement officials, doctors, ambulance personnel, and fire companies in handling sudden, accidental, or suspicious deaths in the position of coroner.
