CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – People who like to “fix things” was a common element of speakers and awardees at the Annual Democratic Spring Banquet held Thursday night by the Democratic Party of Clarion County at the American Legion.

(Photo above: College Democrats President Seth Ickes (left) and Bill Miller, winner of the 2017 Shropshire Award.)

Keynote Speaker — Deborah Kunselman

“I like to fix problems, and that’s what I did as an attorney,” said keynote speaker and Pennsylvania Superior Court Candidate Deborah Kunselman (pictured below). She was elected as judge for the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas twelve years ago. She became the youngest candidate to win a contested election in Beaver County and the first and only woman to serve on the trail board in her county.

“I had someone ask me how do you think you will be remembered as a judge when I was elected,” continued Kunselman. “What I want people to say about me is what they said about Dick Shreckengost and Bill Miller today.” (Shreckengost and Miller were presented with awards earlier in the evening.)

“I thought about it.  First, I hope they say I knew the law.  Second, I hope people will say I was fair and treated everybody with respect.  Third, I hope they say I had a good heart, and I really cared about what I did.”

“I hope they say I cared about the people who brought their disputes before me. When everybody (leaves) even if they didn’t get the results they wanted – because obviously when people leave the courtroom somebody’s not happy – that they at least thought they were treated fairly and that they had justice that day.”

“For the last 12 years on the Court of Common Pleas in Beaver County, those are the three things I have strived to do.”

Kunselman, a lifelong resident of Western Pennsylvania, earned the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee’s “Highly Recommended” rating for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

 Shropshire Award Winner — Bill Miller

Clarion University College Democrats presented the Shropshire award, named in honor of the lake Clarion County Commissioner John Shropshire. The structure award is awarded to dedicated citizens, organizations, or public servants in recognition of exemplary public service and commitment to justice, democracy, and equality.

The award has been presented to distinguished officeholders and associates since 2005, with past awardees including State Senator Allen Kukovich; State Representative Dan Surra; Auditor General Jack Wagner; Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale, APCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties); and Pittsburgh City Counselor Natalia Rudiak.

College Democrats President Seth Ickes gave the Shropshire Award to a local political and community leader Bill Miller.

“In the four years that I’ve been here I haven’t seen my grandpa a lot, and he sort of fulfilled that role,” said Ickes. “He lets us use his garage to do our float every year. He led this party for a good 10 or 12 years…and I think he was incredible, and I think we can all agree with that. I would like to present the 2017 Shropshire Award to Bill Miller.”

Miller and wife Judy received a lifetime achievement award earlier in the year from the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry for their community involvement.  Miller served for many years as the award winning Clarion University Swimming Coach and Bill and Judy Miller also own and operate the Clarion House Bed and Breakfast.

The Flame Award

The new award “The Flame” — established for someone who has lit and lifted the torch for Democrats of Clarion County — was presented in honor of Richard G. “Dick” Shreckengost of Putneyville who passed away on March 9. Schreckengost served for many years as chairman of the Armstrong County Democratic committee and was a carpenter business agent for the local carpenters union.

(Pictured above: Bill Miller (right) and former Armstrong Commissioner Rich Fink (left) presented award to Shreckngost’s widow Sandy.)

“This opportunity is to honor somebody who had a great influence on us and by extension you,” said Miller.  When I became chair about 12 years ago I was a rookie, and I didn’t know what to do.  I needed help and guidance, and I was given the phone number of Dick Shreckengost.  We must have talked for 20 minutes, and he said let’s get together, and I’ll show you what we do, and I’m sure you have new ideas, and we can make some great things happen for both counties.  We must have talked for two hours at that meeting, and he really gave me guidance throughout the years.”

“He and I became fast friends.  He introduced me to so many people because he knew them all.  He prepared me to the chairman here, and here’s the great thing he also prepared Joe (Joe Belotti, party chair — pictured below) because Joe met him, too. The legacy of Dick Shreckengost for Clarion County isn’t ending with his passing. Joe is going to continue using the influence of Dick Shreckengost. The kindness that this man gave to us is going to last beyond me and beyond Joe because he’s going to pass the torch on to somebody else.”

Rich Fink, former Armstrong Commissioner, had similar memories.

“The reason I’m here tonight is because Dick Shreckengost was somebody special to me,” said Fink.  “He wasn’t just the chairman of the Democrat Party in Armstrong County for 17 years.  He was my friend and an active unionist. I was the president of the United Mine Workers Local 2283, and we had a common goal, a common cause, and Dick cared about people, whether it was in a political arena or if it was downright helping somebody.” 

“For many years of dedicated service to the Armstrong County Democratic Committee Richard Dick Shreckengost has been unanimously made the Chairman Emeritus of the Armstrong County Democratic Committee.  He will be the chairman emeritus forever and a day.”

Bryan Barbing (pictured above), a candidate for Commonwealth Court, also offered brief remarks about his candidacy.  Currently the state representative for Johnstown for the last ten years, Barbing emphasized the importance of Commonwealth Court.

“All of the things that people really care about go before this public court–public education, public pensions, health care benefits, all labor benefits, unemployment compensation, and workers comp.” said Barbing. “I’ve done all of these cases and we’re tying to get judges that have a little bit of empathy.

Barbing also said many of the commonwealth courts rulings in the past have been overturned by the Superior Court.

(Pictured above: Clarion County Democratic Party Executive Board — Front row: Linda Runyan, Nancy Kadunce, and Miranda Mease and Back row: Seth Ickes, Braxton White, Erich Spessard, Nancy DiStefano, Jennifer Vinson, Joe Billotte, and Pat Hopkins.)