Stout-Bashioum and Staniszewski Vying For Prothonotary Post

Three Democrats and one Republican are seeking the position of county prothonotary. This is the second of two stories featuring the candidates—this time with interviews with Republican candidate  and Democratic candidate .

Stout-Bashioum will face off against incumbant Phyllis Ranko-Matheny and fellow challenger Judith L. Fisher for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday's primary. For information on those two candidates, read our feature story .

Lisa Stout-Bashioum

Background:

• Born and raised in Bentleyville

• B.A. from University of Pittsburgh

• Visitor Services Manager  at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum - Responsible for planning for, hosting and creating programs for 24,000 visitors to Washington County

• Served on Bentworth School Board and District Leadership Team
• Bentleyville Area Historical Society president
• From Alex With Love Scholarship and Philanthropic Foundation vice president
• Married to husband Bob, mother of six children
• Daughter of former Sen. J. Barry and Lenore Stout (Sen. Stout served Washington County for 40 years in the General Assembly)
• Arts Education Collaborative Advisory Board
• Bentleyville Lions Club chairwoman
• Shekinah Ranch Horse Camp Secretary
• Cub Scout Pack 1419 Pack Committee
• Endorsed by UMWA and Washington County Central Labor Council

What will your priorities be if elected?

My priorities are to make the office more up to date and user friendly. The office should be using the best technology available, including efiling, and it should be a least as modern as neighboring counties.

If elected, do you see specific changes or efforts that need to be made?

There is an idea that is being expressed by one of my opponents, that to serve in a county row office capacity you need to have worked in the courthouse your entire career. I don't believe that not having any experience whatsoever in any venue outside the Washington County Courthouse is a good thing.

Perhaps this isolation from new ideas and methods in business, nonprofit organizations and educational facilities prevents us from moving forward at the pace we should to keep current. There is no other elected position that I can think of—U.S. Congress, state legislator or county commissioner—where having a job in the courthouse is considered an entitlement to elected office.

So, in a nutshell, the most important change that should be made in the prothonotary's office is to utilize the best technology and customer service that is available today.

Why should residents vote for you?

In addition to the fact I have a very strong background in public service, I think that most people want their public officials to be up to date, professional and most of all, to provide courteous and competent service to the taxpaying public. It's no secret that my opponents have run against one another four previous times. This primary is the fifth time that they have met head-to-head in an election. It's time to move on and bring a positive change into the office.

Matthew David Staniszewski

General Background:

• Lifelong resident going back three generations of steel and mine workers here in Washington County
• California University of Pennsylvania graduate with a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in organizational/industrial psychology
• Attended advanced information technology training workshops at Carnegie Mellon University’s Learning Systems Architecture Lab
• E-Learning / Instructional Design certified by the American Society for Training & Development
• Experienced two-term councilman in the City of Washington who voted against all tax increases and continues to be an advocate of the public
• Served as the City of Washington’s accounts and finance director, as well as public works director
• Certified grant writer from the Grantsmanship Center
• Chief executive officer of BIG, LLC (a business investment group)
• Experience as a federally licensed financial planner managing millions of dollars in investments for private businesses and individuals
• Developed a public countywide wireless safety system decreasing response time from 15 minutes to less than four minutes for emergency responders
• Provided information technology support to 26 school districts throughout the region
• Taught college level computer courses in lifelong learning programs
• Member and volunteer for the Sons of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and A.B.A.T.E.
• Served as treasurer and board member for the Citizens Library since 2005
• Served as a board member for the Greater Canonsburg Area Chamber of Commerce
• Co-founder and board member of the City of Washington Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of the Washington Jazz Society
• Partnered with TRIPIL, a non-profit organization providing support to individuals with disabilities, to create disability awareness day where he rode in a wheelchair along side other individuals in wheelchairs to understand, firsthand, accessibility issues throughout the City of Washington.
• Won both the Democratic and Republican nominations in the May 2009 primary, and was re-elected in the general election to a second term to serve on Washington City Council.

What will your priorities be if elected?

The top priority is to create a friendly, convenient and modern office. My opponents want to simply scan documents in for you to view online. I am the only candidate with the experience, education and competence who wants to enable you to submit civil complaints (e-file) and other requests online. Imagine if you could file your initial paperwork conveniently online 24/7 from your office or home.

In addition, as part of my long term vision for bringing the prothonotary’s office into the 21st century, I will “have the app for that.”

I also plan to implement a nepotism policy and I am firm believer that an elected office is not a family heirloom. Your time is valuable and I want to make the prothonotary’s office professional and at the same time friendly and convenient for you.

If elected, do you see specific changes or efforts that need to be made?

First and foremost, we need to develop a higher level of customer service standards that are friendly and convenient for individuals using the services of the prothonotary’s office. We are there to serve the people and that needs to be the culture. A person’s time is valuable and many who utilize the prothonotary’s office are dealing with sensitive situations.

For example, an individual who wants divorced from an abusive marriage or an individual who wants to fight for custody of their children and save them from unsafe situations. Or, the working family that is appealing its property taxes so it might be able to lower the tax burden on its household. We need to make the process as easy and convenient as possible for individuals using our services.

By incorporating technology, bringing the office into the 21st century and simplifying the process by enabling individuals to file initial complaints (e-file) conveniently online 24/7 from their offices or homes, we can create a friendly, convenient, efficient and effective office serving the public while lowering the overall costs to the taxpayers.

Part of our migration to the online community will first involve taking many of the paper forms and developing interactive, secure web pages that enable users to fill out initial information, upload certain documents and process online payments. This should eliminate wasteful use of paper, provide a better backup system (as items will automatically be stored electronically rather than wasting a staff person’s time to sit there and scan items in) while providing convenience to individuals using the services of the office.

Down the road, as part of my vision for bringing Washington County into the 21st century, we’ll “have the app for that.”

Why should residents vote for you?

I am the only candidate with the experience, education and competence to bring the prothonotary’s office of Washington County into the 21st Century and beyond.

Coming from three generations of local steel and mine workers, my family instilled a work ethic of rolling up your sleeves and getting the job done. Coupled with that work ethic, my experience in the private sector and service in the public sector with my college education, many individuals throughout the county have told me that I am the best fit for the job.

As I mentioned, I will create an efficient and effective department that provides convenient and friendly customer service for you while lowering the taxpayers’ costs. Being a councilman for a city with significant financial challenges, I understand what it means to be mindful of the taxpayers’ pocketbooks and tighten our belts. I have always voted against tax increases and the people of Washington know that I am an advocate of the public—I’m on your side, I understand your needs and I work for you.