LEHMAN TWP. — The race to fill four open seats on the Lake-Lehman School Board will require voters to write in a candidate for the Region Two spot, Luzerne County Election Director Marisa Crispell said.
Incumbents Andrew Salko and David Paulauskas both of Region Three and Kevin Carey of Region One are seeking re-election on both the Republican and Democrat ballots in the May 16 primary election, according to official candidate fillings at the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections.
Current board member Robin Wesly of Region two is not campaigning for a new term. There is no one contesting the seat.
The district covers a mainly residential rural region in both Luzerne and Wyoming counties.
This area is broken into Regions One, Two and Three. Currently, there are three school board members from each region on the board.
Lake-Lehman School District is continually challenged to budget funding, according to current board president Salko.
Salko said the district lacks a large commercial area, which shifts all of the tax burden to property owners.
“Year to year we (the school board) worries if legislators will adequately fund public education,” Salko said. “We have been able to manage the budget well, which put the district in a good financial position.”
Also, the Lake-Lehman School District’s teachers’ contract is set to expire in 2020, Paulauskas said.
“We have a good teachers’ union who is willing to work with us in terms of healthcare,” Paulauskas said.
Andrew Salko
Salko, who is serving as the school board president, is running for his fourth four-year term.
He is a real estate acquisition specialist with Arrow Land Solutions based in Harrisburg. Salko said his listening and negotiating skills make him a valuable member of the school board.
When developing a land acquisition agreement, Salko said he listens to both sides before offering a solution.
“You have to understand where people are coming from,” he said.
He applied these skills to resolve issues with parents, teachers and students.
Salko, who does not have any family members employed by the school district, resides in Jackson Township with his wife, Corinne. The couple has two children, Emma and Andrew.
David Paulauskas
Paulauskas is seeking a third, four-year term on the Lake-Lehman School Board.
Paulauskas’ strong business background as a sales manager for bioMerieux, a worldwide biotechnology company, has aided the school board’s decision-making process.
He said his managerial skills allow him to relate to and work well with others.
Paulauskas wants to be re-elected to continue the district’s financially sound operations.
Paulauskas, who also does not have any family members employed by the district, resides in Jackson Township with his wife, Barbara. The couple has two children, Adam and Alyson.
Kevin Carey
Candidate Kevin Carey, of Noxen, is also seeking re-election but was unable to be reached for comment before deadline.
