Judge, readers both high on new commissioner

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February 9, 2010

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Tue Feb 09, 2010, 12:11 PM EST

Congratulations to Salvatore “Sam” Valenty on his appointment to the Cambria County board of commissioners.

We aren’t sure his name would have been at the top of the list when this process started in early January, when Bill Harris stepped down from the board mid-term.

But as the time neared for President Judge Timothy Creany to pick the next Republican commissioner from among some 30 candidates, Valenty’s name had risen dramatically.

The Northern Cambria business owner was among the top vote-getters in our “Pick A Commissioner” promotion, where readers could vote through either a paper ballot clipped from the newspaper or on our Web site, www.tribdem.com.

Valenty was the top choice among the 106 readers who submitted paper ballots through the mail or by fax. And Valenty was third in online voting, where 485 ballots were cast.

Does it matter that the people’s choice mirrored the judge’s choice?

Perhaps not. This was by law the judge’s call.

But it was nice to see that Valenty had support in the community, not only in the judge’s chambers.

He joins Democrats Milan Gjurich and P.J. Stevens on the county’s top governing board.

Creany called Valenty “the consummate team player.”

That should serve the board newcomer well as he works with his fellow commissioners, doing so as the minority member.

But the Cambria board has traditionally dodged partisan decisions, and members have worked well together in tackling numerous difficult issues.

“I know that he won’t try to one-up anyone,” Creany said of Valenty. “He’ll bring his talents and suggestions to his fellow commissioners in a low-key, business-like way.”

We see that “business-like” approach as one of Valenty’s top attributes.

We hope he brings the same fiscal sense to county government that he has to his own business, and makes wise choices with taxpayer dollars and works with the other commissioners with the same mind-set.

“I’m not a politician,” Valenty said. “I’m a businessman.”

He will serve the final two years of Harris’ four-year term and would then need to run for re-election.

We hope he has a positive experience.

Valenty will be called upon to help lead Cambria County forward through the important decisions that await.

Like Creany, we trust that he is up to the task.

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