With the upcoming elections a little over three weeks away, I am writing to urge voters considering the candidates for Pike County Commissioner to continue to support and reelect Matt Osterberg and Ron Schmalzle. 

Consider all the turmoil swirling around us in the Middle East and among our leaders in Washington, who it would seem have forgotten the importance of stability to the collective well-being of their constituents and meaningful progress for the people they are elected to represent. 

Thankfully, that is not the case in Pike County—where these two current commissioners continue to provide focused, dedicated leadership on issues that matter to the people of the county, despite the distractions at all levels that could easily prevent success for our county. 

Matt and Ron continue to lead the fight for improved delivery of fire and emergency medical services in the county, as well as working diligently to bring enhanced levels of health care services to the county. 

Their efforts in these areas have garnered statewide recognition as models for outside-the-box thinking. They stand for responsible development of new businesses, both to broaden the employment opportunities for local residents and expand the tax base. 

They have re-engaged with representatives of the National Park Service regarding the impacts of policies and practices within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the residents of the communities in the county that border the park, and have worked to develop improved partnerships to this end. 

As the county has continued to grow through the pandemic and succeeding years, they have steadfastly fought for more commitment from the commonwealth for improvements to infrastructure that are sorely needed in our growing county. 

Reelecting Commissioners Osterberg and Schmalzle will ensure that our county leaders will continue to seek and find balance in the needs of our population and the established character of  Pike County—and that all decisions will be based on the integrity of leaders who say what they mean and mean what they say for the benefit of all constituents. 

Please don’t be distracted by the “storms” on state, national and international fronts—stay the course and vote for Matt and Ron for a continued bright future in Pike County.

George F. Beodeker

Delaware Township, PA