Shenandoah native announces run for county commissioner
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Rita Anczarski Baldino speaks to a group of people at the Fountain Springs Country Inn, announcing her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Schuylkill County Commissioner on Feb. 26, 2023.
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – A Shenandoah native and former Shenandoah Valley School Board member announced her run for county commissioner today.
Rita Anczarski Baldino, of Kline Township, originally of Shenandoah, announced her intention to seek a Democratic nomination for Schuylkill County Commissioner before about three dozen supporters, friends, and family members gathered at the Fountain Springs Country Inn.
“You know me because I grew up on South Main Street in Shenandoah,” Baldino told the group. “It was a wonderful region to grow up in.”
Baldino spoke of how she got into politics, saying she used to “complain about the Shenandoah Valley School District” at the dinner table, talking about when cornices were crumbling at the J.W. Cooper Memorial High School.
A 1970 graduate of Cardinal Brennan and 1974 Marywood College alumna, she served on the school board from 1977 until 1983, leading the effort to replace the Cooper school with the current high school on West Centre Street.
She became president of the board by a 5-4 vote. At the time, she was a teacher at St. Patrick’s in Pottsville.
“It really was what that town needed at the time, because the previous administration was neglecting the institution,” Baldino said.
Baldino said, after a death in the family, she moved to the Philadelphia area and worked as a homeless shelter manager in Philadelphia County from 1983-1985 and as a mental health housing program manager in Upper Darby from 1985-1986.
She returned to teaching in the West Chester Area School District from 1998 until 2019, when she returned to Schuylkill County.
“I haven’t regretted moving back one second,” she said.
Regarding the current administration of the county, she called it an embarrassment and said “shame” has been brought to the courthouse.
Baldino said her background in education, mental health, and human services would help in the courthouse.
“My ability to take on big problems, like I did with the Shenandoah Valley School Board, and to also be a nurturing presence… I felt that I have a unique set of gifts and talents that I could employ by running for county commissioner, should the people decide to elect me,” Baldino said.
She said she’s concerned with how the county is being run, given its challenges.
“When we make a decision today, it’s not just for today, we have to think long term,” Baldino said. “Since we haven’t had a reassessment since 1996, we are way out of line with the new homes that are being built. Kicking that can down the road is not going to make people happy.”
She added that she believed employees in some county offices are being underpaid.
“I’m very concerned that we’re hiring people to do tough jobs at $12/hr,” she said, referring to the Children and Youth Services office. “You can make more at McDonalds than working at Children and Youth.”
Regarding her outlook on the position, she said, “Given the opportunity to serve as one of your commissioners, I promise to promote transparency and lead in a style that not only considers the immediate concerns before the county but also potential long-term consequences.”
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