Lena Marinaro

Why are you running for mayor?

I am running because I want the residents to have a voice. I will support all non-profits and hope to increase all volunteer organizations.

My desire as mayor is to bring us together as a community, for all of us to meet our neighbors and new residents, and to focus on our positive aspects. There are many other volunteer boards, commissions, and appointments where residents can participate. Let’s not forget nonprofit organizations.

What are the top three issues facing the borough today and how do you plan to address them?

Issues:

Our growth is limited because we are a 10-block-by-10-block area.

We are working to have central sewage installed, which is the future.

I want to keep small-town values for our children’s future.

What sets you apart from your challengers?

What sets me apart are my years of involvement with all walks of life.

From 1992 to 2002 I volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, first as a Cub Scout pack leader, then Cubmaster, Unit Commissioner and, ultimately, District Commissioner. I was also a Little League coach.

In 2006, then-mayor Dick Gassmann asked me to serve on the Board of the Municipal Authority of Matamoras, where I eventually became its chair. Previously, I worked for Matamoras Police Chief Robert Stevens as a secretary/dispatcher and as the deputy director of vital statistics for Pike County.

Currently I am an associate member of the Matamoras Fire Department and volunteer with The Heart of Matamoras, a civic organization. I was a volunteer with Fur-get Me Not, a pet rescue organization.

Feel free to add information about your background and qualifications.

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked in managerial and customer service positions at local restaurants, including the Best Western at Hunt’s Landing, where I started in the kitchen, then was promoted to Dining Room Lounge Manager. Later I was part of the management team at The Grill and local pizzerias.

We are a great borough with great people doing wonderful things. The more of us who are involved, the better our community becomes. That starts with our excellent borough council.