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Commissioner meets with Stover Scholars

3 min read
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Greene County Commission Chair Pam Snyder met with 17 Waynesburg University Stover Scholars last month to discuss her path into politics and the importance of cooperation in governance.

Snyder, who has been a Greene County Commissioner since 2008, urged the undergraduate students from a range of university disciplines to take their university education seriously and figure out how to make society better for future generations.

Snyder told students that she constantly asks herself, “How can I make Greene County better” and “How can I leave Greene County better than when I found it?” Through the reflection upon these questions, Snyder urged the students to have the same attitude toward their own communities throughout their careers.

“Make your community better for the next generation,” she said.

According to Snyder, working to help someone every day is what government service is all about. Her experiences in politics have included service as Deputy District Director for the 20th Congressional District office of the late former Congressman Frank Mascara, and serving on the staff of both the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Greene County Board of Commissioners.

The Stover Scholars, chosen for their interest in the relationship between the U.S. Constitution and Christian Ethics, asked Commissioner Snyder questions ranging from Governor Tom Corbett’s proposals for the regulation of the Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration and drilling, to possible tradeoffs between good governance, to representing the will of the people and finally, the personal and family challenges of being a public official.

“We are very honored that Commissioner Snyder took the time to meet with the Stover Scholars,” said Dr. Lawrence M. Stratton, director of Waynesburg University’s Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership. “Her passion for making Greene County work well and more prosperous is contagious.”

The Waynesburg University Stover Scholars were appreciative of Snyder’s relatable delivery.

“Commissioner Snyder’s visit provided a very valuable learning experience,” said Jeremy Hinkle, a freshman history major from Washington. “We recognized her steadfast commitment to serve the people and to make progress, and realized that she accomplishes this by sacrificing as much time as she needs to in order to get the job done, and also by not allowing any partisan politics to occur under her watch.”

Ryan Marshall, a junior sociology (pre-law) major from New Salem, said Snyder’s visit provided him with “new hope.”

“Meeting Commissioner Snyder was like a breath of fresh air for the prosperity of this nation,” he said. “She said straightforward that we need to set aside politics and actually govern by doing what needs to be done for the people, instead of what is wanted to be done that will only help a particular group of people instead of the people as a whole.”

For Chase Ayers, a freshman sociology (pre-law) major from Charleroi, Snyder provided a great deal of insight into the political sector.

“The idea of governing over political fighting has given me a new way of approaching issues both state and national. Political infighting seems to capture more attention from the news than the bipartisan ‘governing matters’ approach to politics,” Ayers said. “We need to promote more agreements and less stonewalling.”

Anthony Cooper, a junior sociology (pre-law) major from Lewisburg, felt he received quality insight into the intricacies of local government.

“I was especially impressed with how Commissioner Snyder maintained her area roots, and did not forget who she was serving when in office,” Cooper said. “This is something that is commonly forgotten, and yet extremely important for a public official.”

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