Greene’s Coder to join Critz
Greene County Commissioner Dave Coder said he is looking forward to starting his new job as Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Critz’s deputy district director next week. Coder said he would step down from the commissioners’ office on Friday and begin his new job working at Critz’s district offices in Uniontown, Waynesburg and Washington on July 6.
His resignation comes in the middle of his fourth four-year term as a commissioner, which ends on Dec. 31, 2011.
Despite four consecutive election victories and holding past and present leadership roles with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, Coder said leaving county government to work for Critz was not a difficult decision.
“It was not a very hard decision. I’ve known him for many years. He was the go-to guy in the district,” Coder said. “I think he’s going to be a tremendous congressman. I’m really looking forward to this.”
Critz, of Johnstown, was the economic development director for his predecessor and former boss the late John P. Murtha, who represented the 12th Congressional District from 1974 until he died in February.
Critz defeated Republican Tim Burns of Eighty Four in the special election in May to serve the remainder of Murtha’s term, which ends in November. Critz will face off against Burns again in the November general election for a full two-year term.
The departure of Coder, a Democrat, would leave the Greene County commissioners’ office with Pam Snyder, the Democratic chairwoman of the board of commissioners, and Republican Commissioner Archie Trader.
Judge William Nalitz will appoint someone to replace Coder, but the date of when the appointment would be made has not been scheduled yet.
The appointee has to be a registered voter of the same party of the commissioner being replaced and would serve the remainder of his term, according to the county code.
Coder was chairman of the commissioners from 1996 to 2004.
He is the immediate past president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and is currently chairman of the association’s board of directors.
Coder is a gubernatorial appointee to the Port of Pittsburgh Commission. Gov. Edward G. Rendell appointed him in 2004.
He has served as chairman of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, chairman of the Greene County Democratic Committee and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
Prior to becoming a commissioner, Coder served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, was the county prothonotary from 1984 to 1988 and worked as a district field representative for U.S. Rep. Austin J. Murphy for five years.
During his terms as a commissioner, Coder has overseen the development of several county projects including the Greene River Trail, expanding the Greene County Prison, enhancing the county 911 system, development of the EverGreene Technology Park, renovating the Greene County Courthouse and restoring the historic log cabin courthouse and the county’s covered bridges.
In April 2009, he received the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in recognition of his contribution to local government in Pennsylvania.
A graduate of Mapletown High School and Waynesburg University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Coder lives in Waynesburg with his wife Cindy and their two daughters Mallory and Chelsea.
Coder will join Matthew Mazonkey, Critz’s chief of staff; Jim Penna, the district director; and legislative director Noel Holmes.
Coder and Joe Yankovich will be based in the Uniontown office, but they also will be responsible for the Waynesburg, Washington and Donora offices, Mazonkey said.
Critz’s offices in Johnstown, Uniontown and Washington D.C., will be open five days a week.
The Uniontown office is on the second floor of City Hall, 20 N. Gallatin Ave., and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Waynesburg office will be at 93 E. High St. and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Thursdays.
The office in Washington County will be located at 90 W. Chestnut St., Suite 210, in the city of Washington and will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Donora office will be located at 510 Meldon Ave. and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The main district office in Johnstown can be reached at 814-535-2642 or toll-free 1-800-289-2642.