Project, proclamation recognizes local history making women officeholders

Jeff Horvath, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read
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Mar. 31—SCRANTON — A resident's desire to recognize local history-making women culminated this week in a city council proclamation honoring women "who were among the first to hold notable public offices" throughout Lackawanna County.

It followed a weekslong research effort driven by Debbie Niehuus of West Scranton, who pitched the idea of honoring first female officeholders to Councilman Mark McAndrew in early March, Women's History Month.

The project came to fruition Tuesday, when council opened its meeting with the proclamation paying tribute to more than 50 female political pioneers.

They include the late Margaret Terrill O'Connor Fletcher, the first woman to serve as mayor of Clarks Summit; Michele Duchnik, Scott Twp.'s first female supervisor; Taylor Mayor Loni Kavulich Loiselle and Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, the first women to hold those offices; former Lackawanna County Commissioner Laureen Cummings, the county's first female commissioner, and dozens of others.

Many of the women and their families attended the council session.

"What I wanted to do was document the women that are still walking among us that have made history," said Niehuus, who conducted copious research to craft the list with help from the Lackawanna Historical Society, Albright Memorial Library staff and personnel from the county's various municipalities. "For me, it was a labor of love."

One of the women recognized was Archbald Mayor Shirley Barrett, who was honored to be included. The women's achievements and commitment to their communities, both past and present, are very encouraging, Barrett said.

She'd love to see more young women get involved in public life and service, "because there's so much opportunity for them," she said.

Niehuus, meanwhile, thanked Scranton Assistant City Clerk Kathy Carrera for her considerable efforts in support of the project. She also credited McAndrew, noting, "without his blessing and his green light, this never would have happened."

McAndrew and council welcomed the opportunity to honor the women.

"It was wonderful and well-deserved," he said, noting there may be opportunities to expand the scope in the future.

Video of the council session is available online via ECTV's YouTube channel. To read the full proclamation, visit thetimes-tribune.com.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter.