Two apply to replace Quinn on WBA School Board

Mark Guydish, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 29—WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes-Barre Area School District received two applications from people seeking to fill the School Board vacancy created by the death of Board Member John Quinn. The district had posted a request for applications on its website following Quinn's passing on June 13.

The applicants are Richard Gazenski and Warren Faust.

Gazenski, of Wilkes-Barre, provided a resume to the district citing more than 40 years in the insurance industry, building a 100-year-old business "into a successful multi-million dollar insurance firm." He said that experience provides fiscal, negotiating and employee management skills.

He also cited his work with the Rotary, the Wilkes-Barre redistricting committee, the Wilkes-Barre City Insurance committee, as a Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority board member, as vice chairman of the Wilkes-Barre Planning commission, as 6th District Democratic Committee Chairman and as Wilkes-Barre City Administrator from November 2018 to January 2020. Gazenski is lifelong resident of the city.

In a cover letter, Faust noted he is a resident of Wilkes-Barre Township, as Quinn was, writing that "I believe it is paramount to have a resident of Wilkes-Barre Township succeeding" Quinn. From his initial election on the board in 2011, Quinn was a frequent voice for township residents.

Faust wrote that he is "approaching my 30th year as a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 44, giving him experience as the union's business manager, helping negotiate contracts. He also currently serves as president of the Northeast Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trade Council.

Faust came to the township as a child when his family moved there. He has been involved with the district as Wolfpack Wrestling Booster Club Member and GAR Wrestling Booster Club President.

The agenda for the regular monthly meeting Wednesday has a resolution for the board to vote on a replacement, but the resolution has a blank where the name of the candidate should be.