Published: October 09, 2009 12:11 am      

Stanek resigns post as Susquehanna supervisor

NORTHERN CAMBRIA — The three-member Susquehanna Township Board of Supervisors now is made up entirely of appointed members rather than elected officials.

Kevin Stanek, who had been the lone remaining elected supervisor, resigned this week in the wake of convictions on criminal charges of forgery, insurance fraud and theft.

None of the charges was related to his tenure as a supervisor.

The other two supervisors – who had been appointed by Judge Gerard Long in June to vacancies – have appointed Francine Filkins, a longtime township resident, to Stanek’s seat.

Because Stanek’s resignation comes too late to get the position onto the November ballot, Filkins will serve through 2011, the county election office said. Filkins said Thursday that she probably will run for election in 2011 for a full six-year term.

Stanek, 50, had pleaded guilty in May to felony charges of forging doctor’s slips for sick leave pay from his former job as Northern Cambria police chief, and to insurance fraud and theft for submitting a false claim and collecting $1,701 for damage to a family car.

He also pleaded guilty to drunken driving while off duty.

He was sentenced to one month of home confinement and an additional 14 years probation.

District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said the felony convictions make Stanek ineligible under the state constitution to serve in office. If Stanek had not resigned, the district attorney said that he would have filed civil court action to have Stanek removed from office.

The other two supervisors, Michael D. Schettini and Terry Stafford, were appointed to interim terms ending Dec. 31.

One vacancy was caused by the death of Nancy Davis in April. The other seat became vacant when Edward Rick Lloyd resigned in early May.

Schettini, a Democrat, is unopposed for a six-year term in the Nov. 3 election. There are no candidates on the ballot for the open two-year term as supervisor.

Filkins is a registered nurse liaison with Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona. She is active in the Northern Cambria Area Business Alliance and currently serves as its economic development chairwoman.

A native of Barnesboro, Filkins has lived in the township for 25 years. She and her husband, Michael, live in the 1200 block of Shawna Road.

She is a graduate of Northern Cambria High School and Mount Aloysius College, where she received an associate degree in nursing.