STROUDSBURG, PA(February 3, 2011): County Commissioners Theresa Merli and Suzanne McCool announced their intention to seek re-election today.  Since the Democratic duo’s historic election in 2007, they have pursued a pragmatic agenda to move Monroe County forward by aggressively tackling current challenges, reforming longstanding inefficiencies and planning for the Future.  They consider themselves a leadership team focused on getting work done for the community.

During their first term, Commissioners McCool and Merli worked to move Monroe forward.  Amid deep and continued budget cuts on the State and Federal levels, McCool has worked tirelessly to maintain adequate funding for the county’s human services agencies such as Children& Youth and the Area Agency on Aging.  McCool is an active member of the County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Human Services Board as will as a member of all the Human Service Boards in the County.

Meanwhile, Merli has focused on striking a balance between cultivating economic growth and preserving Monroe’s unique natural heritage, moving the county forward on a number of important issues (see below).  Merli chairs the Prison Board and the Pleasant Valley Manor Board of Trustees.  Both facilities are undergoing an era of renewal, including long-overdue physical upgrades providing enhanced safety and security.

McCool and Merli’s achievements include:

• Securing funding for a state-of-the-art Monroe Campus of Northampton Community College with no increase to local property taxes.
• Moving forward the long-delayed road improvements needed at the intersection of I-80 and Route #715 (the 298-299 exit/entrance ramps)by protecting a $15 million earmark originally made by former Senator Rick Santorum(R-PA) in 2005 and maintained by Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
• Establishing the county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB)
• Meeting financial obligations for pre-existing County debt
• Coordinating and completing a long overdue formal space assessment of the county courthouse.

McCool and Merli are determined to maintain Monroe County’s momentum by developing a sensible plan to satisfy the county court’s space needs.  They will continue to protect and enhance existing county assets and continue to work with all Departments to develop strategies for greater efficiency and effectiveness of the workforce.

About Commissioner McCool and Commissioner Merli

Suzanne McCool is a lifelong resident of Monroe County, growing up in Paradise Valley and resides in Stroudsburg with her husband Col. Terry McCool.  They are the parents of two sons, Marc and Christopher, and have 5 grandchildren.

Theresa Merli and her husband, ESU Track and Field Coach Chris Merli, have been residents of Paradise Township for 26 years.   They have 4 children, David, Sharon, Cathy and Joan and a granddaughter, Eve.