SCRANTON -- Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien is announcing his resignation in order to work in the private sector, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Commissioner O'Brien, a Democrat, was elected commissioner in 2007.
O'Brien will be stepping down March 10, to take a job in the private sector.
He says he'll make that announcement in a few days, and adds that that private sector job is here in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Corey O'Brien was elected to the Lackawanna County commission eight years ago, then re-elected in 2011 along with majority commissioner Jim Wansacz.
In between, O'Brien unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic party's nomination for Congress, losing to incumbent Paul Kanjorski.
O'Brien said he is resigning with mixed emotions, thanking voters for his two elections to the county commission and saying he's leaving Lackawanna County in better shape than when he first took office.
O'Brien listed his highlights the full renovated PNC baseball field, an $8 million budget surplus, $4 four million in new community projects, and an unemployment rate in Lackawanna County that is almost half of what it was in 2008.
O'Brien says one of the reasons he is leaving office with 11 months left in his term is to give other people who might not have run for commissioner, a chance to consider getting in the race.
Here is the full text of his statement:
"It is with many mixed emotions that I announce my resignation as Lackawanna County Commissioner effective March 10, 2015, to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
"I would first like to thank the voters of Lackawanna County who put their trust in me and elected me in 2007 and re-elected me in 2011. Together, we have accomplished many great things. Looking back over the past eight years, I am proud to be leaving Lackawanna County in better condition than when I first took office. Today, we have a fully renovated PNC Field, an $8.5 million budget surplus, an aggressive private-sector jobs program that has helped take our unemployment rate from 9.8 percent to 5.9 percent, more than $4 million in new community projects and an expansive county park system, which has enjoyed significant upgrades during my tenure, capped off by one of the nation’s largest Boundless Playground programs.
"I have loved serving as a county commissioner. The leadership team that we assembled is second to none, and the workforce and quality of operations are as good as any. I will always remember my days here and I will miss working with the employees of the county.
"One of the challenges with public-sector work is that the clock is ticking from the day you start. And while I’m not at the final buzzer in my current position, I have entered the fourth quarter. Although my term in office does not end until the beginning of next year, the timing of this announcement allows candidates who would not have otherwise sought this office an opportunity to participate in the election process. Therefore, I don’t feel it is appropriate for me to wait until my final day in office to make this announcement.
"I love Northeastern Pennsylvania. I love living here and helping to make our region a better place. I look forward to continuing to be active in our community for many years to come."
