Venango County commissioner Mike Dulaney said Wednesday that he will not seek reelection. In a letter he expressed personal reasons and his own political philosophies for his decision. "This was never meant to be a career path for me, it's always been about public service," he said Wednesday afternoon. "When
the year is up and my term concludes, I will have been in an elected seat for nearly half of my
professional life. With that said, I do not choose to run again," he wrote.
Prior to being elected commissioner in 2019, the 35-year-old Dulaney served a Franklin City Councilman. He also served many years as the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce assistant director.
Dulaney said he is a believer in term limits and ran on not serving more than two terms as commissioner, but felt given where the county is currently, this is a time to step back. "The county is in the best shape it has been in for some time. The wages have been lifted to a more livable income; the infrastructure has been updated; the savings account is full; and the taxes kept level," he said.
When he, Sam Breene and Chip Abramovic were sworn in in 2020 the news of the pandemic was just starting to hit America. Within a couple months the state was forcing shutdowns. Dulaney isn't shy saying he disagrees with how it was handled regarding the delineation of essential and non-essential businesses.
"What the state governments failed to realize was that all jobs are essential from the employees' perspective. It was for that reason that I advocated for the distribution of our CARES Act money to those who were shutdown and deemed "too small" for federal assistance. This quick response enabled some of our small businesses to avoid an untimely closure."
That was just one thing he felt county government stepped up to the plate on in the last three years.
"As I look back on the accomplishments of my term, I know I've implemented some lasting changes. 2022 saw the start of the Venango County Infrastructure Bank, a program to help municipalities acquire funds for vitally necessary but exceedingly expensive infrastructure projects," he wrote in his letter. "Venango County started its first 911 Advisory Board, which enabled members from various emergency service agencies to have a say in the operation of 911 and Emergency Management Center. The county is also in the middle of upgrading the 911 radio system. These updates will not only provide a clearer quality of sound but also increase the coverage and efficacy of the signal."
Dulaney said improving emergency response services and increasing broadband upgrades will likely be a priority of the next four years for the commissioners. He favors moving all of the 911 services to the old Oil City Armory near the Hasson Heights swimming pool. For a $1, the county could purchase the property then have all their emergency operations and equipment at one location, according to Dulaney.
But he is leaving that job for the next body of commissioners.
"I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to serve you all these last seven years as councilman and commissioner. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, 'In free governments, the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors . . . . For the former to return among the latter does not degrade, but promote them.' While I will miss the service and the people I've worked with, I look forward to my promotion to private life."
He isn't sure what is in his future after January 2024 looks like. He joked about the cold not really being for him, but gave no indication on moving. "Maybe if I get a job that let's me afford two homes," he joked, adding that perhaps he was always meant to be a snowbird living here in the warm weather and in the south when fall and winter hit northwest Pennsylvania. "Wherever life takes me, Venango County and it's residents will always have a cherished place in my heart."
the year is up and my term concludes, I will have been in an elected seat for nearly half of my
professional life. With that said, I do not choose to run again," he wrote.
Prior to being elected commissioner in 2019, the 35-year-old Dulaney served a Franklin City Councilman. He also served many years as the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce assistant director.
Dulaney said he is a believer in term limits and ran on not serving more than two terms as commissioner, but felt given where the county is currently, this is a time to step back. "The county is in the best shape it has been in for some time. The wages have been lifted to a more livable income; the infrastructure has been updated; the savings account is full; and the taxes kept level," he said.
When he, Sam Breene and Chip Abramovic were sworn in in 2020 the news of the pandemic was just starting to hit America. Within a couple months the state was forcing shutdowns. Dulaney isn't shy saying he disagrees with how it was handled regarding the delineation of essential and non-essential businesses.
"What the state governments failed to realize was that all jobs are essential from the employees' perspective. It was for that reason that I advocated for the distribution of our CARES Act money to those who were shutdown and deemed "too small" for federal assistance. This quick response enabled some of our small businesses to avoid an untimely closure."
That was just one thing he felt county government stepped up to the plate on in the last three years.
"As I look back on the accomplishments of my term, I know I've implemented some lasting changes. 2022 saw the start of the Venango County Infrastructure Bank, a program to help municipalities acquire funds for vitally necessary but exceedingly expensive infrastructure projects," he wrote in his letter. "Venango County started its first 911 Advisory Board, which enabled members from various emergency service agencies to have a say in the operation of 911 and Emergency Management Center. The county is also in the middle of upgrading the 911 radio system. These updates will not only provide a clearer quality of sound but also increase the coverage and efficacy of the signal."
Dulaney said improving emergency response services and increasing broadband upgrades will likely be a priority of the next four years for the commissioners. He favors moving all of the 911 services to the old Oil City Armory near the Hasson Heights swimming pool. For a $1, the county could purchase the property then have all their emergency operations and equipment at one location, according to Dulaney.
But he is leaving that job for the next body of commissioners.
"I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to serve you all these last seven years as councilman and commissioner. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, 'In free governments, the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors . . . . For the former to return among the latter does not degrade, but promote them.' While I will miss the service and the people I've worked with, I look forward to my promotion to private life."
He isn't sure what is in his future after January 2024 looks like. He joked about the cold not really being for him, but gave no indication on moving. "Maybe if I get a job that let's me afford two homes," he joked, adding that perhaps he was always meant to be a snowbird living here in the warm weather and in the south when fall and winter hit northwest Pennsylvania. "Wherever life takes me, Venango County and it's residents will always have a cherished place in my heart."
While Mike Dulaney has announced he will not seek relection for Venango County commissioner, his counter parts, Sam Breene (R) and Albert "Chip" Abramovic (D) had both indicated they will. Franklin businessman Mathew Beith (D) announced his candidacy last month. The Derrick reported that Jim Speth (R), who is serves as president of Sugarcreek Borough Council, is also running in the primiaries.
Click here for our intial story on the Venango County Commissioner race. The primary election will be held May 16.
Click here for our intial story on the Venango County Commissioner race. The primary election will be held May 16.
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