Lancaster County’s new slate of commissioners took the reins of county government Tuesday afternoon, checking off a set of routine tasks during a brisk 15-minute reorganization meeting.
In a series of 3-0 votes, the commissioners appointed Josh Parsons as chair and Ray D’Agostino as vice chair; and reappointed county staff members Larry George as chief clerk, Jackie Pfursich as county solicitor and Chris Tallarico as county public defender.
Parsons and D’Agostino, both Republicans, are incumbents, having won re-election in November. They are joined by Democrat Alice Yoder: She replaces John Trescot, who was appointed in early 2022 to fill the remaining term of Craig Lehman, who had resigned at the end of 2021.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Yoder said, “and really grateful to the community for allowing me to take on this responsibility.”
Parsons was the board’s chairman prior to D’Agostino, who took over two years ago.
Also appointed were five assistant solicitors (Dennis Dougherty, David Becker, Marks Smith, Eric Quiroz and Christine Pfau Laney); and the firms Rettew Associates and Gannett Fleming as primary and secondary county engineer.
Yoder comes to county government from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, where she was executive director of community health.
She said she’s eager to tackle “critical issues” in collaboration with her two colleagues and that she’s thinking about the county’s future and how to lay the groundwork for future generations. She offered her own family as a case in point: Her grown son recently bought a house in Lancaster County and her daughter is thinking about where to live.
“I want them to stay here,” she said.
Swearing in
Earlier Tuesday, the three county commissioners joined Lancaster County’s other elected officials, listed below, in taking the oath of office at the county courthouse. All are Republicans.
- District Attorney Heather Adams
- Register of Wills Anne Cooper
- Coroner Stephen Diamantoni
- Sheriff Christopher Leppler
- Treasurer Amber Martin
- Prothonotary Andrew Spade
- Clerk of Courts Nicky Woods
All are incumbents except Nicky Woods, who defeated incumbent Mary Anater in the May 2022 primary and Democrat Tara Ruby in the general election. Anater resigned in early October, leaving Dimary Serrano to hold the fort as interim clerk of courts until Tuesday’s swearing-in.
(Photos: Tim Stuhldreher | One United Lancaster)
