Retired Service Member looks to Transform Armstrong County as Commissioner
Shay
Major, Anthony G. Shea Jr. U.S. Air Force Retired, a Conservative Democrat, announced his candidacy for Armstrong County Commissioner.
Maj Shea looks to reinvigorate the county with through sustained economic growth. Maj Shea’s formula to accomplish this growth is by keeping county taxes at the lowest levels possible and government bureaucracy to a minimum. His goal “is to collaborate with the other Commissioners, and local leaders, to create an environment within the county where entrepreneurs will want to set up shop and families want to move into the county because it’s the best option.”
Shea wants every county program evaluated for both effectiveness and efficiency; he looks to leverage Information Technology to optimize the business processes within the county.
Shea in his current role, along with the other Lenape Joint Operating Committee members, have worked to get Community College access back into Armstrong County which starts in July, as well as expand adult the other education programs tailored to employer requirements. He is also an advocate for an improved roadway corridor between Kittanning and Brookville and an advocate for expanded hunting and game lands within the county.
Another goal of Shea is to facilitate a full court press on dealing with the issues of drugs and addiction within the county.
Shea has a biography of service; he started his life’s journey just after graduation from Leechburg in 1985 enlisting in the Air Force as a military policeman. During his first nine years as an MP, he worked through the various Law Enforcement specialties from patrolman, to prison guard, to 9-1-1 dispatcher and eventually head of military Vehicle Registrations for Central Florida.
With no new funding, then Staff Sergeant Shea, reduced wait time at the Central FL vehicle registration office from an average of four hours to less than five minutes by instituting a volunteer program recruiting over 40 retirees to augment his staff of eight. Shea’s efforts did not go unnoticed, and he was selected for Officer Training School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1994. Shea’s out of the box thinking earned him a spot in the Product Improvement Branch at AF Global Weather Central where he revolutionized client-server computing.
Shea then went on to challenge billing practices at Air Force Space Command saving the taxpayers over $1.7 million the first year, and millions more subsequently. In Germany, Shea found a way save over $2 million annually by redesigning and compressing Department of Defense phone system trunking, as well as improving internal charge back processes for services. Maj Shea was selected to teach at VMI and head up the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership.
Shea finished his career as Managing Director of Recruiting Support for the four-state area including Pennsylvania; his office oversaw all IT, Logistics, and HR support for a 120 person squadron with a $12 million annual budget. Shea deployed numerous times during his career supporting the Iraqi No Fly Zone, humanitarian operations in Kosovo and Bosnia, and the Global War on Terrorism.
Shea earned an Associates, Bachelors, and Master degree while on Active Duty. After retirement in 2008, Shea took employment in the banking industry in Armstrong County’s Northpointe where he serves as an IT Relationship Manager. Maj Shea served as the Leechburg and West Central District Elks Drug Awareness Chairman since 2007. Maj Shea currently serves his community as Vice President of the Leechburg Area School Board and Lenape JOC.
Shea also authored a book, “Without Warning,” with the story line set in Armstrong County.
Shea is married to the former Kerry Tiedemann; they have four children. Hiss oldest son, Anthony III (an Eagle Scout), is now Active Duty in the Air Force and slated to attend the Air Force Academy this summer.
The Shea family belongs to the Christ the King church in Gilpin Township.
Local News | KP NewsDesk March 30, 2015
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By jerry6, March 30, 2015 @ 8:13 AM
Mr. Shay sounds like a very intelligent and well informed person whom I could vote for. It is nice to hear a candidate tell how and what he is going to do if elected. Anyone can say, I will create jobs and lower taxes but to hear how is what I look for in a candidate. I am no relation to Mr. Shay and never heard of him until now.
By blutoblutarsky, March 30, 2015 @ 1:31 PM
Wow, quite the impressive candidate (and sounds good for this area and it’s issues).
I’m also sure the term conservative democrat will throw jorn off lol Speaking of, it would be a good comparison to see jorn’s credentials in this format.
By jorn jensen, March 30, 2015 @ 10:00 PM
bluto - I thought the same thing. Impressive, a conservative democrat - they do exist. I think they call themselves ‘blue dogs’. Been a long time since I’ve seen a conservative democrat.
Bet Mr. Shay is scratching his head over the Iran nuke deal and the Bergdahl trade.
I look forward to meeting Mr. Shay and conversing with him. Maybe mad can attack his military service. LOL, mad, LOL!
You haven’t seen my candidate announcement yet, have you bluto?
By blutoblutarsky, March 31, 2015 @ 11:06 AM
jorn- I have not seen your announcement. By all means, proceed with your credentials.
I’m interested in seeing actual dollar values attached to projects where you’ve either saved or made your employers’ profits.
By jorn jensen, April 1, 2015 @ 6:04 PM
What’s the matter, bluto? Not the response that you were expecting from me?
If we can have 3 conservative commissioners, one of whom would be a democrat, just imagine the good progress that can be made for Armstrong County. Eliminate waste, cut taxes and become inviting to business and industry. Lenape Vo-tech and BC3 educating people ready and willing to work. Life, and the economy in Armstrong County would be good!
The absolute wrong thing to do is for two seated commissioners to go walk the picket line at the hospital. Any business or industry, considering locating here, would run as fast as they can from here. That was an absolute foolish move by Rich Fink and Bob Bower. Total blunder.
On another thread, you referred to me answering something about a telephone call - I don’t know what you’re talking about.
How’s your explanation on your two-sentence attack on Ford City coming along?
By blutoblutarsky, April 2, 2015 @ 12:32 PM
Actually jorn- That was the type of response I expected lol It was nothing but petty attacks based on the latest headlines on Fox News.
The more you type, the more people get to see how unfit you are to be commissioner.
The phone call question was on the same thread where you were asking jerry to call you, about 3 posts down. Good eyes. lol
I left the ball in your court on your hunt to find something wrong regarding comments on a FC article. If you’d like to go back and respond, be my guest.
Are you afraid to provide your credentials like some of the other candidates have due to fear that yours won’t match up? That’s the only thing I can think of considering your attempt at deflection in your post above.
If you’re going to run, you should expect these types of questions and should be able to answer them in a mature manner.
By get the facts first, April 2, 2015 @ 9:41 PM
Once again…… Get your facts!!!! EDUCATE….Shea was supporting the employees. Thanks Shea!!!
By jorn jensen, April 3, 2015 @ 8:30 AM
Correct, get the facts first, EDUCATE….it is employers that bring the jobs for the employees. Don’t chase the employers away.
By blutoblutarsky, April 6, 2015 @ 9:43 AM
jorn- I compared this gentleman’s credentials versus yours and I believe he has far more experience in cutting costs and helping business thrive.
I also noticed your lack of response on my last comment above. I’m assuming you weren’t able to respond in a mature manner, so you didn’t. Good job; you’re learning.
By jorn jensen, April 6, 2015 @ 8:31 PM
And bluto, your defense for Anothony Shea walking the picket line is……?
By blutoblutarsky, April 8, 2015 @ 1:03 PM
Feel free to ask him yourself jorn. If I have the choice between a candidate with this much experience in helping communities & employers I’ll choose him over an inexperienced candidate such as yourself regardless if he walked a picket line or not.
If you’re going to base your campaign on trying to make these guys look bad for walking a picket line you’re not going to get very far lol
By ToddAshbaugh, April 9, 2015 @ 1:50 PM
Speaking of community involvement, Pat Fabian is the only candidate for county commissioner that has been an active participant at the meetings regarding the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC) clean up in Parks Township. This is a $400 million project taking place in our county aiming to fix a problem that has been affecting the people of Apollo for decades. Bluto is correct in his notion that we should choose our candidates based on the concern they have for our local communities as a whole, and not solely on ideology of the political party they happen to represent.
By savvynewshound, April 10, 2015 @ 9:19 AM
Unfortunately Todd, many candidates for commissioner think the county stops and starts in Kittanning/FC. Congrats to Pat for reaching out to the southern portion of the county.
By jerry6, April 10, 2015 @ 9:28 AM
I am wondering how long it will take Jensen to start his liberal bashing again after the election if he doesn’t get to run for commissioner. I notice he has toned it down since announcing he will run.
By blutoblutarsky, April 10, 2015 @ 9:38 AM
Thanks Todd and kudos to Pat Fabian. The NUMEC fiasco really hurt the Apollo area and it’s great to hear that Pat participated in the meetings.
I’ve been beating that drum for a while and have faced some opposition here for doing so. We really need to find people who are good for the community and will work with everyone regardless of party affiliation.
By mad-2010, April 10, 2015 @ 2:40 PM
You’re right Bluto & Jerr6.. A friend of mine died from cancer that lived around Apollo. Also, Jensen showed his true colors with his Wman being alright with him he’s an Repub…
By hawkeye, April 13, 2015 @ 11:20 AM
with all the political talk going on, I’m surprised nobody mentioned that a current County employee can physically assault a coworker, laugh it off, and run for an elected position. All while going without reprimand by supervisor who is also seeking an Elected Office on the same ticket.
By blutoblutarsky, April 13, 2015 @ 2:57 PM
mad- It would be great to hear jorn’s take on the Numec proceedings and how he proposes to handle companies who have the potential for these types of environmental impacts.
He’s made it a point many times here that jobs are to be had regardless of the costs to citizens. NUMEC is a perfect example of a company being allowed to go too far with no repurcussions. Not only are residents paying with illnesses, but taxpayers are also footing the bill for the cleanup.
I doubt jorn will respond considering he’s gone silent since he was asked for specific numbers regarding his credentials.
By jorn jensen, April 13, 2015 @ 11:12 PM
Wow bluto, next, you’ll state that I ran NUMEC or something to that effect. You are a real piece of work. What hazards did PPG and Eljer leave behind? Why don’t we meet somewhere and have a discussion?
By jorn jensen, April 14, 2015 @ 7:40 AM
Agree that the NUMEC situation is bad and that it has hurt the Apollo area badly, health-wise and economically.
Present sitting commissioners should be very involved in the NUMEC situation and looking out for the general public’s best interest.
So, with bluto’s line of thinking, the NUMEC case makes all industry bad, therefore, we don’t want industry and jobs in our area. Right? Wrong. That was an industry from the nuclear growth era - they obviously made many mistakes, intentional or otherwise. But that doesn’t make all industry guilty of NUMEC’s wrongdoings.
Amazing how one writer on this site can demonize all industry because of NUMEC. Hopefully, intelligent people can see through that BS spin.
By blutoblutarsky, April 14, 2015 @ 9:43 AM
hawkeye- The general voting public would have no idea about what you’re saying unless they worked with these people also.
If you have information (that’s confirmed to be true) that could help your community make a better decision, please share.
By mad-2010, April 14, 2015 @ 9:29 PM
Bluto… There he goes again spouting untruths and then attributes those untruths to others.
“Amazing how one writer on this site can demonize all industry because of NUMEC. Hopefully, intelligent people can see through that BS spin.” This guy is not Commissioner Material…
By mad-2010, April 14, 2015 @ 10:00 PM
” Maybe mad can attack his military service. LOL, mad, LOL!” I missed this comment of yours on the 30th…JJ… I never attacked your military service, let’s get that right. However, what I did do was correct your statements about protecting citizens, which you did not and could not do mostly because you were not a U.S. Citizen yourself at the time of your military service. If you are going to try and give someone a shot at least keep things truthful, if you can.. LOL
By blutoblutarsky, April 15, 2015 @ 5:36 PM
jorn- Please show me where I stated NUMEC makes all industry bad or I’ve demonized all industry? Please feel free to copy and paste the exact sentences if you can find them lol
So you agree that NUMEC made mistakes. Who is to say a company in the future will not? You or I don’t know that.
You said, “present sitting commissioners should be very involved in the NUMEC situation and looking out for the general public’s best interest.”
I agree. However, I wish someone would have had Apollo’s best interests in mind BEFORE there was a situation with NUMEC. What I want to know about you, is if there was any chance a company could come in to the county and harm it in any way (citizens or environmentally) would you have it in you to work to keep everyone safe?
I’m perfectly ok with jobs and industry, but my point is that you still have to do your due diligence to weigh the costs and benefits of who you’re bringing in. I think there’s a fair and sensible balance out there.
By blutoblutarsky, April 20, 2015 @ 12:07 PM
Well mad- jorn loves commenting until he’s asked a tough question, then poof, he’s gone! I wonder what in the world makes him think he can handle the commissioner position.
If someone asks you a tough question on the job, you can’t exactly hide from the work lol
By Frank Navasky, April 21, 2015 @ 7:47 PM
It’s good to see a couple of educated candidates seeking to serve as commissioner in this county. Between Major Shea and Pat Fabian, I see real potential for new ideas and positive results. Utilizing Information Technology in new ways is a key factor in moving forward as a county. And from what I’m seeing, both Shea and Fabian seem to be willing to work with people to get things done. We don’t see enough of that around here.
By blutoblutarsky, April 22, 2015 @ 8:10 AM
Couldn’t agree more Mr. Navasky!