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Attorney Terry Tomasetti of Altoona has decided to throw his hat into the ring for the upcoming race for Blair County Commissioner.
Tomasetti’s name is fairly well known in the Blair County political scene. He is on the Blair County Republican Committee and has served as Solicitor for the Blair County Republican Party. He has also been a political commentator for area television stations.
“I am running for office to improve the operation of county government,” Tomasetti said. “Our county has many serious problems facing it with the two most important being the budget crisis and public safety.”
Tomasetti, who has been a practicing attorney for 28 years and an Assistant District Attorney for over 7 years, feels that he brings the necessary experience and skill to address these pressing problems immediately. He was also appointed to the Blair County Board of Elections to select and oversee the new electronic voting machines.
“I have a fundamental understanding of many of the operations of the offices and departments in county government,” Tomasetti stated. “I have extensive experience with both our criminal justice and civil judicial systems, our Prothonotary’s Office, the Recorder of Deeds, and Register of Wills Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the Blair County Prison, our Tax Assessment Office and the former Tax Claim Bureau.”
As far as the popular issue of reassessment is concerned, Tomasetti is opposed to it.
“Reassessment is not the solution to our problems,” Tomasetti said. “It is just another way for government to raise everyone’s taxes without taking into consideration a homeowner’s ability to pay and its effect on necessary commercial development.”
Tomasetti said that if elected, he plans to take steps to effectively enhance the county’s ability to prosecute and punish the drug dealers and violent offenders.
“I am well aware of the efforts and resources needed by local law enforcement and the county’s criminal justice system to meet this goal.”
Tomasetti was born and raised in Blair County. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Juniata College in 1975 and his law degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1978. Upon completing his law school education, he returned to his native Altoona where he began his career in the practice of law.
He has been active in the George B. Kelley Baseball Federation and Altoona Little League. He has also served on the Tour De Toona Steering Committee and the Allegheny Ballet Company Board of Directors.
Tomasetti and his wife Kathleen have three children, Emily, age 21, Stephanie, age 19, and 17-year-old Patrick.
