McClure making run for county commissioner

In a few months, primary season for the Greene County Board of Commissioners will be underway.

After falling short in her bid for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this past November, Betsy Rohanna McClure announced her intentions to run for Greene County Commissioner.

A lifelong resident of Greene County, McClure— who graduated from what was then Waynesburg College with a nursing degree—said she is pursuing the office to be a “voice of the people.”

“I am running because I am driven by the consistent belief that government should serve the needs and interests of its citizens,” McClure said.

In 2016 and 2018, McClure ran unsuccessfully against State Representative Pam Snyder. Despite not obtaining a seat in the house, McClure still pushes to impact the county.

“It’s been a learning experience. I’ve met a lot of great people, and I’ve gained a lot of support,” she said. “I very humbly appreciate that.”

For the past five years, McClure said she interacted with thousands of residents, and is looking to address their worries with her “Greene County first” agenda, which is built on “pro-jobs, pro-education and low tax.”

“I’ve heard first hand [residents’] concerns and their needs and their hopes for a better future,” McClure said.
“I will work to bring to light their needs and their concerns and their interests.”

McClure is heavily involved in Franklin Township, where she is a member of the planning commission. She cited infrastructure as a significant goal in improving the township.

“We need homes,” she said. “The last couple of years, there’s only been two new homes in Franklin Township that have been built.”

McClure has an extensive background in the field of education. After graduating from Waynesburg, she earned her master’s in education from California University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, McClure is a certified K-12 principal and has been a nurse in the Trinity School District for nearly two decades. Regarding her area of expertise, McClure feels that children don’t need to take the traditional path of graduating from a four-year college to receive a quality education.

“Not every child wants to go to college,” she said. “So, I would like to see more industry and schools making a connection. I am pro-education, but not just college education. I’m talking trade and technical hands-on [schools.] You know, there are a lot of ways to learn.”

Of McClure’s agenda, she said taxes are what Greene County citizens are the most concerned about. Also, McClure said she will address the area’s opioid epidemic, saying it’s been a topic of discussion for her as well as locals.

“I think probably anybody you talk to that’s running for any office, they’re going to tell you taxes are a big concern,” McClure said. “The opioid situation [is also troubling], and again nobody wants to see anybody suffering from that, the addiction. That’s another issue that is brought to my attention. I’d say those probably are the top two [concerns].”

Overall, McClure’s primary objective between now and May 21 is to make sure Greene County citizens are aware she’s running for office, in a crowded field. McClure is running along with the three incumbent commissioners—Blair Zimmerman, Dave Coder and Archie Trader—Former Commissioner Charles Morris and Lisa Sowden.

“I am one of them,” she said. “I live here, I’m invested here, I have family here, my grandchildren are here, and I want to listen to them. I’m open-minded, and my work [is] to make things as good as we can make them here.”