City council receives interest from five residents hoping to fill Donahue vacancy

Nov. 22—Scranton City Council received letters of interest from five residents seeking to serve the remainder of outgoing council President Kyle Donahue's term.

Donahue, who won election earlier this month to serve as state representative for the 113th House District, will resign effective Nov. 30. Council recently advertised the upcoming vacancy and solicited letters from residents interested in filling the seat.

The five residents who responded by Monday's deadline are: retired educator and administrator James Allan; city Zoning Board member Robert Gowin-Collins; business co-owner John Howe; former Scranton Parking Authority Chairman Joseph Matyjevich; and city Housing Appeals Board Chairman Gerald Smurl.

Council members plan to conduct public interviews with the five applicants, likely in early December, council Vice President Mark McAndrew said. A vote on an appointment would follow. Donahue's council term expires the first Monday of January 2024.

Allan previously held adjunct professor jobs at Keystone College and the University of Scranton. He worked for the Scranton School District for 30 years, including 22 years as a chemistry teacher and 8 years as an administrator.

"I'd like to see Scranton move forward and I have certain ideas on how we do that," Allan said. "For example, one of the things that we have to do is attract people to the downtown."

A prior council appointed Gowin-Collins last year to fill a vacancy on the city's zoning board. He's an account executive for Yellow Corporation and a former outside sales representative for Graybar Electric.

"My experience proves that I am a confident communicator who enjoys researching and thoroughly understanding all relevant information that is presented to me to make the most informed decision," Gowin-Collins wrote in his letter to council.

Howe's resumé notes he's co-owner of ABA Supervise & Learn LLC, a business providing professional services for aspiring board certified behavioral analysts. It also lists community work and volunteer experience, including with the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

"Being born here, I have had the opportunity to witness so much transformation and I can appreciate the real value of what our city has to offer," Howe's statement of interest reads. "Furthermore, I am the one who would think logically before making decisions that will impact the people of this city."

Former Mayor Chris Doherty appointed Matyjevich to the parking authority in 2010. He served on the board for about a decade, including several years as chairman. His resume notes professional experience with VaxServe/Sanofi Pasteur.

Efforts to reach Matyjevich were unsuccessful Monday.

Smurl is the longtime proprietor of Smurl HVAC LLC and owns several rental properties in the city. In addition to chairing the housing appeals board, he's also vice chair of the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority board.

"My interest in serving on city council is to work with council members to make the city the best it can be by addressing the needs of people and the community," Smurl wrote in his letter to council.

Council has yet to set a date for the public interviews.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter.