Joe Terrana for Judge

Before a crowd of over 200 people today Pittston attorney Joe Terrana at the FM Kirby Center announced he is running for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County. His kids lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and recounted his roots of growing up in Pittston.
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He was genuinely funny explaining that when he went to confession he hoped to have a priest that couldn't hear him and wouldn't remember what he said. He worked in Washington and locally for Congressman Paul Kanjorski and told a story of how hard it is to say no to Kanjo when he wants you to work for him.
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A few thing connected with me. He recounted when he was just 13 years old he watched the Watergate hearings and was taught that not even the President of the United States could get away with violating the public trust. I'm also a Watergate baby. He said when he was working as an attorney working in DC and Virginia he knew he wouldn't be part of the community and wanted to return home. I felt the same way when I lived in Boston. He stated that he was able to say no to people when they asked him to do something he thought was not on the up and up by asking himself how would his parents feel if he if did something dishonorable.
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There were many lawyers there so I took the advice of my friend David and put my wallet in an inside pocket. Just kidding guys. I spotted Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and former Luzerne County Commissioner who is now the Chamber of Commerce head honcho Todd Vonderheid in the audience.
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I had a nice chat with Congressman Paul Kanjorski who admitted to reading my blog as Joe does as well. He said he is a big fan of blogs which surprised me. We discussed his new found celebrity as a result of the Bernie Madoff hearings and his scaring the bejeezus of out of us in his C-Span appearance. I also told him that his press secretary, Abbie McDonough, is doing a great job of keeping us informed. He said that "you are only sane one out there." My wife would disagree.
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I asked Joe one question. Another candidate said “I won’t accept any donations from attorneys or members of their families,” Marsilio said. “As a lawyer, I was taught to always avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.”
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He said "I'm not a rich man." And would take contributions from lawyers.


Here is his press release.


ATTORNEY JOE TERRANA ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LUZERNE COUNTY


Wilkes-Barre- Citing his experience as a public servant and years of dedicated service to his clients and community, today, Attorney Joe Terrana announced his candidacy for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County.

“Since graduating from law school, my career decisions reflect an unwavering commitment to our community and an abiding faith in the potential of Luzerne County ,” Terrana explained.

“As a lawyer, local Congressional aide, housing and community developer and volunteer public authority member, I know our community extremely well -- and I have demonstrated that my highest priority is helping our region.”


“At this critical moment, what our residents need and deserve – now more than ever – is a Judicial Branch they can count on for fairness, justice, and compassion. I know I can help restore the integrity of our Judicial Branch because these have been the very guideposts of my two decades of public service. And they will be the pillars of my service as Judge.”


Attorney Joe Terrana practices law in Kingston with Terrana Law, P.C., handling a variety of issues including real estate transactions, business start-up, commercial and personal injury litigation, and estates. He previously practiced in the litigation department of Hourigan, Kluger, Spohrer & Quinn, P.C., and with Joel A. DeBoe & Associates, of Arlington , Virginia . He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is also an associate member of the Virginia State Bar.
Attorney Terrana also currently serves as Counselor to Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11). In this position he assists constituents with a wide variety of federal issues, works with community leaders on projects to improve the quality of life of their residents and assesses the local impact of federal legislation and regulations. From 1992 to 2001, he served as District Director for the Congressman, and during law school he worked on Capitol Hill.


His varied career includes six years as Director of the Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania Community Business Center of Fannie Mae, where he spearheaded efforts to prevent predatory lending practices and foreclosures in the Poconos, helped business in communities like Wilkes-Barre and Scranton assist their employees in buying homes and helped re-build neighborhoods with organizations like CityVest in Wilkes-Barre and the Pine Street Neighborhood in Hazleton.
Attorney Terrana is the co-founder and President of the Luzerne County Housing Partnership, a non-profit corporation that provides education resources to local families, communities, elected officials and housing industry professionals on homeownership and neighborhood rebuilding. He is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority and the Luzerne County Rail Corporation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Pittston Meals on Wheels, and member of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association. He serves as a Parish Facilitator for Called to Holiness and Mission : Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton. He is a member of the St. John the Evangelist Core Committee, Chairman of the St. John the Evangelist Marketing of Buildings Committee, Instructor for the St. John the Evangelist's Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.


Attorney Terrana attended elementary and middle school in the Pittston Area School District and is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School . He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Villanova University and his Juris Doctorate from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia, where he was a member of the Law Review and President of Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity.


He and his wife, the former Cindy Wysokinski, and their two six year olds, Jake, and Lola, reside in Greater Pittston.