I read a post/letter recently in support of Zach Hanna for Clinton County Coroner, on the basis of Eric Brungards comments, posts, letters to the editor, etc. not holding weight. Lets be clear. Facts and stats hold weight. Opinions dont. Throughout, Eric has run an educational campaign, informing Clinton County residents with ethical and statistical facts regarding the position of county coroner. Some have mistaken this approach as a dirty campaign. Erics approach was anything but dirty. He has simply pointed out that Clinton County, and a handful of others are a minority that have continued to allow the unethical practice of funeral home owners/directors holding a public office, financed with tax payer money, when many conflicts of interest exist. I also read that Zach Hanna is the only educated or degreed candidate up for election. Being a resident of Pittsburgh, I certainly have a lot of respect for the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS) and their alumni who serve the funeral needs throughout our nation. But, lets not get carried away with claims of academic superiority. PIMS traditionally as offered diploma programs, and in more recent years an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree, and even more recently an Associate in Specialized Business Degree and Bachelor Degree bridge program with a Pittsburgh based university. I dont know what diploma and/or degree(s) Zach Hanna as earned from PIMS, Im not even questioning his academic/educational credentials for the practice of mortuary science. In fact, Im not even necessarily questioning his credentials for the elected position of County Coroner. What I am questioning is the continued unethical practice of funeral home owners/directors holding elected positions when theres personal, professional, and ethical conflicts of interest. An elected official, paid a full time salary through tax payer money, should work full time, should not hold priorities through a primary business, and should respond immediately to emergency scenes when requested..just like our police, fire, and EMS personnel. Eric has no financial priorities keeping him from serving full time in the capacity of county coroner. Through his decades of both volunteer and professional (paid) service through the fire and EMS service, Eric has accumulated hundreds, if not thousands of hours of diploma, certification, and continuing education units and/or credits within the fire and ems profession, including fire and death investigation. Eric is very much accustomed to emergency response, because in the fire and ems world, immediate response is the difference between life and death. With respect to death investigation, immediate response could mean the difference between a potential tainted crime scene and accurate and precise death investigation. Eric also plans to launch a preventable death education campaign as your county coroner, targeted at county youth and the public in general to help combat the steep rise in preventable deaths within the county. Additionally, when Eric responds as your county coroner, you can rest assured, his focus and priority is to investigate death, not directly or indirectly suggest other services that lead to financial gain. Im not saying this is something Zach has or would do, but theres definitely a blurred line that opens up conflicts of interest and ethical violations. I know I keep harping on ethics, and its because anyone who holds a professional license and career position takes a personal, professional, and ethical oath with respect to his/her profession. Dont believe me? Check out PIMS banner image on their facebook page. Youll see graduates taking their oath => https://facebook/pages/Pittsburgh-Institute-of-Mortuary-Science/364960720260632. I share this because there is an ethical conflict of interest, specifically pointed out by professional associations and societies within the funeral service profession and industry, regarding funeral home owners/directors holding paid elected office positions. Again, Clinton County, PA is a minority county both in PA and across the nation, that still allows funeral home owners/directors to hold office of coroner. In conclusion, Eric Brungard has served our county, both as a volunteer and paid professional, for decades and his family has served the county for many, many decades. Eric has no professional or ethical conflict of interest, hes qualified, and he and his family devoted their life to serving and saving the lives of county residents. Do the right thing tomorrow. Vote Eric Brungard for County Coroner.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:59:54 +0000
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