With Tony Desmond poised to take over as Schoharie County sheriff, Councilman Sandra Manko has been named to his job as Town of Sharon supervisor.
Ms. Manko, elected to her second four-year term in November, will serve until December 31, 2010; the full four-year supervisor’s position will be on the ballot next November.
Sharon has a year-end meeting December 30 and its first meeting of 2010 on January 6.
Ms. Manko said she expects the town board to name someone to her councilman’s seat at one of them.
Ms. Manko said it will probably take her a while to decide if she wants to run for the post she was named to Wednesday but she’s excited about her new job, and looking forward to “giving 100 percent to the people of Sharon.
“I’m especially looking forward to representing Sharon on the Board of Supervisors,” she added.
Ms. Manko, who’s retired from a 40-year career in the telecommunications industry, where she worked in supervisory and staff management positions, will be Sharon’s first woman supervisor.
In Schoharie, she will join women supervisors Marie Campbell, Broome supervisor, and Sue Loden, Wright.
Interestingly, however, Ms. Manko’s grandfather, Milton L. Somers, was Sharon supervisor, serving from 1952-55 and dying while in office.
Ms. Manko is active in the Sharon Historical Society, the Sharon Springs Free Library, and the Sharon Springs Chamber of Commerce.
She’s also the author or co-author of several books on Sharon’s history, including, published just this past year, “Honor and Glory,” which recognizes Sharon’s soldiers from as far back as the American Revolution; “Sibs of Sharon, the Happy Hamlets, the stories of communities like Gilbert’s Corners and Engleville; and the 11-binder Cemetery Project, which she complied with other Sharon Historical Society volunteers.
Ms. Manko pointed to economic development as a particular interest of hers—especially if Sharon Springs Inc.’s plans to restore downtown spa ever come to fruition.
“If something starts to happen with the projects in Sharon, as supervisor, I’ll certainly be in a good position to work with that,” she added.
Ms. Manko and her husband, Walter, have two grown children.