CLARION – The election of a county coroner is the lone contested race in the Nov. 7 election.
The candidates are Republican Randall Stom and Democrat Roland “Rollie” Burns.
The coroner post is a four-year term. The 2017 salary is $27,970. Current Coroner Terry Shaffer did not seek re-election.
Both candidates are licensed funeral directors.
Burns previously served as county coroner. Stom is a deputy coroner serving under Shaffer.
The candidates listed their qualifications in a response to the Clarion County League of Women Voters.
Stom: “I have extensive background in the sciences and investigative procedures; outstanding positive relationships with law enforcement, EMS, and the courts; have been present and assisted with numerous post-mortem examinations; deputy and chief deputy corner with full education credentials.”
Burns: “Twenty-eight years working in the funeral business; eight years as coroner and 20 years as a certified coroner with more than 150 hours of continuing education.”
In addition, the league posed several questions to the candidates.
RANDALL STOM
Age: 54
Home: Clarion
Occupation: Funeral director past six years
Party affiliation: Republican
What are the duties of a county coroner as you understand them?
The coroner is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death in cases where a physician or other medical professional is not in attendance, or is not able to certify.
The coroner is also responsible for investigating deaths that are not natural.
Why do you want to serve as Clarion County coroner?
I have background in the sciences and in investigations. The people of Clarion County need a coroner who is professional, impartial and compassionate. I believe I am the best qualified candidate.
With what some people call the “opioid crisis” in Clarion County and what appears to be increasing numbers of overdose deaths, how would you plan and execute a budget that provides for autopsies needed for investigations and cause of death decisions?
Our relationship with the Erie County coroner is exemplary and the costs with that office are quite reasonable.
I see no need to use any other facility or consultants that would cost more. We need to be prudent in using the budget provided and only autopsy those cases necessary.
How do you determine when an autopsy is needed?
When a death may lead to prosecution for drug delivery resulting in death, we will autopsy to eliminate any other possible causes of death.
We will also autopsy when the cause of death is not readily apparent from the medical records or from the person’s family interview.
How do you avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest as coroner and your career as a funeral director?
I receive a salary. I do not have any ownership interest in a funeral business and nor do I receive profit-sharing. Regardless of the volume of business that the funeral home does, my pay remains the same.
What are the certifications and training you have earned that help qualify you to be a county coroner?
I have successfully completed the Coroner’s Training Course at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey and have maintained all the yearly continuing education as required by the Pennsylvania Coroner’s Association.
Where would you most likely contract to have autopsies performed?
Erie County Coroner Dr. Eric Vey.
Any additional comments you would like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity to answer the questions. Please vote on Nov. 7.
ROLAND V. BURNS
Age: 49
Home: Clarion Township
Occupation: Funeral director past 22 years
Party affiliation: Democrat
What are the duties of a county coroner as you understand them?
The coroner is responsible for conducting investigations to determine the cause and manner of death in all medically unattended deaths, ordering autopsies and toxicology when needed, arranging for the notification of the next of kin of the deceased, completing death certificates and authorizing all cremations in Clarion County, maintaining all coroner records, attending eight hours of continuing education yearly, educate on drug abuse, suicide, risk-taking behaviors, etc., and on call 24/7.
Why do you want to serve as Clarion County coroner?
I have chosen to seek the office of Clarion County coroner because I have missed being involved in the Coroner’s Office. Serving as a previous Clarion County coroner for eight years and as a funeral director for 22 years, I understand what is involved to serve the taxpayers of Clarion County. It is important to have a coroner who is dedicated, qualified, and experienced when serving loved ones when they are dealing with loss.
I also want to restore ethics and professionalism back into the Coroner’s Office.
With what some people call the “opioid crisis” in Clarion County and what appears to be increasing numbers of overdose deaths, how would you plan and execute a budget that provides for autopsies needed for investigations and cause of death decisions?
The budget is always set at the beginning of the year and with not knowing the number of autopsies that will need to be performed; you try to set your budget on the percentages of previous years.
If you exceed your autopsy/toxicology in your budget, you can transfer funds to cover the expense.
How do you determine when an autopsy is needed?
Not every death investigation requires an autopsy. Every call the coroner goes on is a death investigation.
When the cause or manner of death cannot be determined or it involves a death where there could be criminal charges and prosecution, an autopsy will always be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
How do you avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest as coroner and your career as a funeral director?
Pennsylvania funeral directing law prohibits soliciting business at those times when the coroner involved in a case is also a funeral director.
While such solicitations violate both state law and simple moral ethics, there are those who simply can’t resist using such opportunities for their own good.
I am a funeral director and there was never a conflict of interest when I served as Clarion County coroner in the past.
I always conducted the Coroner’s Office in a dignified, professional manner and treated colleagues fairly at the same time.
In my opinion, the investigating law officer should always notify the families of the passing of a loved one and at that time they would inform the family to contact their funeral director and he/she will contact the County Coroner’s Office.
What are the certifications and training you have earned that help qualify you to be a county coroner?
I have been certified by the Coroner’s Education Board for the past 18 years, completed coroner’s continuing education credits yearly over the past 12 years and have been a licensed funeral director for 22 years.
Where would you most likely contract to have autopsies performed?
I will have Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., a forensic pathologist, attorney and medical-legal consultant as my pathologist and personal adviser.
Using Wecht’s office in Allegheny County is actually closer than Erie and Wecht’s office will accommodate with prompt results for family and funeral directors.
Any additional comments you would like to add?
My opponent is campaigning that he would like to ensure the funeral businesses aren’t taking advantage of the Coroner’s Office or county funds for personal gains, that he is not a funeral home owner and has no vested financial interest in a funeral home.
He is a salaried funeral home employee, he won’t try to pressure families or direct them to any one particular funeral business and basing his campaign for coroner on making sure families are respected and get thorough, focused answers and not focused on making a “buck.”
I have reviewed the coroner’s account detail from Jan. 1, 2011, to Aug. 31, 2017, and the current Coroner’s Office has paid over $22,000 to the funeral home my opponent is employed at. In my opinion that is unethical if the current office is not affiliated with a funeral home.
My opponent also states he was part of developing a central morgue. I personally as a funeral director have had to make a removal of a coroner’s call, not from the central morgue but at the funeral home my opponent is employed at.
In my opinion, my opponent is contradicting what his campaign is based on.
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