PITTSTON TWP. \u2014 Republican Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak did not deny Thursday that he\u2019s interested in serving as the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton International Airport\u2019s next executive director.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s put it this way: Everything is on the table at all times,\u201d Chermak, a pilot and the chairman of the bicounty board in charge of the airport, said after Thursday\u2019s airport board meeting. Asked if he\u2019d applied for the director position, Chermak said, \u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swirling rumors that Chermak might seek the job come after the board approved in March a $47,574 contract with ADK Consulting and Executive Search, a Florida-based firm specializing in searches for airport and aerospace management executives. Theresia \u201cSia\u201d Schatz, a senior project manager with ADK, said last month that the firm would conduct a search for applicants before narrowing the search to a group of finalists for the board to interview.<\/p>\n
The airport could have a new director as early as June or July, she said.<\/p>\n
Whoever it ultimately is would replace Executive Director Carl Beardsley Jr., who began his tenure at the airport in January 2015 and went on sabbatical leave late last year. Airport co-solicitor Donald Frederickson later confirmed Beardsley is unable to return as director. While Frederickson said he couldn\u2019t elaborate on the personnel matter, he confirmed Beardsley\u2019s absence is not related to a disciplinary issue.<\/p>\n
Stephen Mykulyn, the airport\u2019s longtime director of engineering and current interim executive director, said the deadline to apply for the executive director position is May 10.<\/p>\n
Whether Chermak ultimately seeks the job, and whether the board would consider him as Beardsley\u2019s potential successor, remains to be seen. But a hypothetical scenario where he resigns as commissioner to become airport director could prompt another fight over filling the would-be vacancy.<\/p>\n
Former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin\u2019s resignation in early 2025 prompted a monthslong legal battle last year over the county Home Rule Charter\u2019s replacement process that ultimately survived the legal challenge. The charter process resulted in the temporary appointment of interim Democratic Commissioner Brenda Sacco, who served briefly but was ultimately replaced by Democratic Commissioner Thom Welby, the winner of a November special election to fill the remainder of McGloin\u2019s unexpired term running into early January 2028.<\/p>\n