Emmett P. McCall, 1 W. Abbott St., Lansford, has announced his candidacy for re-election to his fourth four-year term of office as the Carbon County Recorder of Deeds. He is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination in the May 17 Primary Election.

McCall is completing his 12th year in office, during which time he started several major projects as the Recorder. In 2000, his first year in office, he began the Affordable Housing Program, which in 10 years has generated $1,161,715 that has been made available for housing rehabilitation projects in the county. Another $205,008 in administrative fees from that program has been turned over to the Carbon County General Fund for county use during that same period.Also during McCall's tenure, the office has undergone a major task of restoring document books in the office, freeing up office space, and purchased a "Larson Desk," which enables more efficient storage of deed books and is in the midst of a scanning process resulting in imaging and indexing of information and data on microfilm dating back to 1988.Utilizing a Recorder of Deeds Improvement Fund, McCall also upgraded the computer system in the office, and had installed computer stations for employees, at no cost to the county taxpayers.During his tenure, the Recorder's office was responsible for accepting and dispersing $54,319,396 in fees, including $7,544,936 that went to the county, $11,001,115 each to municipalities and school districts in the county, and $24,772,230 in mandated taxes that were turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.The recorder's office is responsible for the filing and maintenance of deeds, mortgages and writs associated with real estate, as well as acceptance of proper fees associated with the filing of those documents.McCall is a lifelong resident of Lansford, a son of the late Patrick and Helen (Shields) McCall. He is married to the former Mary Ellen Sniscak. They are the parents of five sons, Emmett Jr. of Lehighton, Michael of Summit Hill, Patrick, and his wife Ginny, of Lake Hauto, Terry of Lansford, and Connell, who is deceased. They also have six grandchildren, Amanda, P.J., Riley, Darby, Madison and Avery McCall.The candidate has long been active in Democratic circles, being a member and former president of the Lansford Democratic Club and a member of the Carbon County Democratic Executive Committee. In 2010, he was chairman of the Carbon County campaign of Sen. John Yudichak, the new 14th Senatorial District officeholder.For many years, McCall was involved in the committees to elect and re-elect Rep. Keith R. McCall to the Pa. House of representatives, as well as the committees of the late Rep. Thomas J. McCall.In addition, McCall has been a longtime supporter of civic and scholastic affairs, he served the Lansford Little League for eight years as a coach and piloted the former St. Ann Parochial School basketball teams for many years.He is a former president of the Panther Valley CYO League, having served the organization for 30 years.A 1957 graduate of Marian High School, he continues to serve his Alma Mater in many capacities, including being a member and vice president of the Marian Hall of Fame Committee. He is also a charter member and the current vice president of the Carbon County Hall of Fame.McCall is a member of St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Lansford, and was a former captain of the fund drives in Lansford for the benefit of the American Heart Association. He is a current member of the Capital Campaign Committee of the St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale.In 1973, he was presented the Allentown Diocese Bishop Joseph McShea Award for distinguished service, and, in 1990, he was named the recipient of the 43rd Annual Shamrock Award from the Panther Valley Irish-American Association, of which he is a 25-year member and past president. The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee of Jim Thorpe and Carbon County has also announced McCall has been selected to be the grand marshal of the 14th Annual Parade to be held March 13 in Jim Thorpe. He will also be honored at a Grand Marshal's Dinner to be held on March 5 at The Grand Ballroom of Kelly's Irish Pub, Lansford.