Joseph R. Salla Jr. of Tamaqua has announced his candidacy for Tamaqua’s Borough Council. He is seeking a Republican nomination in the May 18 primary.

He is the son of Agnes Versailles, who he has been taking care of since her stroke in 2014, and the late Joseph R. Salla, who was killed in 1965 while working on the Pennsylvania Turnpike by a driver under the influence.

A lifelong resident of the Tamaqua area, he graduated from Tamaqua Area Senior High in 1971. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. While stationed in Japan, Cpl. Salla was an instructor at the Non-Commission Officers Leadership School. While stationed at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Sgt. Salla oversaw the H&S Company’s Motor Transport Vehicle Maintenance Schedule and attended the Northern Virginia Community College, studying management and supervisory techniques.

Honorably discharged in 1978, he began working for the Atlas Power Company full time and attended Penn State full time. In 1983 he graduated with a degree in computer science. He worked for Military Defense Contractors and the U.S. federal government, requiring security clearances; health care and health insurance companies; plus software companies having Pennsylvania state software contracts. Retiring after 36 years in the information technology field, he also worked temp full-time production jobs.

He is an avid blood donor, donating 125 pints of either whole blood, Power Reds or platelets

“The discipline, leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills and knowledge learned during my military service and information technology career has given me tools needed to make positive changes in Tamaqua, especially in the realm of transparency. I’m hoping to put Tamaqua citizens back into the government of the people, by the people and for the people, not the hands of the politicians. I believe an elected official works for the people, not that the people work for the elected officials. I am not a politician and will ‘fight like hell’ for citizens of Tamaqua,” Salla stated.

If elected, I look forward to serving the Borough of Tamaqua citizens with honor, dignity, honesty and commitment.

Contact Salla at Salla.for.Council@gmail.com.