Matt McGloin, the former Lackawanna County Commissioner, has stepped down from his new role with Boston College’s football program. He took this job after resigning from his county position, but he decided to leave the offensive analyst role for family reasons.
McGloin, who once played quarterback for Penn State and in the NFL, released a statement saying that prioritizing his family was his main concern. He acknowledged that his decision to move to Boston might have seemed good at first, but after thinking it over, he realized it wasn’t the right time for his family. He asked for privacy during this difficult time.
His resignation has created a vacancy that needs to be filled, prompting some political wrangling between Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan and Lackawanna County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick.
According to the county’s rules, the party’s executive committee has five days to suggest three candidates for judges to choose from to complete McGloin’s term, which ends on January 3, 2028. Gaughan announced his support for Dunmore Mayor Mark “Max” Conway Jr. as the top choice to fill the position.
This situation is a reunion for McGloin and Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien, who coached him during a standout season at Penn State in 2012. What McGloin’s next steps will be remains uncertain. State law allows him to be reappointed to his previous position as commissioner, as long as he doesn’t receive a higher salary than before.
Gaughan expressed his good wishes for McGloin and emphasized the importance of family. Meanwhile, Patrick mentioned that the party’s executive committee would meet soon to discuss potential candidates, noting that many people are interested in the appointment.
McGloin and Gaughan were elected in 2023, taking office in January 2024, and they focused on addressing several financial issues. In November, they approved a significant property tax increase of nearly 33% to tackle a budget deficit. The need for this increase was blamed on financial mismanagement by prior administrations, which had neglected the county’s financial health.
Both Patrick and Democratic state Senator Marty Flynn linked the recent tax increase to the ongoing process of filling the commissioner vacancy. Looking ahead to 2027, Patrick underscored the party’s goal to maintain a Democratic majority in the commissioners’ office, despite the challenges posed by the tax hike and a new countywide property reassessment.
Gaughan defended the tax increase as a necessary measure to correct past mistakes and stressed the importance of good governance over political considerations.
Originally published on February 26, 2025.