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Stephen A. Urban

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Stephen A. Urban
Member of the Luzerne County Council
In office
January 2, 2012 – January 6, 2020[1]
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners
In office
2000 – January 2, 2012
Preceded byJoseph "Red" Jones
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born (1952-10-27) October 27, 1952 (age 72)
Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (since 2010)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (until 2010)
SpouseLinda Stets
Children2
EducationKing's College (B.A.)
Golden Gate University (M.P.A.)
U.S. Naval War College (M.A.)
Alma materMeyers High School
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
RankLieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsVietnam War
Gulf War
AwardsLegion of Merit
Bronze Star

Stephen Anthony Urban[2] (born October 27, 1952) is an American politician and former military officer who served as a commissioner of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2012 and later as a member of the Luzerne County Council from 2012 to 2020.

Early life and education

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Urban was born on October 27, 1952,[3] in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to parents Joseph and Theresa Urban. He grew up in the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre and graduated from Meyers High School.[2] In 1977, Urban earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from King's College in Wilkes-Barre and in 1980 received a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He earned an additional Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 1992.[2][3]

Career

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Urban was in the U.S. Army for 24 years, serving in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War,[4] before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel.[5] He is a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.[3][6]

In 1996, Urban ran against incumbent U.S. Representative Paul Kanjorski to represent Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district.[7] The Times Leader reported in February that Urban, thus far, was running as a "stealth candidate," with little name recognition or publicity.[8] His low profile campaign would continue into August, when a Project Vote Smart profile made much of Urban's policy positions public for the first time. The Times Leader reported that Urban and Kanjorski's political positions were very similar. Both candidates opposed NAFTA, gun control, and foreign aid to Russia, but differed on immigration and budget issues.[9] During the campaign Urban voiced support for a constitutional amendment outlawing flag burning, something Kanjorski also supported.[10] He also endorsed the idea of a constitutional amendment to mandate balanced budgets and voiced his opposition to abortion, except when the mother's life is at risk.[11] Urban would ultimately lose to Kanjorski; the Times Leader described him as being "trounced by the incumbent."[12] Urban's two subsequent congressional campaigns in 1998 and 2000 were likewise unsuccessful in unseating Kanjorski.[13]

Starting in 2000, Urban served as an elected county commissioner of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after defeating incumbent commissioner Joseph "Red" Jones in the 1999 election.[14][15] Urban was reelected in 2003 and 2007.[16] As the lone Republican commissioner for most of his tenure, Urban used his status as minority commissioner to criticize Luzerne County's machine politics.[17]

In 2010, ran in the Republican primary elections for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Senate. Urban lost the primary for lieutenant governor, finishing second to last,[18] but won the nomination for the 14th Senate District unopposed.[19][20] He would later lose to Democrat John Yudichak in the general election.[21][22] Following his loss to Yudichak, Urban changed his party registration to Democratic.[23] He blamed "double dealing" on the part of the local Republican Party for his switch. According to Urban, local Republican officials openly campaigned for Yudichak and the party's campaign arm failed to adequately support him, causing him to lose the election.[24]

After Luzerne County's commissioner government was abolished, Urban, who had opposed the change in government because of the lack of an elected executive,[25][26] was elected to the newly created Luzerne County Council in 2011.[14] The same year he ran concurrently for magisterial district judge, but lost the primary election.[27] In 2013, Urban was also defeated in the primary for county controller.[28][29] He was reelected to county council in 2015.[30] In 2019, Urban decided to not seek re-election.[14]

Personal life

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Urban is previously divorced and has two adult children.[2] His current wife is Linda Stets.[31] Urban's son, Stephen J. Urban, was also a Luzerne County councilman from 2012 to 2016 and 2020 to 2024.[32][33][34]

References

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  1. ^ "Rules and Procedures of Operation for the Luzerne County Councild". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. p. 8. Retrieved 22 December 2023. On the first Monday of January in the even-numbered year following the election of members, County Council shall meet and organize . . .
  2. ^ a b c d Morrison, Mitch (February 22, 1996). "Kanjorski Foe Keeps Views, Plans Mostly To Himself Stephen Urban, A Retired Army Officer, Says He Is Relearning The Area After Having Been Away For Many Years". Times Leader. p. 3A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Pa. Senate - 14th District: John Yudichak (D) vs. Stephen Urban (R)". Pocono Record. October 25, 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ^ Gibson, Keegan (February 3, 2012). "Steve Urban Confirms To PoliticsPA That He Will Challenge Tim Holden In The Democratic Primary". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Stephen Urban: Lieutenant governor candidate". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. April 23, 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  6. ^ Filaroski, P. Douglas (October 22, 1996). "Cashing In Politically Money Flow Runs Against Challenger". Times Leader. p. 1A. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  7. ^ "11th Congressional District". Times Leader. November 3, 1996. p. 1C. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Dethrone Kanjorski? Could be Urban legend". Times Leader. February 21, 1996. p. 1A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Congress candidate Urban puts view online". Times Leader. August 15, 1996. p. 1A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  10. ^ "GOP's Urban backs flag amendment". Times Leader. September 18, 1996. p. 2A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Candidate Q & A Q". Times Leader. October 22, 1996. p. 1A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  12. ^ "2 Urban conflicts set for fall elections in parts of Luzerne County". Times Leader. March 11, 1998. p. 3A. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Career covers decades of service". Times Leader. November 3, 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Learn-Andes, Jennifer (December 11, 2019). "Stephen A. Urban, other departing Luzerne County Council members commended". Times Leader. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  15. ^ "The Voters Seize The Day, Reclaim The Courthouse". Times Leader. November 3, 1999. p. 8A. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Urban, James Team Up". Times Leader. March 29, 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Urban not adjusting to new government". The Citizens' Voice. January 7, 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  18. ^ "2010 General Primary Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Official Returns Statewide". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  19. ^ "2010 General Primary Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Official Returns CARBON". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  20. ^ "2010 General Primary Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Official Returns LUZERNE". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  21. ^ "2010 General Election Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Official Returns LUZERNE". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  22. ^ "2010 General Election Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Official Returns CARBON". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  23. ^ Gibson, Keegan (December 15, 2010). "Luzerne Commissioner Switches to Dem; GOP Swings Back". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  24. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (December 15, 2010). "Urban switching from Republican to Democrat". Times Leader. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Local GOP endorses candidates". Times Leader. May 14, 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  26. ^ Socha, Ed (May 8, 2011). "Stephen A. Urban: Touting experience, a home-rule opponent wants in". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  27. ^ Skrapits, Elizabeth (May 17, 2011). "Low-key celebration for Urban family". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  28. ^ Cameron, Peter (August 28, 2013). "No longer missing, Urban won't share details". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  29. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (March 11, 2013). "Urban throws in hat for county controller". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Municipal Election 11/03/2015". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Urban Renewal". The Citizens' Voice. December 17, 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  32. ^ O'Boyle, Bill (November 4, 2015). "One Luzerne County Urban wins at polls, but 2 close relatives lose 2 races each". Times Leader. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  33. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (November 7, 2023). "4 Dems, 2 Republicans win Luzerne County Council seats". Times Leader. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  34. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (September 11, 2023). "Charges filed against Luzerne County Councilman Stephen J. Urban". Times Leader. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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