First Posted: 2/12/2015
EXETER — As he sat behind his new desk, Herman Castellani knew he was ready to tackle the task of being Exeter’s new mayor.
After previous mayor Cassandra Coleman-Corcoran resigned on the night of Jan. 19, Castellani was sworn in two weeks later on Feb. 3.
Coleman-Corcoran left the post she’s held since 2008 to take on a position under Gov. Tom Wolf, according to borough officials.
“When I was told that she was leaving, I think she resigned at 10:30 at night, I was talking to Mr. (Thomas) Shannon, the chairman of the council about the position being open and I had to submit my name,” said Castellani. “I was over here the next morning, typed up my name and my intentions for being an applicant for office. That was part one, and I knew there were other people interested but my name seemed to come out on top all the time. They opened it for anybody who wanted to come in; it was fair to anybody, but it seemed the night they accepted her resignation my name was the only one there and I was happy.”
Now, only a little over a week into his new position Castellani, 81, said he is still getting used to things while learning on the fly.
“I’ve got to get up to the powers of the mayor in terms of what I can and what I can’t do,” he said.
Being appointed as mayor is not Castellani’s only achievement, nor is it his first foray into the local political scene.
The 1951 Plains Memorial High School graduate spent his younger years working for a Woolworths deli, cutting the heads off chickens. He eventually moved on to open his own Woolworths delicatessens in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, which he owned and operated for 21 years.
Castellani eventually got heavily involved in the Exeter community by joining the Exeter Lions Club in which he was very active for over 40 years. He was president of the organization in 1971-72.
In 1968, he was approached by then Exeter Mayor Andrew Mauriello about joining the political staff.
“He said there was going to be an opening in the treasurer’s office and he asked me if I would be interested,” said Castellani. “I thought it over and talked about it with my family and that was the start of my political career in Exeter.”
Castellani held the title of borough treasurer up until his appointment of mayor. He was also appointed as the occupational privilege tax collector for the Exeter Borough and Wyoming Area school districts.
He served as a Judge of Elections in the 4th ward for 16 years, which Castellani considers to be probably biggest election ward in Luzerne County.
“I remained active in politics up until the present day,” said Castellani. “I was always involved being friends with the councilmen and being on the zoning board now. I remain community active. With the church St. Anthony’s (Parish) I was president of the Holy Name Society for many years and I just gave that up and serve now as treasurer. I was also St. Anthony’s carnival chairman for 14 years.”
Castellani also serves as current president of the Italian American Association.
Of all of his political accomplishments, including being named mayor, Castellani said he considers the highlight of his career to be his role with the Diocese of Scranton.
“Holy Name Society got our election material in the mail and we thought about running one of our men for office (with the Diocese),” said Castellani. “I was secretary for Holy Name Society at the time and they put me down for vice president. There (were) 314 parishes in the Diocese, seven counties; my name was submitted and maybe within a month I get a letter from the chancellery that I was elected. I was stunned.”
Castellani said he served as vice president of the Diocese Council of Catholic Men and eventually became president, and he held that title for four years before deciding to leave to focus more on his work in Exeter.
Castellani has been married to his wife, the former Louise Fumanti, for 60 years, and they have three daughters, Gloria Sutkoski, Sharon Ellise and Lisa Dolhan, as well as 10 grandchildren.
Although being mayor is new to him, Castellani says that, due to his familiarity with the area, he should have no problems getting this whole mayor thing down.
He said he will be as active as can be and will also be around town with zoning officers looking to repave the roads caused by winter damage when the weather breaks.
Castellani said he hopes to keep the title of mayor for a good while.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Castellani. “I’m up for re-election this year being that (Coleman-Corcoran) resigned at a time when it’s before the signing of the petitions, so I’ll be running. I have my petitions and we’ll get ready to circulate them when the right time comes and I’ll be on the ballot looking to win a four-year term.”
