Theresa is a lifelong resident of Monroe County, born and raised in East Stroudsburg and currently residing in Jackson Township with her husband Rusty.  She has two daughters, Amanda and Tiffany.

 

Theresa has been involved for many years within the community with Big Pocono Little League, McMichaels Hunting Club, Pocono Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Stroudsburg Rotary, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, and the United Way of Monroe County.

 

With over forty years of banking experience, Theresa decided to run for Monroe County Treasurer in 2017.  She felt her extensive background with multiple banking organizations would be a perfect fit for the County.  She is proud to say that she was elected Monroe County Treasurer and took office in 2018.

 

Since being elected, she closed over 30 bank accounts and moved them to four different local banks, eliminating thousands of dollars of fees and in return generating over 13 million dollars of interest income over the last eight years.

 

Over the last eight years, Theresa has updated the Treasurer’s Office technology at no additional expense to the taxpayers.  The Treasurer’s Office expanded short-term rental certificates by 1,000 percent, and it collects the 3 percent hotel tax. The rental certificates and hotel tax has generated millions of dollars for the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.

 

A fellow taxpayer of Monroe County, Theresa works daily with all elected officials of Monroe County to make sure that all county offices are doing everything they can to run as efficiently as possible.  Theresa is extremely passionate about what she does.  She loves going to work every day and representing Monroe County.

 

Theresa is dedicated to continuing to work every day for the taxpayers of Monroe County.  She is seeking another term as Monroe County Treasurer and humbly asks for your support in the November 4, 2025, election.

Tara Vecchio-Freeman has spent her life in Smithfield Township.  In the late 1950’s, her grandparents came to the Poconos, and over the years they have established and successfully run many local businesses.  Their most successful business, a car dealership, has been in business for over 40 years.  Her family is known for treating customers fairly and selling cars at reasonable prices.

 

Tara attended both high school and college in East Stroudsburg.  After graduating from Notre Dame High School, she attended East Stroudsburg University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business.

 

For the last decade, Tara has utilized her business degree by working in Human Resources at local organizations.  She has leveraged her skills and experience in business to oversee benefits programs, process payroll, and perform full-cycle recruiting.

 

Recently, Tara accepted a position as the Director of Growth for a local organization, which will allow her to continue utilizing her degree in business.  This organization provides jobs and services to residents.

 

Tara has attended township meetings for quite some time.  She became interested in helping residents in her community and decided to run for local office.

 

Tara is running for Smithfield Township Supervisor to stop political hirings and firings for township positions, ending the use of public funds to put the political friends of current township supervisors on the township payroll, and ending the enormous tax hikes that have been funding it all.

 

“I want,” says Tara, “to bring a less political, better quality local government to the township. Let’s all work together, the people of both parties, for a better Smithfield.”

 

Tara is married to her husband, Kyle.  They live in the Minisink area with their rescue dog, Hemi.  Tara is an outdoor enthusiast.  She enjoys spending her free time swimming, boating, and kayaking on the Delaware River.  She has also been a song leader at her church for many years.

Born and raised in Monroe County, Kelly Lombardo’s family roots in the area stretch back four generations. The daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Lombardo, Kelly grew up in Jackson Township and attended Pocono Mountain School District. It was there she met her husband, Ryan, who is also a life-long resident of Monroe County. Together they are raising the fifth generation: their two children, Leah and Nicholas.  

 

Kelly’s strong desire to pursue a career in public service led her to West Chester University where she studied Forensic Chemistry. During an internship with the Philadelphia Crime Laboratory, Kelly was introduced to Criminal Court for the first time when she accompanied a forensic scientist to Court to testify in a rape trial. Shortly thereafter, Kelly was called for Jury Duty in Monroe County, where she was selected as a juror in a criminal homicide trial led by then First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso and presided over by the late Honorable Ronald E. Vican. This experience ignited her passion for the law and justice, inspiring her to attend law school.

 

Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry, with minors in both Biology and Criminal Justice. She received her Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While in law school, Kelly gained recognition for her legal writing and pro bono work with the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, where she represented indigent clients in matters such as family law, estate administration, workers’ compensation hearings, and eviction proceedings. She also interned with local attorneys Michael Mancuso and Colleen Mancuso, as well as the late Daniel P. Lyons, assisting with research, case preparation, and client representation.

 

Kelly was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and began a two-year judicial clerkship with the Honorable Jennifer Harlacher Sibum of the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas.  During this time, she gained a unique perspective from the bench, attending a wide-range of court hearings, conducted legal research, and assisted with drafting court opinions. 

 

After her clerkship, then District Attorney E. David Christine, Jr. selected Kelly to join the DA’s office as a full-time district attorney. There, she honed her skills by prosecuting hundreds of cases, beginning with preliminary hearings at the Magisterial District Court all the way through jury trial and appeals to the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Throughout her career as Assistant District Attorney, Kelly was entrusted with a variety of critical responsibilities, including handling bond hearings, probation violations, grand jury matters, and suppression of evidence hearings. 

 

Her time and dedication as Assistant District Attorney earned Kelly the respect of the law enforcement community. She’s worked alongside numerous local officers and state troopers and collaborated with victims' rights advocates and local agencies, including Women’s Resources, Monroe County Children and Youth caseworkers, and the Monroe County Coroner’s Office. Kelly is particularly proud to have successfully prosecuted violent criminals in cases of elder abuse, homicide, drug and weapons offenses, and Protection From Abuse contempt hearings. She was the first ADA in Monroe County to prosecute a Drug Delivery Resulting in Death case under new state legislation, securing a conviction after a jury trial.

 

Seeking to expand her credentials, Kelly joined the Elder Law practice of Attorney Lori J. Cerato where she continues to represent clients in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, guardianships for older adults, and children/adults with special needs, as well as Orphan’s Court litigation. For more than a decade, Kelly serves as Solicitor for the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging, advocating for the rights and well-being of our older adult population and assisting the agency with filing guardianship petitions.

 

Equipped with invaluable and balanced experience in and out of the courtroom, Kelly’s passion for justice and dedication to protecting the safety and well-being of members of our community make her the obvious choice for Judge of the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. 

 

When she is not spending her free time with her family, Kelly dedicates her time to community service geared towards protecting our vulnerable population. She is a longstanding member of the Monroe County Elder Justice Task Force, advocating for our seniors who are subjected to exploitation and elder abuse. Kelly is a frequent speaker on legal topics of interest to local community groups. Having earned the respect of her peers, Kelly is elected to the Executive Board of Directors of the Monroe County Bar Association. She also acts as Treasurer of the Monroe Animal League, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing spay/neuter services for feral cats and domestic cats and dogs.  

 

Kelly’s deep ties to our community equip her with a profound understanding of the concerns and values that matter most to Monroe County citizens. As a fourth-generation resident, and the only candidate for Judge who was born and raised in Monroe County, Kelly’s commitment to public service is unmatched. As a Judge, Kelly will lead with integrity to ensure those who appear before her will be heard and treated with impartiality and respect. Kelly’s broad and balanced experience makes her the best candidate to deliver consistent and fair justice for all.