Feb 22, 2019 2 min read

MONESSEN – A woman who was appointed to Monessen City Council last year will seek a full term of office.

Lois A. Thomas announced her candidacy this week as a Democrat seeking a four-year term.

“Monessen can rise again,” Thomas said.

Council is charged with “overcoming the challenges presented by the closing of businesses, the loss of jobs and exodus of young people, and the overwhelming blight impacting the city,” she said.

A 10-member panel of Westmoreland County judges in August picked Thomas for the vacant seat. She’s a social worker and ordained minister.

Thomas, 57, was appointed to fill a seat left empty by Councilman Ron Chiaravalle’s May 28 death.

She presently serves as director of parks and streets.

While serving on council for the past seven months, Thomas said she has gained a firm knowledge of the inner workings of city government, but admits she still has a lot to learn.

Thomas graduated from Monessen High School in 1979 and Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She has worked for Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging for the past 20 years and has held several positions, including aging waiver care manager, domiciliary care manager, care transitions coach and presently as an APPRISE Medicare counselor.