Blogfest-2011 fall edition postgame

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Will the rain ever let up? There was more flash flooding yesterday that made it difficult to get to Pittston for our semi-annual get together. I understand that many people just couldn't make it because of the weather. We dealt with basement flooding then a bunch of detours to get to Rooney's but 100+ hearty souls made it.

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My fellow host bloggers made it along with some other local scribes . DB Echo and Michelle had a nice display set up, you have to catch their act on TV. The Yonk had a TV gig that made him a little late accompanied by Mrs. LuLac. Joe Valenti took a break from cleaning up the devastation at his home and snapped pictures all night. Tom Borthwick attracted a few Lackawanna political types and Justin Vacula talking with Bible Buck was priceless. Some non political bloggers including Karla Porter made it..
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Many candidates in the upcoming election and their supporters made the rounds.

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Most of the hopefuls for Luzerne County Judge of Common Pleas made an appearance. Dick Hughes was the first one I spotted followed shortly by Lesa Gelb. Mike Vough and Joe Sklarosky hung out most the night along with Molly Mirabito. I'm having a hard time deciding to vote for in this race and was surprised that some of them agreed with me that Judge's shouldn't even be elected. Do you think that Michael Conahan could have passed a background check?

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I had the pleasure of talking with 2 of the 3 candidates for Mayor Wilkes-Barre. Libertarian Betsy Summers has become a pal over the years and I promised her I would never publish a picture of her eating a corn dog or ice cream cone. I save that sort of snark for Presidential candidates. Lisa Cope is the Republican nominee who wants the best for her city.

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As expected we had a bunch of candidates for Luzerne County Council.

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Blast from the past Ed Brominski likes his chances ( I really wish Wil Toole had won a nomination)and Joyce Dombroski-Gebhart brought along her dad who is a published author and a sharp man. Gina Nevenglosky has run for county office before is in the hunt this time. Blythe Evans has been running an aggressive campaign. Eileen Sorokas had a tee shirt that was electric. Rick Morelli helped write the new charter and wants to see it implemented properly. Harry Haas wants a seat on the council and would bring some common sense to the body. Michelle Bednar is another one. A young man was handing out cards for Tim Mullen but I didn't catch his name. Charlie Hatchko has a dream of being elected to something and Independent Rick Williams has a real chance of winning.

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Our 1th CD Congressional candidates were well represented by Lou Barletta's press guy Shawn Kelly and Barletta's only announced challenger Bill Vinsko. I chewed Vinsko's ear for a bit. .

Statewide the only election I'm following is PA Attorney General in 2012.

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Liz Randol plugged Kathleen Kane's bid for PA Attorney General, good luck with that.

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The highlight of the evening for me was Congressman and PA Attorney General candidate Patrick Murphy who braved the monsoon on the interstate made it to our event. What a great guy.

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So many people told me tonight that this their favororit event. No speeches, panels or an obligation to eat a rubber chicken/ spagetti dinner. We will keep doing it.

Some pictures at this link