Democratic nominee Michelle Bednar had a LTE published in the CV today and Republican Carolee Medico Olenginski responded by sending out an email to the media including us lowly Bloggers. . This is the top race in this year's election. I'll have more on this contest over the weekend.
Michelle in the CV:
As a candidate for the position of Luzerne County controller, I ask
voters to compare my experience, employment and education with the other
candidates in the race. I feel very strongly that my qualifications
set me apart to fulfill the necessary duties and requirements from the
very first day in office.
The controller serves as the
independent watchdog over fiscal and management activities while also
monitoring and examining government operations. The controller also has
the authority to conduct fiscal performance audits for nearly every
facet in county government to ensure transparency and foster trust with
taxpayers.
For the past 25 years, I have worked in finance and
management within the public and private sectors. This has given me a
wide breadth of experience that I will apply wisely as your controller.
For ten years, I served as the branch office manager of an
investment securities firm where I administered and reconciled client
accounts and contracts. I also worked with internal regulatory auditors
and created reports. During my 10 years in banking, I successfully
cross trained in both operations and finance. I have supervised
employees in many aspects of business including payroll, bookkeeping,
and ensuring valid and accurate payment of income, dividends, and
commissions. In addition, I have proudly served as the elected tax
collector of Conyngham Township since 2009. This experience will allow
me to audit both the finances and operations of the county.
I
have confidence that my employment and education will be great assets to
fulfill the duties and responsibilities as Luzerne County controller
and humbly ask for your vote on election day, Tuesday, November 5.
Michelle Bednar
From an email from Carolee:
Response to
Bednar’s letter to the Editor:
If Bednar
had not gone negative on me in the zero hour, I would not be responding to her
letter published in the Citizens’ Voice today and I expect her letter will also
appear in the Times Leader and Standard Speaker in the next few days before the
election.
In her
letter she implies that my experience, employment and education were inferior
to hers. The facts are that Bednar’s
educational credential is an “associate’s
degree in tourism and travel management from the LCCC.” Her 25 years in management are questionable
for she would have started in management at 22 years old (with no educational 4
year degree).
She was
underestimating the intelligence of the voters when she asked them to compare
her experience, employment and education with me, implying that she had
superior qualifications.
As a
struggling single mom raising 4 children I graduated with honors from the
University of Scranton with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology and a
Master’s of Science degree in Human Resource Administration. When I was unable to afford my last year I
studied harder and pulled a 4.0 that awarded me a scholarship enabling me to
graduate. I am proud of my education
because I got it as an adult student who was going through many sacrifices and hardships.
Since 1985 I
was a management consultant, award winning motivational seminar facilitator and
I have over 20years experience as a successful manager including my proven
record of excellence in government. The
Prothonotary’s office has become one of the best in the state for efficiency,
productivity, profit and service at peak performance. We were the first 3rd class county
to offer access to records online and e.filing for legal documents. I am responsible for researching, reporting possible
embezzlement to the secret service and stopping the LRW (Little Red Wagon)
scheme that was being mismanagement and misspending over $900,000.
These are my
experiences, employment and formal 6 years educational degrees. The University of Scranton would take issue
with Bednar’s claims that an associate’s degree trumps a bachelor’s and
master’s from their fine school.
I would
welcome the voters to compare my documented qualifications with my opponent’s
allegations. I would also welcome a
public debate with my opponent any time, any venue between now and Tuesday.
Posts
The headline race in Luzerne County will be the contest for Controller. Incumbent Democrat Michelle Bednar is being challenged by former Republican Controller Walter Griffith. 
Controller candidate Carolee Medico Olenginsk (R) was the first in the door and bought pizza for the crowd. The question I kept getting is "where is Walter?" Former Controller Walter Griffith was always one of the first to arrive and the last to leave at our last events. I can't say I'm shocked he skipped this one. Dem nominee for Controller Michelle Bednar arrived later and charmed the crowd.
Alex Kokura have run great campaigns that tell you about their experience but have not ripped into each other.
