Mailloux and McCabe out

Pete Mailloux is a casualty of the hash that the Harrisburg Republican's made of reapportionment. A W-B city employee challenged his petitions because he doesn't live in the 121st HD. Mailloux conceded the point and dropped out of the race. Barring a 3rd party or Independent candidate getting enough signatures by August 1st Democratic incumbent Eddie Day Pashinski will be the only name on the ballot in November.

On the west side Dem Asst. DA Frank McCabe only got 325 signatures on his petitions that were challenged by Charles Jackson of West Wyoming and Anthony Perzia of Luzerne. The rule of thumb is to get twice as many signatures than you need to ward off challenges because there will always be something wrong. In a state rep race you need 300 but it's harder than you think to gather them especially when you get a late start. McCabe decided not to fight his way on to the ballot. It's doubtful a 3rd party candidate will get into this race as Libertarian Tim Mullen who ran last time was at Republican Aaron Kaufer's kickoff event and the local Greens want to save the world but can't field candidates in local elections. Right now it looks like long time Democratic incumbent Phyllis Mundy will face Young Republican Aaron Kaufer in the fall.

Area House hopefuls pull petitions

State Rep candidates petitions challenged

It looks like that the election for the Pennsylvania state legislature will use the districts in place since 2001 but that could change. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission made a total hash of the process by waiting too long to approve new maps that were thrown out out by the PA Supreme Court. Drawing new maps and allowing for the public comment period then challenges would push the primary beyond April 24th. One option would to have the federal primary on that date and then have a separate primary for state offices later. That would be confusing and expensive and not even the Republican leaders in Harrisburg want to do that.

Senate GOP leader: Not practical to postpone election for redrawing of districts

Republican Pete Mailloux of Mountaintop circulated petitions based on the new map but if the 2001 district lines are used he doesn't live in the 121st HD now represented by Democrat Eddie Day Pashinski. According to the PA Dept of State his petitions are being challenged by Louis Lau.

The surprise in the 120th HD was Asst. Luzerne County DA Frank McCabe filed to take on Phyllis Mundy in the Democratic primary. His petitions are being challenged by Charles Jackson and Anthony Perzia. Both candidates are from Kingston so there is no residency issue. Aaron Kaufer is the only Republican on the ballot.

I asked Phyllis Mundy what she thought of a primary challenge. Her response:

I welcome all challengers. I am confident that my hard work and dedication to the best interests of the average, hard working citizen in my district and in Pennsylvanian will win me reelection.

Always classy, that's why she is my 2nd favorite state rep.

PA State Represenative candidates in Luzerne County

The candidate roster can found at the PA Department of State.

Mike Carroll (D-118) and Karen Boback (R-117) will not have an opponent in the upcoming primary and general elections. Like most political junkies I hate uncontested elections because the people should always have a choice plus you never know if the incumbent might have something blow up on them. It looks looks like Duke started too late to get the 300 signatures needed in the 117th.

The big news is assistant Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Frank McCabe is running in the Democratic primary trying to unseat my 3rd favorite State Rep Phyllis Mundy in the 120th HD.
A resident of the district said "Nice, a stealth undercover petition signing. He must know people to get all of those signatures with no one spilling the beans. Now its getting fun." I don't think that Mundy hasn't has had a primary challenger since she won the election in 1990 taking the seat from Republican incumbent Scott Dietterick who was found guilty of insurance fraud just before the election. The Yonk will correct me if I'm wrong. What Democrat could have a beef with Phyllis? Young Republican Aaron Kaufer is the GOP candidate.



The other matchups include Ransom Young (D) taking on freshman Tarah Toohil (R) in the Hazleton area 116th HD. Rick Arnold (R) has a rematch with Gerald Mullery (D) in the 119th. Pete Mailloux (R) is taking on incumbent Eddie Day Pashinski (D) in the 121st HD for now but all this could change depending on the mapmakers response to the Supreme Court.