A boring upcoming election

Most of the PA legislature seats in Luzerne County are uncontested. John Yudichak and Lisa Baker may get a third party challenge but will cruise to reelection to the state Senate. Eddie Day, Mike Carroll, Jerry Mullery and my favorite party girl Tarah Toohil don't have an opponent for state rep in the fall.

The most interesting races are Karen Boback being challenged by Laura Dickson and the open seat being vacated by Phyliis Mundy's retirement.  Eilleen Cipriani is the hands down favorite to succeed one of my favorite state reps although Aaron Kaufer has been working very hard.

The most interesting race is the 117th District which has been redrawn to include Wyoming County and local official Laura Dickson is looking to work the home field. I don't know what it is but the local Republicans out there have a thing for making Karen Boback's life misarable. Davis Haire took her on in the primary this time and James May went after her earlier. I think Dickson's best chance is a depressed GOP turnout because Tom Corbett has pissed off just about everybody on both sides of the aisle. 
 

Dairy issues may be a key

Possible 120th HD candidates

First of all I want to say say thank you to Phyllis Mundy for being for being a friend and an outstanding State Representative.

Just as I was getting worried that we wouldn't have many competitive state legislature elections next year Phyllis drops a bomb shell. Right now Pashinski, Carroll, Mullery, Toohill, Yudichak and Baker don't have an announced opponent but that will change as some guy with a tri-corner hat gets the itch. So far only Karen Boback has a serious opponent in Laura Dickson.

Bill O'Boyle in the TL runs down the likely candidates.

On the GOP side 2012 nominee Aaron Kaufer gives kudos to Phyllis and sounds like he will run again. She cleaned his clock 56%-44% after the state GOP pored a ton of money into the race. And there is always  speculation that Kingston Mayor for Life Jim Haggerty will try to lose another election outside of the Municipality after getting shot down for State Senate and Judge. I'm sure some other names will pop up.

The Dems will have plenty of candidates. Edwardsville Councilor Gary Mack is interested as is West Pittston attorney Laura Dennis who is said to be able to self finance. This line from the TL article kind of bugs me. Dennis said she wants to run for elective office; she has to decide if the state legislature would be the best fit for her. In other words she wants to run for office to be somebody instead of doing something. She has time to clear that up.

The early frontrunner for the Democratic nod has to be West Wyoming Council Prez Eileen Cipriani. She has been at Phyllis' side and organized the West Side Council of Governments that has been able to pool the resources of the west side to get things done.

Other names being thrown around include:

Former W. Pittston Mayor Bill Goldsworthy who is working for the the Guv and ran against Phyllis in 2010. He may want to get off the Corbett sinking ship before it goes under.

Just for shits and giggles a commenter says:  I say Michael Szustak- did a bang up job with Gelb and Cartwright. Has what we need for the job!

 And we all know that Joe V has always wanted to be elected to something...anything

If Mundy does retire, who knows, maybe I’ll tap into that communion money and throw my hat into the ring as well.

Laura Dickson for State Representative

Karen Boback won't have a free ride in 2014.

From the inbox:

Wyoming County Auditor Laura Dickson announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania State Representative in the 117^th District.

 “I decided to run based on the conversations I've had with people across the district and their dissatisfaction with our current representation in Harrisburg”.

 Dickson, who has served as county auditor since 2010, has pushed for greater fiscal accountability within Wyoming County government. As auditor, she has been responsible for the overall annual review of the county's multi-million dollar budget. “We need to make sure that every penny is being spent properly, especially when so many municipal and county budgets are shrinking. We need to balance the needs of our citizens with the financial resources available to us.”

 Dickson stated that her focus as state representative would be on promoting economic development through education, infrastructure rehabilitation, and development of new industries.

 “If we can coordinate our education system with the needs of potential employers, we can create hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs in this district. We need a representative that will work every day to achieve that goal”.

 Laura Dickson has served on the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania State Association Of County Auditors since 2012. She recently worked as a divisional vice president at NCS, an institutional pharmacy company. While at NCS, she owned and operated her own fitness center business. She has served as the chairperson of Youth and Ministry and as chairperson of Special Programs and Events at East Lemon United Methodist Church where she has been a member since 2000. Additionally, she volunteers at the Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen, Tyler Hospital and the Wyoming County Kiwanis.

 She met her husband Jim while attending Keystone College. They have been married for 34 years and have one daughter, Sharon. 

 Check out her website

Laura Dickson For State Representative

 and her Facebook campaign page

 

Andrew Seder covered her announcement in the TL

 

Wyoming County auditor to challenge Boback in 117th District