Luzerne County Democratic organization

There are 6 legislative districts in Luzerne County that are based on the PA House Districts and that is how the County Democratic and Republican  Parties have  been  organized for as long as I remember (there used to be 7) but it gets confusing.

The 116th HD is the Luzerne County Democratic Party 1st District. Presently represented by Tarah Toohil (R). No opponent in this election

The 117th is the 2nd District. Karen Boback (R). No opponent.

The 118th is the 3rd District. Mike Carroll. (D). No opponent.

The 119th is the 4th District. Jerry Mullery (D)  Justin Behrens is the Republican nominee 

 The 120th is the 5th District. Aaron Kaufer (R). No opponent. 

The 121st is the 6th District. Eddie Day Pashinki (D). Sue Henry is the Republican nominee.

Recently the county Republican Party renamed their subdivisions to the corresponding PA House Districts. So now it's not the 5th District Republicans but the 120th District Republicans, etc. That is very progressive of them. The Democratic Party should do the same thing.
 

The Blue Wave is being led by women

Yes, the party that holds the White House historically loses seats in the mid term elections. We all know that a record number of women are running for office and winning primaries for Governor, Congress and State offices in record numbers. But the thing I'm seeing is the intensity of their supporters beginning with the Women's March in January of 2017 that has not abated.

All the evidence points to a big year for the Dems with bigger than normal  turnouts in primary and special elections but very few Democrats have actually won special elections for Congress unless the GOP candidate is just ridiculous like Roy Moore or Rick Saccone. On the state level they have done much better. 

I'm always cautious about expectations because the Republicans have some advantages. First is almost unlimited money. Millionaires and Billionaires can write checks to dark money groups because of Citizens United that go to so called social welfare groups. They then can spend that money painting Democrats as the equivilant of  devil worshipers who want to take you guns, murder babies and give people health insurance.

The second is gerrymandering.  Things have improved in PA but many states have carved up the districts to give the GOP a big advantage. Just look at Ohio 12. In a fairly drawn district the Democrat would have won easily.

So that leads us to our little corner of the world. The Democrats are playing defense with Governor Wolf, Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Matt Cartwright and State Rep Eddie Day Pashinski on the ballot. Their opponents have gone all in with Trump. Although we don't have  women  running for office the Democratic women are leading the charge to keep these men in office.


After many years of being dormant the Luzerne County Democratic Party is coming roaring back. We are being led by Polly Delaney and Wendy Cominsky. This dynamic duo have organized many events past and future and are looking for ideas from the rest of us to just get people to vote.

Rob McCord gets local support

PA Treasurer Rob McCord  is one of the hundred or so people running for Governor next year. He has been rolling out endorsements just like many of the others and he has the backings of some of our local legislators. State Senator John Yudichak and Rep. Mike Carroll from Luzerene County are on board according to PoliticsPA. 

McCord  was the only Guv hopeful that showed up for Yuddy's picnic in August and Eddie Day Pashinski and Mike Carroll were the only local State Reps to make it.

Rob and Yuddy having a laugh

A few neighbors from our north are also on board. Sen. John Blake and Reps. Kevin Haggerty and Sid Michaels-Kavulich.

McCord also rolled out the endorsements of 20 PA state party chairs but our own Luzerne County guy Bob Boyer was not one of them.It was interesting that 5 prospective Democratic Guv candidates made it to the Luzerne County Democratic picnic but McCord wasn't one of them. Yuddy also skipped it. A scheduling conflict I'm sure.

Most endorsements are only good for a press release unless they bring in money or boots on the ground. That is why union endorsements are so important in a Democratic primary We will see if Yuddy can deliver either or both and become a latter day Marty Murray as the Yonk speculates.

Third District Dem Picnic

I wasn't able to attend the 3DP on Sunday but a friend was kind enough to send along a report yesterday.

Hello Gort,

New Third District Democratic Chairman, Phil Struzzerri, welcomed a large and loud crowd of about 240 people at their  picnic yesterday at the Pittston American Legion picnic grounds. The food was very well received by the crowd.

All of the usual suspects were there from the area and the county except for Linda Houck, County Council candidate. Representative Mike Carroll was the MC and Sen. John Yudichak gave a spirited keynote speech urging Democratic unity in the upcoming election, and criticizing the irrational Republicans in both Washington and Harrisburg. 

Alexandra Kokura was the star of the event. She was the first to arrive and the last to leave.

No Valenti.

(rumor also heard... there is now a split between Katsock and Grinaway!)

Democratic Party tomorrow

Luzerne County Democratic Committee Fall Picnic, Sunday September 29th noon till 3pm at the Catholic War Vets Grove in Ashley. This is a free event. We hope to see you there!

Dem Picnic Sunday

Luzerne County Democratic Committee Fall Picnic, Sunday September 29th noon till 3pm at the Catholic War Vets Grove in Ashley. This is a free event. We hope to see you there!

Dem candidate forum

The Luzerne County Democratic Committee will host a Candidate Forum on Thursday February 28th, 6:30PM at Grotto Pizza outside the Wyoming Valley Mall. Democratic candidates for County office are invited to meet with members of the Executive Committee.

RSVP on the Facebook Event page 

And the Young Dems will meet Wednesday at Rodano's on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre at 7PM.

Details on FB.

Tarah Toohil Pizza Party Video

This video dropped into my inbox a few days ago but I decide not to post it and be accused of being an irresponsible blogger. Now it shows up on the Times Leader , WILK and other media outlets so I missed a scoop. I actually saw the pictures a few months ago but didn't think much of them. The video is being shopped around by the same person that left comments on a post I did in May accusing Toohil of having an inappropriate relationship with another House member that I deleted because I didn't think what she did in her personal life was anybody's business. Of course I saved those comments.

Some speculation on my FB page: Her disgruntled ex-boyfriend promised to blackmail her as part of his continued mistreatment of her and women in general. Those pictures mean absolutely nothing in this election. The person attacking her is a House member. And women should rise up against the way he wants to treat women.

More in the comments on YouTube.  It's just a matter of time before we figure out who posted this video and I have a good idea who it is.


Here is the video with the bong, bag of weed and the close proximity of lips:



Her response:



 Good for her .

The Luzerne County Democratic Party and her opponent deny having anything to do with this


Herself had this reaction on PoliticsPA:

 
“Dear Young People of Pennsylvania:

I’ll admit that some years ago I smoked marijuana. I did not get caught. But I’ve since decided that it’s not cool, and I think that if YOU get caught, you should still face criminal charges. Sorry, as we say in NEPA, dem’s da breaks suckers.

Also, if a marriage equality bill ever comes up for a vote before the legislature, of which I am now an esteemed member, I will of course follow the orders of my socially conservative male Republican leaders and vote against it, because I think it is right for society to deny full civil rights to same sex couples in committed relationships; also, the idea of two women enjoying each other’s company in a committed monogamous relationship is offensive to me as a traditional, family values oriented practicing Catholic and frankly grosses me out, but hey, if you want to tie one on and sloppily make out with another chick in a drunken stupor, that’s just fine. Nothing wrong with that at all, it happens, ya know?”

What a hypocritical disgrace of a woman

Dem Picnic Sunday

The Headliners

The Luzerne County Democratic Committee welcomes you to attend our annual Fall Picnic on Sunday, October 7th beginning at noon. The event will be held at the Catholic War Vets Grove in Ashley, PA. Congressional candidates Matt Cartright and Gene Stilp will speak at the event. Meet Democratic candidates for office and enjoy an old-fashioned fall picnic. The event is FREE and all Democrats are welcome.

Don't let the weather deter you, Bob Boyer says it will under pavilions. Senator Bob Casey will be attending.

RSVP on Facebook

This week's Events

The NEPA TEA Party is hosting a Fire Obama meeting Tuesday October 02, 2012 at The Cafe, 112

0 Highway 315, Plains Township, PA 18705 for 6:30pm.
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 The NEPA Tea Party has secured thousands of yard signs, bumper stickers & hand outs. It is our goal to arm teams & individuals all over Northeastern Pennsylvania with those materials to make the difference necessary to deliver the votes that will carry the rest of the state!
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Yeah, yard signs and bumper stickers will turn the tide.Maybe they will have Tri Corner tin foil hats.
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Details at the FB event page.
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I spotted 3 local debate watch parties. There maybe more.
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 Wilkes University College Republican Debate Watch Party 
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  Starting at 8:30PM

 Henry Student Center
84 W. South St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
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The local Obama For America campaign 
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 What: Debate watch party in Wilkes Barre

Where: 70 South Main Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18711

When: Wednesday, October 3rd  9:00 pm
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Across the street my local Republicans friends will gather.

 The Luzerne County Republican Party is sponsoring a Presidential Debate Watch Party. 2 Large Screen TV's, Pizza, Cash Bar. Event is open to the Public. Please join us!

8-11PM

Mulligan's Irish Pub

41 S. Main St, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18701
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Again on Facebook. 
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In the future I gotta get a laptop with wifi  so I can live blog an  event while I hang out. Before then we have to pay for a new roof. 
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This Sunday the Luzerne County Democrats have the annual picnic in Ashley.
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The Luzerne County Democratic Committee welcomes you to attend our annual Fall Picnic on Sunday, October 7th beginning at noon. The event will be held at the Catholic War Vets Grove in Ashley, PA. Congressional candidates Matt Cartright and Gene Stilp will speak at the event. Meet Democratic candidates for office and enjoy an old-fashioned fall picnic. The event is FREE.

.My Republican friends say Obama cool aid will be served.

RSVP on Facebook 
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I noticed that the CV didn't run Political Scene Monday. Maybe I should tell them what is going on or the event organizers could drop them an email.

Kathy Kane out as Luzerne County Dem Chair

The Valley Scanner reports that Wilkes-Barre Controller and former city council member then chair Kathy Kane calls it quits:

In a letter dated April 25, Kathy Kane resigned as chairman of the Luzerne County Democratic Committee effective May 25, 2012.

According to the letter, Kane is stepping down to "run for an office" in June. What office? Your guess is as good as ours. With Kane's recent track record of supporting losing candidates, her supporters will be staying away in droves.

In 2013 the county offices that are up is 5 seats on the county council and Controller. Look out Walter.

 The county Democratic party has had rough time of it the last few years with all the Democratic office holders going to jail. In 2007 under the leadership of Mark Buffalino the Dem's made a clean sweep of the county row offices but in 2009 they lost 2 out of 3 after he left to run for Judge and lost . In 2011 they only won 6 of the 11 Luzerne County Council despite an overwhelming registration edge and Republican Stephanie Salavantis knocked off Jackie Mo in the DA's race.

In this past election Kane presided over a meeting of the county executive committee that turned into a farce when Tim Holden was endorsed for Congress over Matt Cartwright in the 17th CD race.The headline out of the meeting was that Holden  was that the Luzerne  County Democratic Committee unanimously endorsed Tim Holden but that was not was not the case. A parliamentary maneuver changed the result as 2nd District Chair Casey Evans explained. In the primary election Cartwright won Luzerne County by almost 3 to 1.

In the run up to the election there was some controversy when there was a dispute about what event was scheduled first. 120th State Rep Phyllis Mundy (my 3rd favorite) hosted an event for Matt Cartwright in West Pittston on the same night that Kane had a rally for Luzerne County Dem's at the Ramada in Wilkes-Barre. Phyllis assured me that she didn't know about the county committee meet up or she would have had it on another day. 

PoliticsPA had a recap of the 17th CD race and  I would add that Cartwright had a better ground game. In Luzerne County Cartwright had an office in Wilkes-Barre that was buzzing with people working the phones and the Holden "HQ" was an empty store front with some signs in the windows. Before the election I was called by 2 volunteers from Cartwright but only  a robo call for Holden paid for by the AFL-CIO. On election day I got a remember to vote call from the Cartwright camp because they identified me as a supporter. Great job Shane!

Bloggers are reluctant and accidental Committeemen

In the 2010 primary election DB Echo of Another Monkey was elected as a Luzerne County Democratic Committeeman from Nanticoke. By his own admission he was "written in by a friend as a joke and won."  To his credit he has taken his responsibilities as an officer of the party seriously going to as many meetings that he can make. He even keeps local Bloggers informed of the activities of the outfit even if the Chair is apprehensive about letting Bloggers know what is going on.

Now the Blogfather may become a Republican Committeeman in Wilkes-Barre.He got a vote or 2 but so did someone else.

GOP committee races to be decided

Most, if not all, ties occurred because no candidates filed paperwork to get their names on the ballot. Voters wrote in names on the electronic voting machines, prompting multiple people to receive the same number of votes, in some cases one vote each....The election office will choose winners using numbered balls shaken in a container. Balls will be picked for candidates who don’t appear.

He looked at mounting a serious campaign after being encouraged  but got sidetracked because of the loss of a family member. He has never been high on the local Republican Party saying  I took my unexpected call to join the local GOP scrum as the equivalent of being General George Armstrong Custer's replacement bugler during that final gallop into history. Sad, but blatantly honest on my part. 

If he does win the ping pong ball selection and follows through he will be as welcomed at a 6th District Republican Committee meeting like ants at a picnic. 

A few years ago some people wanted me to run for Democratic Committeeman in my little corner of Plains Twp. to replace  the invisible man, a guy that lives a block away but never met. I took a pass because of my work schedule and blogging activities. I'm glad I did because now my committee guy is Thom Shibula .He also was elected to the state committee and will be a delegate to the DNC in Charlotte. Thom does the work of an old fashion  local precinct captain like dropping off yard signs at my house. I haven't heard if he could deliver a ton of coal.

Luzerne Dems endorse

From the inbox:

At their January meeting this week, the Luzerne County Democratic Executive Committee voted to endorse Bob Casey for U.S. Senate, Patrick Murphy for Attorney General, Rob McCord for State Treasurer, and Eugene DePasquale for Auditor General, the Committee announced.

"We are incredibly proud to support Senator Casey, Congressman Murphy, Treasurer McCord, and Representative DePasquale in their bids for their respective offices. They have all demonstrated their commitment to standing up for middle and working class Pennsylvanians. We strongly endorse their candidacies because of their integrity and their dedication to social justice and equality, economic fairness and opportunity, and for government that works for everyone, not just the privileged few," said LCDC Public Relations director and 2nd District Chair Casey Evans.

Luzerne County Young Democrats

Our local YD chapter will be meeting tonight at

Rodano's Pizza
53 Public Sq
Wilkes-Barre, PA

starting at 7PM


At the meeting The Luzerne County Young Democrats will be electing officers, endorsing the Democratic slate of candidates, and launching the new Luzerne County Young Democrats website.

A new website, woo hoo.

According to their Facebook event page a few candidates will also be attending including 11th CD candidate Bill Vinsko, Common Pleas hopefulls Jennifer Rogers and Molly Hanlon Mirabito plus county council nominee Jane Waitkus. I think that all Luzerne Democratric county candidates and those running for municipal offices would do themselves a favor by showing up. These kids give you enthusiasm and boots on the ground.

Many moons ago I was an officer in the Young Dems of Luzerne County organized by Bob Caruso who had the ear of State Senator Marty Murray who gave us office space and some money. The group fizzled out and I went off to see the world courtesy of the US Air Force.

This incarnation is much stronger with my local Plains committeeman Tom Shibula at the helm. He replaced some guy in the last election that I never met although he lives a few doors away. The VP Tony Thomas is the son of a HS classmate who used to comment regularly on this site. Herself is another officer of the the LCYD who inspired this post.

Luzerne County Dems finally have a website

Hey Gort! We just wanted to introduce you to our party's new website and Facebook page!


The LCDC recently launched our website, which we're all really proud of it. Chairwoman Kathy Kane and the entire Committee were very supportive of the effort and voted for the project unanimously. 2nd Dist. Chair Casey Evans is serving as the site's Webmaster. It will move the Luzerne County Democratic Party into a 21st century media environment and we'll be more competitive than ever before: both online and on the streets!


The website can be found here: http://luzernedems.com/meet-us


Our party's Facebook page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Luzerne-County-Democratic-Party/217974844886953

It's hard to believe that our local donkeys didn't get with the program until now. Our local elephants have been on the web for a few years now.

Luzerne County Republican Party

and on Facebook

It's hard to predict what is going to happen in the upcoming county council races after all the corruption mostly Democratic office holders have been implicated in. But this is an overwhelming Democratic county and they should win a majority on the newfangled council with the GOP putting a few candidates over the top. Who knows, the Libertarians or an independent may grab 1 or 2 of the 11 seats up for grabs.