Luzerne County Commissioners race

Are the Wilkes-Barre papers in sync? In the last two days the CV ran editorials endorsing Democratic incumbent Greg Skrepnak and county controller Marianne Petrilla for Luzerne County Commissioner and incumbent Republican Steve Urban and Bill Jones to get the GOP nod.

In the last two editions of the TL it has had profiles of Petrilla, Skrep and Jones. I guess Urban will be tomorrow.

The Luzerne County primary is boring

Steve Urban announced today that his running mate will be Bill James. The other Republicans are Christine Katsock, Bill Jones and Dave Shipula. With Steve Flood very ill the Democratic primary will be won by Greg Skrepnak and Maryanne Petrilla. I'll go out on a limb and predict that our next Commissioners will be Skrep, Petrilla and Urban.


The hottest race in the county is for Cororner. I'm sure there was a reason in the past why the Coroner was elected but it doesn't apply today. Forensic science is such a technical specialty that maybe we shouldn't not elect this office but hire the best person available.

Skrep and Petrilla make it official, so does Urban

TL: Before a crowd of hundreds Thursday, Greg Skrepenak and Maryanne Petrilla formally announced they will run as a Democratic team for Luzerne County commissioner in May...Republican minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban also announced Thursday during a Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce breakfast that he will run. He is seeking a third term.

Can they be beat?

Luzerne County Commissioners race-Democrats

It looks like former Controller Steve Flood is in according to a story in the TL. He still has questions about the sweetheart deal involving the juvenile detention center in Pittston that the Bond Brothers committed the county to for the next 20 years. He also smells a rat regarding the proposed cargo airport near Hazleton and he is concerned about the long delayed reassessment saying “We paid $7 million for this, and the values are already two years old.” A look at the county's long term debt will be on his agenda. Somebody with a calculator and some common sense should take a look at pace the county has been borrowing money over the last few years. An audit of the row offices is order after the revelation that at least $200,000 is missing from the Recorder of Deeds office. That's the Controller's or Auditor General's job but they won't do it.

The story also noted that Attorney Ray Hassey will not be a candidate. Fine with me as he is quoted that his biggest worry was the reassessment's impact on the elderly. I got news for you Mr. Hassey, senior citizens aren't the only ones who pay property taxes. My raise this year was less than what Social Security recipients got. I'm sure I'm going to pay much more when this thing is done. Yeah I could go get a 2nd job to pay them but that would eat into my family time just like running for office will interfere with his.

According to the CV the other Democrats interested in running are:

Pittston Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Greg Gulick.

Dennis Kijek, a Rice Township Democrat who is retired.

Greg Skrepenak is seeking a second term

County Controller Maryanne Petrilla.

Joseph Killinski, a retired Wilkes-Barre resident.

Mario Fiorucci, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Sugar Notch as a Green Party candidate in 2005.

Update on the Republican candidates is coming