Home Rule meeting tonight

Meeting for GSC Candidates

Luzerne Home Rule will be holding a meeting on Tuesday March 3rd 2009 at 6:30 PM at Colarusso’s Pizza 300 Wilkes-Barre Twp Blvd, across from Wegmans, for the purpose of helping anyone that has circulated petitions to be placed on the May 19th Primary Election Ballot for the Luzerne County Home Rule Government Study Commission.


This meeting is for those candidates to have their nomination papers reviewed, and to assist in any way, to make sure their are nomination Papers are ready to be returned to the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections on March 10 2009.

It is good that they are offering help to all candidates interested in running for the Government Study Commission and abandoned the idea of endorsing a slate.

Luzerne Home Rule is now on Twitter and you can also stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed or joining the e-mail list and text list.

I've asked PJ Best to let all the candidates know that they are welcome to write a guest post for Gort42 on why Home Rule is a good idea and why they should be on the Commission.

Home Rule meeting tonight

Thursday February 12, 2009 @ 7pm Hazleton City Council Chambers

Luzerne Home Rule Committee Meeting and GSC Information Session

Luzerne Home Rule is holding a committee meeting and Government Study Commission information session, open to the public. If you have any questions about Home Rule, the process, helping with the movement, or running for the Government Study Commission, come join this free event. The primary agenda item is determining how the committee will be endorsing a GSC ticket. Members of the 2001 GSC will be available to answer questions about serving on the commission.


Commissioner Steve Urban objects to the group endorsing candidates "I think this will turn off a large portion of interested candidates if people who aren’t endorsed have to raise money and campaign against a group." Luzerne Home Rule Chairman P.J. Best said the endorsement is intended to support viable candidates who don’t have political experience.
“I understand what the commissioner is saying, but a lot of people are going to be running because they’re against home rule,” Best said.

Two of the requirements the group has listed:

Not currently on the county payroll

Not interested in running for county office beyond the GSC

Luzerne County Home Rule

PJ Best asked the Commissioners to put the Home Rule question on the ballot this May but Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said they had to earn it by gathering signatures. “I respect what you’re trying to do. I truly do, and should the voters get the required signatures to have this on the ballot I will stand back and allow the people to speak,” Petrilla said.
“There have been a lot of things going on, and I think the people should have an opportunity to speak and let us know how they want things run because, after all, it’s their money.” Thanks Maryanne, now that you are the top dog it sounds as if you like the way things are being run.

Republican Steve Urban said he had no problem putting the question on the ballot. The last time it was put to a vote both parties opposed the plan with Democrats saying things are fine the way they are because they win most of the elections but the Republicans reason was downright funny. They were afraid they would lose the only office they are guaranteed to win, minority commissioner.

Minority Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said he opposed home rule in the past but is open to the possibility, though he needs a few days to mull the issue before Wednesday’s regular meeting. When the question was on the ballot in 2003 Skrep and his fellow Bond Brother Todd Vonderheid said it wasn't necessary because the problem wasn't the the system but the people in charge. 'Trust us' he said. That worked out well. Skrep has been playing to the gallery over reassessment and even defending the Judges in the budget dispute and every Commissioner's meeting is an exchange of insults with Petrilla. Here is his chance to turn the tables and vote with Urban to put the question on the ballot.

118th State Rep

PJ Best has done well but he won't beat Mike Carroll. He hasn't even updated his website. Young Mr. Best will be heard from again

118th State Rep debate tonight

The League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre is hosting a public debate between state Rep. Mike Carroll and P.J. Best at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pittston Area High School auditorium, 5 Stout St., Yatesville

118th State Rep debate set

The League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre is hosting a public debate between state Rep. Mike Carroll and P.J. Best at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pittston Area High School auditorium, 5 Stout St., Yatesville

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The TL has a write-up about the race today. Both Democrats want to provide property tax relief and improve the state’s health insurance program. But I have ask why there hasn't been any tax relief yet but slots money is being used for a Hockey Arena and other such pork like giving money back to the Mohegan Sun to pave a parking lot. Carroll voted to put tolls on I-80 saying there is no other way to raise funds for the much-needed repairs on Pennsylvania roadways. “In the end there is no easy way to fix this. In the end doing nothing is not an option.” Best opposes tolls on I-80 contending it is a job killer. “It’s a tax on the people. It’s not only a toll on the people that drive 80, it’s a tax in disguise.”

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No word yet if either candidate will mount a write in effort for the Republican nomination since our local GOP dropped the ball again and have not fielded a candidate.

Write over

Political sign covers county tourism billboard


A downtown Pittston billboard that was supposed to contain a publicly funded message about Luzerne County tourism has been covered with a political campaign banner. State Rep. Michael Carroll, D-Avoca, said his banner went up a few days after Easter, which was on March 23. He said his campaign purchased the ad and he had no idea the billboard was already being rented by the county.


It sounds like the company was selling the same space twice and hoping nobody would notice after getting a no bid contract to do the billboards. And a good question was raised by Steve Urban who asks what is the value of buying generic tourism ads within the county?


The mystery of the location of the bench ads at bus stops has been solved by TL reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes; the benches are on Broad Street in Hazleton, the Pittston Bypass, Main Street in Duryea and River Street in Plains Township.

Local Teamsters back Best

Teamsters Local 229 officially Endorses PJ Best for State Representative in 118

Pittston, PA March 19, 2008.

Notification was received Wednesday morning regarding an unprecedented primary endorsement of PJ Best from the Teamsters Local 229. While the union typically endorses a candidate, the endorsement does not typically occur until the general election in November. "I'm honored that the Teamsters Local 229 valued my position against I-80 tolls and turnpike privatization enough to receive a primary endorsement," PJ stated in response to his endorsement. "I promise to work non-stop for the people of the 118th district."

PJ's campaign platform is strong on repealing the toll on I-80 and preventing privatization of the turnpike as well as fighting hard to eliminate property taxes that his opponent promised relief of in 2006.

For more information on PJ's position regarding the toll, please visit www.no80toll.com and for all information visit www.pjbest.org.

Best is running for the Democratic nomination in the 118th District against incumbent freshman Mike Carroll.

Meet the candidate

Tonight you can find 118th State Rep Candidate PJ Best at the Hughestown Hose Company, 30 Center St., Hughestown, PA 18640.

10th CD Republican candidate Chris Hackett is busy the next few days. Tonight at 7PM he will be at Grotto's Pizza at Harveys Lake on Rte 415. Tomorrow he will attend the Lycoming Grange Candidate Forum 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the Lycova Grange Hall . (map) On Saturday you can find him at the Sayre VFW Post #1536, 932 West Lockhart Street. 3pm-6pm.

A guest post

From an email about the Pennsylvania 118th State rep race:

I have lived in Duryea for quite a while now, and I just received a"Capitol Update" from State Representative Mike Carroll. I feel the timing of this "public service announcement" is rather suspicious considering that it's primary season and Carroll has an opponent in his election, when he probably assumed he would not.


This is OBVIOUSLY more of a campaign newsletter than anything but it is funded by the taxpayers(comes from Harrisburg, not from Mike's campaign).


Previously I have been skeptical of Mike, and thought that at best his first year in the house could be described as mediocre. Now I am quite upset. Wasting taxpayer money attempting to legislate baseball bats is one thing, wasting it for election year pandering is completely different!

If Carroll wants to campaign he should do it on his own time with his own money, not with ours. So representatives have spent over $100,000a year on these letters which amount to no more than campaigning with our money. This must stop, and I feel that this must be addressed on a public forum!

Thanks for your time.

Corey

An angered taxpayer

Meet the candidate

118th District candidate PJ Best can be found Thursday , March 13, 7pm – 9pm at the Hughestown Hose Company 30 Center St. Hughestown, PA.


If you have any events coming up Mike please let me know so I can pass it along. And you should update the campaign website.

Chris Hackett will be in Sayre Saturday, March 15, 3pm – 6pm at the Sayre VFW Post #1536, 932 West Lockhart Street.

If anyone knows where to find Dan Meuser without an invitation please let me know.

This Friday Congressman Chris Carney has a campaign event in Dickson City. Kiss the Blarney with Congressman Carney, Friday, March 7, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Genetti’s • 1505 Main Street • Dickson City. And he has yet another town hall meeting in Sayre at 10:00AM on Saturday, March 8th at the Skiff Bower Post 1536 VFW. Sayre is a popular destination.


Again, a message to all campaigns. Let me know where to find your guy/girl and I will be happy to pass it along.

Mike Carroll for State Represenative

Freshman Democrat Mike Carroll kicked off his reelection campaign. I'm glad he got that over with because the suspense was killing me.



JENKINS TWP-Facing more than 100 supporters at the Volunteer Hose Co., state Rep. Mike Carroll formally announced his candidacy for re-election to the 118th District, for which he amassed 1,500 signatures though only 300 are required to appear on the ballot.


No Republican is running in the district to my disappointment because I hate uncontested elections. But a young man is taking him on the Democratic primary.


PJ Best State Candidate

Meet the candidate

From the inbox:


Coffee with PJ Best

Dear Supporters,

I'd like to thank all of you for your support thus far on the campaign trail. I'd like to invite all of you to a meet and greet this Saturday, February 9th from 8-10am at the Pittston Diner on Laurel St. in Pittston.

I'd love the opportunity to meet with each of you to discuss the issues concerning you.

Let's bring the government back to the people.

PJ

PJ Best is a candidate for state rep in the 118th District. The seat is held by freshman Democrat Mike Carroll

PJ Best for State Represenative

The mad batter of Pittston has a primary challenger and he, incumbent Freshman Democrat Mike Carroll, is not happy about it. Art Bobbouine is one thing but a primary challenge is quite another.

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From Best's website:

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So as expected, Mike is overreacting. He’s been overheard saying “I won this seat fair and square in 2006.” My response to this: You’re right Mike. You did win fair and square in 2006. That entitles you to TWO YEARS in the General Assembly. Just because the Good Ol’ Boys like Tom Tigue and your former boss have been given de facto life appointments doesn’t mean that 118 will be giving one to you. We still live in a democracy unless I missed something. The people will decide if you get another two years. I feel that a representative should be elected to represent the people and not represent themselves.

So Mike, if you did a good job you have nothing to worry about. But of course, we know that the reason you’re scared is because you didn’t do a good job. You’re worried that the people will realize that they can do better. And the truth is that they can.

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Update: Here is his official announcement

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PJ BEST TO RUN FOR DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR STATE LEGISLATURE IN DISTRICT 118.

Pittston, PA- PJ Best, lifelong resident of Pittston, PA, officially announced his bid for the office of Legislative Representative in Pennsylvania district 118. Best is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Public Policy, and feels that he can give the government back to the people.

“I’ve lived here my whole life. I love NEPA. I love everything about it: the people, the scenery, the character. I truly believe I live in the greatest place in America. This hometown pride that I have really focuses me on the direction we’re taking. We need a representative that knows where we want to go and how we need to get there. I can say whole-heartedly that this representative is me.”

PJ recognizes the need for change in North Eastern Pennsylvania as well as in Harrisburg: “I am not a political insider. I am not a politician. I am a regular guy from NEPA that wants to see the wishes of other regular people in NEPA granted. I feel my education has trained me to do this and my ambition will allow me to achieve this. I would sooner cut my own pay than see another fruitless tax increase.”

PJ will oppose incumbent Mike Carroll D-Avoca, who was elected to his first term of office in November, 2006.

Additional information about Candidate Best can be found on his website, http://www.pjbest.org/.