Pennsylvania exit poll

We were the 186th and 187th voters in our local polling place out of  about 1000. What a terrible turnout. On the way in there was only 2 poll workers and Plains Twp.plus  incumbent Commissioners Robert Sax and Jerry Yozwiak. I have long said that the only poll workers that matter in a local race is the candidates themselves.

 But in this case they were not going to persuade me. They both voted to kick back $3 million of slots money back to the Mohegan Sun to pave the parking lot over the last few years. Then they asked for $1 Million  of slots money to finance an upgrade to the Woodlands. I voted for Barry Kresge.

Being the contrarian that I am I usually vote no on retaining a Judge but in this case I actually voted Yes for State Supreme Court Justices Ron Castille and Max Baer and No on the other 2. What persuaded me was the Tea Party groups and Sue Henry said they opposed them because they blocked the Voter ID law. It should be trashed as it's a solution in search of a problem that will keep people from voting. For all the jokes we make about dead people voting in Pittston it just doesn't happen. Absentee ballots are another matter. All my life I have heard the lament that enough people don't vote (like today) so they want to make it harder. Elections are a bad way to pick appellate judges see Choose Judges on Meirt

Kathy Bozinski reported "that for the first time ever our reporters were told it's illegal to take generic, non-invasive shots inside polling places, and were turned away, or told to shoot through a window. I can't count how many live shots I've done inside the polling place... Is this something new?... We've learned its a regulation that is decided by the County Solicitor, and for apparently the first time, he decided to invoke it for this election."  I saw Pete from the TL at our polling place tonight taking photos and I snapped a few.

The Luzerne  County Website has  a link for election results that looks pretty good. You can tailor the races you are interest in. The thing is they had to go to a vendor to do something that was done in house and worked flawlessly until last spring.  Another waste of money. I like Walter Griffith but the pissing contest that he got into with Lenny Piazza that the county manager Bob Lawton  overreacted to  is costing us money and aggravation

And another ballot screw up

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One less Democrat on W-B Twp. council ballot

James O'Meara Sr. for Plains Township Commissioner

Tomorrow my neighbors and I will select 3 people out of 4 candidates running for Commissioner in my little burgh of Plains, PA. Plains is a great place to live. For the most part crime is low with most of it being a domestic dispute, the Turkey Hill getting robbed or some nonsense at the Moghegan Sun and/or The Woodlands. Our streets are being paved and the price of trash bags was reduced because of the windfall from the Casino. That being said not everything is perfect and we can always use some improvement.

In addition to the host municipality fee Plains Township gets for putting up with the casino there is another pot of money for the health, safety and economic development projects in those counties where the casinos are located. In the last 3 years the Plains Twp Board of Commissioners have kicked backed a million dollars a year to the Casino to pave the parking lot that is located on top of the old East Side Landfill neglecting other needs such as purchasing a new ladder truck for the fire department. Kevin Blaum documented that a few years ago. Such nonsense, we are supposed to make money off the place not subsidise it.

Sure enough, there was an application on DCED’s list for $5 million, half the amount available, to remove garbage from Mohegan Sun land to enlarge its parking lot. Obviously Mohegan is capable of paying for its own paving and garbage removal. Yet this project survived DCED’s initial cut (an official act) while many projects in other communities did not.
It’s important to note that a casino may not apply for this money. If it did, it would be laughed out of town. ...To end-run this prohibition, the application was submitted by none other than Plains Township (an official act). This application, if approved, would return $5 million to Mohegan Sun at the expense of other municipalities that need these funds.
Why would anyone do such a thing? Follow the money.

Another old story that bugs me but nothing ever came of it.

From SOP: More Corruption Allegations In Luzerne County: Plains Township

According to Andy Mehalshick, lead I-Team investigator, Pennsylvania State Police are looking into allegations of use or misuse of taxpayer-funded equipment and township employees with particular focus on the Department of Public Works. The township is now conducting an internal investigation. Steven Menn of Plains Township says, “As I understand it the board is going to do an internal investigation to find out what is going on. That information has to be looked into, and who’s making that complaint and what actual allegations are, I don't believe we have all the information of those involved or who is making the complaint."One Township Commissioner, Ron Fillipini, stated he supported an independent investigation by an agency such as the State Police.

I've never seen the report of the so called independent investigation. I asked the DPW people that I know about this but they wouldn't confirm or deny anything. One said I just can't talk about it.


2 of the Democrats were also able to snag Republican write-in nominations, long time Commish Brigid Murray O'Conner and Ciro Cinti. Ron Filippini is other incumbent. It s nice club if you can be invited to join. There is one outsider running and I hope he shakes it up.

James O'Meara Sr

He answers the most important question:

I will oppose gas drilling in Plains Township. That’s as plain as I can say it.

Closing statement:


My name is James O’Meara Sr. and I’ve been a resident of Plains Township since 1984 when I married my wife, Ann M arie, from the Keystone section of Plains. Both of my children were born and raised here, and both still reside here (my daughter at home, and my son and his family just across the yard).

I attended Penn State as an undergraduate from 1975 through 1978. I left to work full-time. I also attended College Misericordia during the early years of my marriage, and left to work full-time to support a growing family. In short, I have a pile of college credits but never got the sheepskin. I don’t regret that one bit. That decision led me to where I am today, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

Over the years, I have advanced in my career through hard work and my own initiative. I haven't been afraid to take chances. I follow some advice my father gave me: Always bite off a little more than you think you can chew. I’ve worked at US Foods in Pittston since 1995, and my father’s advice has served me well during my time there. I’ve had to tackle complex problems and respond to challenges that were difficult at times, but always exciting. I worked my way up from a computer tech to the manager of a department that at one time was responsible for the data operations of three warehouses in three states.
If there is one lesson I learned above all, something driven home by my first political campaign last year when I ran for State Representative, it is that the People matter above all else. I’ve learned you don’t run against other candidates. You run for the People.

I don’t bring a wealth of political experience to the plate. I bring a dogged perseverance to find solutions, a passion to serve, and a love of hard work. I believe I can make a difference in Plains Township . I will ask hard questions. I will look for creative solutions to problems. I will work for you with the same passion I bring to everything I’ve attempted in life. I will be available and accessible.

If you would like to hear a new voice as Commissioner, I ask that you bullet vote for me on November 8.

Thank you, and together let’s make a difference!

James O’Meara, Sr.

James O'Meara, Sr.Republican Candidate for Commissioner