117th District

A James May supporter reminded me that he is not out of this yet. His nominating petition was challenged because he didn't list his pay from the Army in 2005. Dallas Mayor Tim Carroll has also been challenged for similar reasons. From the CV:

May, a Republican from Falls Township, Wyoming County, said when word spread that his name was removed from the ballot, he was overwhelmed with support to fight the decision. He said the judge that ordered the removal is a former Democratic state senator and there is precedent to keep him on the ballot. "Over the last two years, there's been a number of folks who did exactly the same thing I did and were left on the ballot," May said. "We are in this thing to win on May 16 no matter what happens. There are too many people who invested too much in this campaign to let it go."

May added he would pursue a write-in campaign if he is not included on the primary ballot.

The TL had this take:

Carroll acknowledged that the two-week wait has hampered his campaign, but said the challenge has highlighted his service in the community and fired up his supporters. Both May and Carroll blamed the challenges on political moves by Edmund Sichler’s campaign. Sichler, a Republican, is running for the same seat.

May feels the move backfired.

"I'm disappointed that another campaign would do something like this, which most people view as somewhat frivolous," May said. "I don’t know from a political standpoint what they were thinking." Carroll, a legislative aide for Hasay, said the "Sichler family campaign" used "devious and deceptive campaign strategy" to bump him off. "Obviously, they're afraid of us to stoop to this level," he said.

Sichler denied his campaign orchestrated the challenges, but said candidates must be "detail-oriented and thorough." "These forms are very simple, specific and easy to fill out," he said. "Six other candidates in this race filled out those petitions correctly."

The other Republican candidates are Eugene Stavitzski, Michael McCormick, Karen Boback, Randy Tomasacci, Edmund Sichler Jr. and Stanford Davis.

The only Democrat is Fred Nichols. I don't know anything about him but I picked this up from the comments :

Compiled from wire service reports by Robert Kilborn and Stephanie Cook

BUT, HEY, IT WASN'T LOADED

Lots of things can land a small-town police chief in hot water, but you wouldn't think running a lonely hearts-type ad would be one of them, right? Wrong, at least in Fred Nichols's case. He heads the force in Shickshinny, Pa., but works long hours, is single, and would like a "caring" relationship with someone of the opposite sex. So he posted his wishes on the Internet. Alas, he included an old photo of himself posing with a personal firearm. The matter now is before the town council for possible disciplinary action. But the ad has been effective. To date, Nichols has had at least 300 responses.

I've tried to verify this but can't find the news report. If you have it send it to me.

121st District debate

Is it a debate if no one disagrees? They all agreed that crime, drugs and jobs are the pressing issues for Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding towns. What a freshman state representative can do about those things is the hard part. A summary of their positions from the CV and TL.

The best known of the contenders is probably Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly. An informed Dominicks Cafe waitress told me he has a website but I can't find it. Education, including better workforce training, is key, Reilly said. Better and earlier education is one possible solution to the district's drug problem, the candidates agreed. Reilly proposed looking to how other countries such as Canada and Australia successfully coped with their drug problems. Questioned on the future of gambling in the state, all candidates said they believe slots are here to stay. Reilly said he expected the scope of gambling to expand. Reilly said he would vote for anti-abortion legislation but respected the decision of the courts on the issue.

Wilkes-Barre Area School Board member Brian O'Donnell has received some press over a push poll and his ties to Scientology. Bringing in companies for better employment opportunities begins with making people feel safe and changing the perception of the area, O'Donnell said. O'Donnell would like to see more grant money for police and first responders to get better equipment and training, and rewarding departments with bilingual officers. The need for insurance reform came up several times. O'Donnell cited a recent Los Angeles Times article that 2005 was the most profitable year ever for insurance companies.

Eddie Day Pashinski is best known for his music. Pashinski, who reminded the audience of his musical career in his closing statements, came back repeatedly to the issue of health insurance costs and the cost of pharmaceuticals. The insurance industry and drug companies are behind the increasing cost of health care that is inflating municipal and state budgets, he said. "Until we stop them," he said, "I guarantee you we're going to have budget problems from now until the day we pass."

Former Wilkes-Barre administrator Jim Haywood was Tom McGroarty's top guy. Hayward said state legislators must look at how insurance companies pass their costs on. In 2001-02, OB-GYN medical malpractice insurance doubled, but payouts from lawsuits declined, he said. On how to achieve regionalization - municipalities combining services or working together -Hayward said hard legislation from the state would be the answer. Hayward spoke most forcefully about crime and drugs, calling them the number one problem in the district.

The lone Republican Christine Katsock said her top priority would be property tax reform. Better and earlier education is one possible solution to the district's drug problem, the candidates agreed. As a teacher of young children, Katsock said she believes the DARE program is good, but it only starts in fifth grade."When a 3-year-old comes in and asks you what crack is, that's when you need to worry," Katsock said. On how to achieve regionalization Katsock said there should be more state incentives to support councils of government, using the Back Mountain Area Council of Government as an example of successful municipal cooperation. Katsock also spoke out against what she called unnecessary expenses of legislators in Harrisburg. She called for legislatures to "cut the fat out of budgets."

Target Lisa

First Jim Haggerty calls her a Harrisburg insider because Sen. Lemmond endorsed her and Gov. Ridge was the featured attraction at a couple of fundraisers. I liked Lisa Baker's response:

Baker said she viewed running for the office as applying to voters for a job. "Having Tom Ridge as my reference is something I'm very proud of," she said. Baker said Ridge, of Chevy Chase, Md., had occasionally urged her to run for office when she worked for him."The governor said to me if I ever ran for public office, no matter where he was, he would want to come back and be supportive," she said.

Next Haggerty goes after her campaign manager's occupation. But Haggerty is not the only candidate attacking her over tactics. Bigus: Baker flier is sneaky:

A campaign flier touting support of state Senate candidate Lisa Baker by area sportsmen is misleading and underhanded, rival candidate Russ Bigus claims.
The flier features comments of Dale Butler, president of the Red Rock Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Mike Protz, president of the Northeast Division of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, pushing Baker as a supporter of hunters and gun owners. Bigus called the flier "a clever way" to make it look like the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman's Clubs back Baker as organizations.

Bigus is also running an ad in the CV describing himself as "new" and Baker as "old." It says he is new blood with new ideas and cites his approval by PACleanSweep.

David Madeira has also attacked Baker but he sticks to issues that he disagrees with her instead of inside baseball. From a press release:

The conservative Republican candidate for the State Senate, David Madeira, says he is not surprised. "The recent endorsement of Lisa Baker by Senator Charles Lemmond and Tom Ridge comes as no surprise. Minority Pro-abortion Republicans tend to stick together." Madeira said. Lemmond and Ridge are known to be pro-abortion advocates. "Next we might hear about her former boss, Senator Jubilier backing her as well."

Lisa Baker, aligning herself with pro-abortion advocates, has also had a hand in taking away gun rights for Pennsylvanians. It has been reported that she assisted in the removal of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Game Commissioner as well as blocking a proposed shooting range on state gamelands in Luzerne County.

The other Republican in the race is Carl Sutton and the lone Democrat is Robert MCNamara.

Local blogger news. Norton is blogging the race at 20th Senatorial. Check it out.

The Senate debate

My friends at PCN Blog (adding to the blogroll) have let me know that we can watch the Senate debate this Saturday:

Bob Casey, Jr., Alan Sandals, and Chuck Pennacchio

PCN will air live coverage of the Senate Democratic Primary Candidates Debate on Saturday, April 8 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

They want to know if anyone will liveblog it, I will decide when I get there.

I watched Alan Sandals on PCN call-in last night and found him to be my kind of guy. Get out of Iraq, National Health Insurance and protecting workers rights. Then Casey spoke to the AFL-CIO and made his case against Santorum. His best line was (pointing out that Ricky votes with Bush all the time) that one of them is not necessary.

It's baseball season

Somethings are more important than politics. The national pastime is back after another long winter. We gathered at Marks Pub for opening day and watched the Phillies get their ass' kicked, ten to nothing in the fourth, dropping the game 13-5. The starting pitcher didn't last past the 4th and Philadelphia fan favorite Scott Rolen hit a grand slam. At least J-Roll kept the streak alive with a double in the 8th.

Lot's on the boob tube tonight

The first baseball game of the season has the the World Champion White Sox taking on the Indians and Mrs. G never misses Desperate Housewives. But it is ELECTION NIGHT on West Wing! If Santos wins will Josh and Donna finally get it on? And the real opening day of baseball is tomorrow, join us at Mark's.

Clean Sweep

DALLAS TOWNSHIP - PACleanSweep visited Luzerne County Friday, supporting some candidates for state office and sweeping others under the rug.

At a rally at the Irem Temple Country Club, the political action committee supported the candidacy of state Senate hopeful Russ Bigus, a republican, and the State Representative bids of Randy Tomasacci and Ed Sieminski.

Every candidate is against the pay raise and a few feel slighted by the organization. They are against it now but we will see what happens when they get to Harrisburg.

John Yudichak (D-119) cries foul:

An anti-pay raise political action committee is supporting a challenger for the only legislator representative in the region who voted against the controversial legislation...."My commitment has existed before CleanSweep ... The most recent pay raise was an opportunity to uphold my principles," Yudichak said. "Not one dime of that pay raise touched my hands."

Cleansweep is in the midst of some sort of civil war.

PAClean Sweep is suffering from a case of political schizophrenia.

Two rival organizations - both bearing the same name - are laying claim to being the springboard for a grass-roots political movement that raised challenges to the incumbencies of legislators across the state. Michele Diehl, a South Greensburg resident, heads one faction and accuses Russ Diamond, founder of the original PAClean Sweep, of selling out the organization by planning to run for governor. She accused him of putting his political plans ahead of the organization's.

"It's a big ego thing," she said.....After becoming involved in PAClean Sweep, Diehl was elected vice chairwoman and began helping to build a statewide organization. Problems developed when the board of directors learned through an e-mail that Diamond was considering running for governor, Diehl said....."We didn't start this organization so he could run for governor," Diehl said.

"We've been treated badly," she said. "We want to clean sweep him."

Jay Sweeney for state representative

I'm surprised Matt didn't point this out. In a previous post I asked why the Green Party doesn't field more local candidates. Maybe they are listening.

CV: The Northeast Pennsylvania Green Party is announcing the candidacy of Falls Township resident Jay Sweeney for state representative in the 111th District on Monday, April 3, at noon in front of the Wyoming County Courthouse in Tunkhannock. Sweeney, a contractor, opposed state Rep. Sandra J. Major, R-111, in the 2004 general election. His platform includes restoring democracy, voting referendums, lobbyist disclosure rules, and his opposition to Keystone Opportunity Zones.

Kathy Scott for Congress

Republican Kathy Scott of Williamsport, Lycoming County, is announcing her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 10th Congressional District. She is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock.

From her website:

I am Kathy Scott, and I am running for Congress in District 10. My opponent, Representative Don Sherwood (Republican-Tunkhannock), has been in office since 1996. As a resident of this district, I feel that I have not been well-served by Don Sherwood. Listed in the table below are some of the reasons why. If you feel as I do, I hope you will vote for me in the May 16th Primary Election on the Republican ticket. As I go door-to-door throughout the thirteen counties in District 10 to meet you, I will not be distributing a fancy, expensive color brochure. I am running on a shoe-string budget and not taking money from PACs (Political Action Committees) or special interest groups to fund this campaign. I don’t want to be indebted to anyone but YOU when I vote on legislation. When I vote, it will be to protect and support your interests and needs.

The Tunkhannock New Age Examiner has an interview with some great quotes:

"The voters out there are very fed up and disgusted with the direction our party and our country are going," Scott said Sunday afternoon. From Pres. George Bush's decision a couple of weeks ago to okay a deal to sell operations of six ports to the Saudi Arabians to a national debt that has gotten bigger in the past five years than it was under all of the 42 previous presidential administrations combined, Scott said, "Something has gone dreadfully wrong. Responsible spending has gone out the window, and our president and Congress are acting like they have a credit card bill which nobody has to pay," Scott said. "Well, we're the ones paying, and our kids and our kids' kids will be paying enormous debt service."

But beyond that, Scott said she truly believes there's an arrogance of many elected officials today who just believe they are above the law. She said she was dumbfounded about one of Sherwood's campaign brochures which touted "integrity" as one of three key ingredients that the congressman believed were his strengths."Here's a man who has admitted that he cheated on his wife for five years and we're to believe he has integrity?" the woman who has been married for 36 years asked."......"He brought dishonor to himself, his family and all of us who helped put him into office, and that's just wrong," she said. "He shouldn't be in office if he's going to live his life that way. The people of this district deserve better."

This will be an interesting test of the discontent with Sherwood. If she holds him to below 70% in the primary he is in trouble with his own party. And I know just the guy to replace him.

20th District race gets hot

ROSS TWP. - A little mischief is to be expected during a hot political campaign, but a recent incident shows just shows how heated the race for the 20th state Senatorial District seat is getting. Someone torched a Russ Bigus sign along state Route 118 in the Sweet Valley section of the township Tuesday night.

Signs are always being stolen during a campaign but this is the first time I remember someone torching one.

The debate went off with surprising little acrimony. The CV write-up emphasizedpropertyt taxes. David Madeira said Act 72 is a disaster and favors eliminating property taxes. Carl Sutton thinks raising the state income tax to 4.5 percent is the way to fund schools. Lisa Baker wants to put school district budgets to a referendum. James Haggerty wants to cut costs. Russ Bigus is in favor of Act 72 and the only Democrat in the race, Robert McNamara, agrees.

Health care costs were also discussed. Madeira felt everyone should pay for his or her own health care, but Baker felt accountability was a better option. She thinks everyone involved, including drug companies, employers, health care providers and patients, should work together to reduce costs. Haggerty believes people need more options so pricing could be more competitive, and Sutton thinks drug companies are spending too much money on advertising. He would like to see pharmaceutical ads banned from television. Bigus, if elected, would immediately order a intensive study on Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. McNamara thinks the burden is on elected officials. He believes that as leaders, they should make it their priority to find ways to cut costs.

Opening day

Jimmy Rollins hit in 36 straight games to end last season. Can he keep it going? And if he hits in another 21 does it break DeMaggio's record?

Some of the questions that will be discussed as we have another get together to celebrate the opening day of baseball.

The fun starts at 1PM when ESPN covers the Red Sox vs. Rangers and the Nats take on the Mets.

The Phils are on at 3PM. Sorry pinstripers you're guys aren't on til almost midnight.

Pope George Ringo has declared an emergency conclave of the the OT Committee and Operatic Society to celebrate this event.

We shall meet at Marks Pub 1287 N Washington St, Wilkes-Barre (map it).

The big news in baseball is the steroid scandal and more and more of the big names are getting caught up in it.






Wade Bloggs gives us some unsettling news about the Phanatic:

Snout of Shadows?

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Barry Bonds isn't the only cartoonish creature thrust into the spotlight by this week's release of Game of Shadows. The Phillie Phanatic is also accused of using performance enhancing substances.

I didn't think he looked right.

Another Monkey is back

D.B. Echo has returned from Ireland with a boatload of great pics at Another Monkey. This is what he was doing there.

His other project is NEPA Blogs and he looking for all local bloggers to link to.

PA bloggers

Adding a few PA political bloggers to my blogroll which appears on the bottom of the page due to technical problems.

Above Average Jane and me have had a great discussion on the use of site-meter. Plus she has great interviews with Philly area candidates and runs a weekly feature on missing people.

Glen at That Liberal Blog covers the national issues.

PSoTD has a thing about cell towers.

120th House District debate set

I got a heads up that there will be a debate between the candidates for the 120th District that is centered on the west side of Luzerne County.

The League of Women Voters have scheduled a debate for April 19th at 7:00 at Wyoming Seminary (Kingston).

I have spent the day trying to get confirmation from the candidates; Republicans Paul J.M. Stebbins Jr, Joe Chacke III and incumbent Democrat Phyllis Mundy. Republican candidate John Cordara doesn't have a website that I know of.


Joe Chacke hasn't got back to me yet, but that's understandable, it's Sunday. Paul Stebbins is in and looking foward to the opportunity to discuss the issues. As I said I don't know how to get a hold of Cordara. Phyllis Mundy had this reply:

I have a long-standing commitment for that evening with the GreaterWilkes-Barre Labor Council. However I look forward to a debate in the fall with the winner of the Republican Primary.


Tomorrows headline in the Times-Leader if I hadn't beat them to it:

Mundy Ducks Debate EXCLUSIVE

Democratic State Committee

GRANTVILLE, Pa.- Gov. Rendell and Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll were endorsed without challenges for second four-year terms.

It was a given that Rapid Edward would get the endorsement since he has no opposition. CBK has the backing of the GUV and the other candidates didn't even contest it. I received 2 interesting press releases from the Valerie McDonald Roberts campaign.

Harrisburg, PA March 25, 2006:

Today at the meeting of the Democratic State Committee candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Valerie McDonald Roberts withdrew her request for endorsement.

McDonald Roberts announced her decision in an impassioned speech before Democratic State Committee Members. She stated:

"This is about choice. Everyone has a god given right to choose and you all as popularly elected party officials have the responsibility as well as the right to choose who would be the best person on the ticket. But to my supporters, I see the agony in your eyes; I see that you know what needs to be done but that doing so will cause you difficulty. I don't want anyone to have to go through any more difficulties here on my behalf. So I am going to withdraw name from consideration from endorsement.

Yesterday she received the endorsement of the PA chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women)

Harrisburg, PA March 25—The Pennsylvanian National Organization for Women endorsed Valerie McDonald Roberts last night during the candidate's reception at the Democratic State Committee meeting in Harrisburg.

A statement from PA NOW PAC stated, "Valerie McDonald Roberts is the epitome of what we would want an elected representative to be. Her service demonstrates the feasibility of our requirements for candidates we support"......According to the Women's Institute for Policy research Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom for percentage of women in elected office as well as for political participation overall. Pennsylvania also ranks poorly for women’s reproductive health and in several other key indicators. McDonald Roberts is committed to seeing the standing of women in Pennsylvania improve and to working towards a more inclusive and responsive state government.

The other candidates are Gene Stilp, a citizen activist with a really neat big pig and William A. Hall III, a political newcomer from Northampton County.

Joke time

BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DESTROYED BY FLOOD

Crawford, Texas -- A tragic flood this morning destroyed the personal library of President George W. Bush.

The flood began in the bathroom where both books were kept.
Both of the books are now lost. A White House spokesman
said the President was devastated as he had almost finished
coloring the second one.

The White House tried to call FEMA but there was no answer.

20th Senate District roundup

As predicted State Sen. Charles Lemmond has endorsed his former aide Lisa Baker as his successor.

And the other candidates are not happy about it.

Baker opponent Russ Bigus was angered by Lemmond's endorsement, saying the incumbent should have stayed neutral.

"If he is going to support her, it puts her in the status of an incumbent," Bigus said. "I don't think we need any more Harrisburg insiders in our state."

Another Baker opponent, Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty, claimed Baker's upcoming fund-raisers with former Gov. Tom Ridge prove Baker is "a Harrisburg insider" who is "out of touch." Ridge plans to attend Baker fund-raiser on Monday.

Last week Haggerty blasted her list of accomplishments.

On her campaign Web site, Baker touts a long list of accomplishments when she was a top aide for former Govs. Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker and state Sen. Charles Lemmond, who 'sn’t seeking re-election as the state senator of the 20th District.
Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty, one of four Republicans running for the seat, said "it’s silly and a disservice" for Baker to take credit for others' accomplishments.
"She has no record of her own," Haggerty said. "The voters are entitled to a list of Lisa Baker's government accomplishments, not Tom Ridge's, not the legislature's, not things she attended ribbon cuttings for."

TL columnist Casey Jones has picked his early favorite in the race:

I had to choose today I'd go with Carl Sutton for state Senate. That's a decision based entirely on his occupation. Sutton is a psychotherapist. Having a psychotherapist on the floor could only help. Say the Senate was about to vote themselves a big pay raise. That’s where Sutton would come in handy.

"Fellow senators," he would say, rising to his feet. "You’re out of your minds."

I can guess who will be the primary target in the upcoming debate at College Misericordia March 29, 7 p.m.

The other candidates are Republican David Madeira, Dallas and Democrat Robert McNamara, Susquehanna.

Bill Fitz has a great rundown of the mechanics of the race at My Take.

Scientology?

WILKES-BARRE-A political phone poll making the rounds asks specifically whether a candidate's belief in Scientology would sway the respondent at the polls. One participant said the pollster identified the polling company as Community Research Group, but refused to divulge who commissioned the poll.....Democratic state representative contender Brian O'Donnell says he is an active, practicing Catholic and is disturbed about talk questioning his faith.

None of the five candidates battling for Blaum's seat has claimed ownership of the poll that asks about Scientology, among other questions. The other four also say they are practicing Catholics.
O'Donnell wouldn't confirm or deny launching the poll, saying he's not going to divulge his campaign strategy and doesn't believe other candidates will either.

It sure sounds like a push poll with questions asked after information was provided about some of the candidates. The interviewer pointed out Bob Reilly's employee problems, Eddie Pashinski's pension and said nice things about O'Donnell. If O'Donnell is a Scientologist maybe Tom Cruise or Isaac Hays will come to town to campaign for him.

One newspaper town

Wilkes-Barre is one of only a handful of cities in the US that has 2 daily papers. That may end soon. Who likes that idea?

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, with his national perspective, might be tempted to shrug his shoulders and say, "It happens." That's the direction of the newspaper industry anyway, as he sees it, and, besides, it could bring one positive result - more upbeat news.
In two-paper towns, he said, "There's a little more encouragement to spark stories out of conflict, and sometimes that isn't always the best thing." One-paper town Scranton's "general tone of news is supportive."
"That's healthy," he said. "That's important."

I guess it's supportive if the paper doesn't look at you in a critical way. If the paper only prints your press releases you will be happy with them. So Kanjo is happy with the Citizens Voice but not the Times-Leader.

McClatchy Co. Announced plans last week to buy all 32 Knight Ridder newspapers and quickly resell 12 of them, including the Times Leader. That raised speculation that Scranton-based Times-Shamrock Communications, owner of The citizen's Voice, would purchase the Times Leader and close one of the city's papers.

We're screwed folks. If at the end of this is we have only one newspaper our information will dry up. Having 2 newspapers is a treasure that will not be appreciated until we have only one.

Another one knocked off the ballot

HARRISBURG - Dallas Mayor Tim Carroll has been tossed off the Republican primary ballot in the 117th House District after a judge found he failed to disclose information on his candidate filing about other positions he holds.

Another contender in the race, Republican James May, was removed from the ballot by court order on Tuesday after he was faulted for filing incomplete election paperwork. In both cases, the court deemed the omissions to be "fatal defects" to the respective candidacies.

I hope they both appeal. If you read the story they should both have had a chance to amend the financial forms. It's not like they were trying to hide significant income. On the other hand, if you can't fill out the forms properly, what kind of state rep will you be?