Election results 2017- Municipal races

Some selected results from some down ballot races that I had an interest in because friends of mine were in the running. Spoiler alert, most of them lost. Sometimes I feel like the black cat of politics.

John Cordora at Blogfest

Longtime Kingston resident John Cordora ran for for Mayor of Luzerne as a Democrat. John has been a Republican candidate for State Rep and Mayor of Kingston. I always found him to one of the more entertaining people on the local political scene. He was always a good sport taking my snark in stride even when I said he resembles Vincent Price.

James Keller (R)  280
                                                          John Cordora (D)  235

Luzerne County Young Republican Prez John Lombardo  made his first run for elective office as a candidate for the Pittston Area School Board. It was just a matter of time before we saw his name on the ballot and it won't be the last. He's been a guest blogger on Gort42.   John is a lot like the young Gort becoming a political junkie at a young age.  He ran a great race and came close.

Joseph Salvo (DEM)		2,714
John Lombardo (REP)		2,384

 Keep an eye on what goes on in Kingston Township in the near future. I predict they are heading for  all sorts of legal challenges involving sunshine law violations and of conflicts of interest. The winning candidate is the son of of one of the present Supervisors who works for the township  road
Department.

Liz Martin has been a hard working public servant who deserved reelection.

Robert Wagner (R)  841
Liz Martin (D)         774

Now he thinks he is Boss Tweed

I have to like John Cordora because he is a Blogger's dream. Cordora is like our own local version of Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann.
If you want someone to say something that is bat shit crazy he is your guy.

In 2006 he won the Republican nomination for State Rep in the 120th District. He ran a stealth campaign and came out ahead of 2 very attractive candidates. In the general election against Phyllis Mundy he got blown out and then blamed his loss on Lynette Villano and the Luzerne County GOP. His top issue was gay marriage.

In a news release, Cordora also attacked Mundy for supporting "abortion on demand, higher taxes, gay marriage and all the other liberal garbage."

In the recent primary election he was a Republican candidate for Mayor of Kingston saying he had a secret plan to prevent crime. It had something to do with putting a large spotlight on top of the new fire station on Wyoming Ave. that projects the image of a winged mammal that calls a Caped Crusader into action. He claimed to have visited thousands of homes in Kingston and found agreement that Jim Haggerty was a lousy Mayor. On election day he got a whopping 254 votes.


Now he is backing the Democrats.

TL: “I’m going to make sure I deliver at least 500 votes to (mayoral candidate Stephen) Radzinski and (council candidates) Barry Adams and Curt Piazza,” said Cordora.

Let's do the math. He gets 254 votes in a town that is still leading in Republican registration and then promises 500 votes for the Dems after he gets clobbered in the primary.

Everytime I hear someone say our problems in Luzerne County are a result of voting in Democrats all the time I think of him. I agree that one party dominance is not healthy but our local R's have to recruit some serious candidates



More John Cordora fun is in my archives.

Cordora backs Mullen

Most endorsements are good for a press release then forgotten the next day. This one isn't even worth a release but I got one from Tim Mullen anyway. I know the Libertarian candidate in the 120th State House district has a big hill to climb to even get on the November ballot and welcomes support from anyone but this one should have been quietly accepted then ignored.


I got this email: After several talks with him, it is pretty much official. John Cordora, Republican from Kingston, who was Phyllis Mundy's last opponent in 2006 has endorsed me. http://www.timesleader.com/opinion/letters/MAIL_BAG__ensp_LETTERS_FROM_READERS_06-14-2010.html I will continue to personally contact as many elected officials in this district as possible to win their support.

Yes, Cordora ran against Phyllis Mundy in 2006 but he got blown out of the water losing the election by a 3 to 1 margin. His top issues in that race was his opposition to gay marriage and abortion and "all the other liberal garbage." From what I have been reading the Libertarians favor gay marriage and think the Government should be kept out of the matter of abortion.

Last year he ran for Mayor of Kingston with a secret plan to prevent crime and despite his claim that he had visited thousands of homes whose residents agreed that Jim Haggerty should be replaced he only pulled 254 votes in the Republican primary. He then backed the Democrat in the race promising to deliver 500 votes. That didn't happen and Haggerty was easily reelected.

I actually like Cordora because he is good copy but I would never want him to get anywhere near an elective office. Mullen is an outsider and should quit wasting his time trying to get endorsements from failed candidates and elected officials who will just blow him off.

Bill Goldsworthy is the Republican candidate.

Some thank you's

First Paul Stebbins :

"A Campaign Reflection"

First I would like to Congratulate John C. Cordora for his victory in the 120th District Republican Primary. Second, I would also like to congratulate Joe Chacke III for his showing also. It was an honor to be a part of this race. They always say hindsight is 20/20 and it really is. The armchair quarterbacking on the Wednesday after elections has probably already begun. I want the 1089 supporters that voted for me to know that your support was greatly appreciated. I also want you to know that this is not the end of the road. My volunteers and I put our hearts out there in this race. There isn't a better group of volunteers that I could have found. I want to thank them for their hardwork. It's always toughest to write your feelings after an election (if you lost). I want people to know that I have my head held high and a smile on my face. There aren't too many 26- year- old candidates in state races that gather 1089 votes (24%). The message was out there and 1089 people believed. I want John C. Cordora to know that I look forward to helping him in his quest to defeat Phyllis Mundy. I want you all to know that I am greatly appreciative for your support. I will see you again.


Joe Chacke:

Unfortunately yesterday I was unsucessful in my bid for the Republican
Nomination for State Representative. We had a strong 2nd place showing,
but that provides little consolation. Congratulations to Mr. Cordora.
I also want to thank the voters of Forty Fort where I received an
overwhelming majority of the vote. At most polling locations in Forty
Fort I received 80-85% of the vote. Unfortunately, At almost all
Kingston polls I came in 2nd to Cordora. I guess the residents of
Kingston preferred a hometown guy and never really considered the
issues. I wish Mr. Cordora well, but I cannot support his candidacy
because we just disagree on too many issues. Maybe a third
party candidate will pop up. If not, I look forward to working with
Representative Mundy for two more years. Also, best wishes
to Paul Stebbins who did well.

Who's running for what?-Mayor of Kingston

The TL has some announcements.

Jim Haggerty is running for reelection saying "The future of our community is as bright as ever.” He will probably cruise to another term in the job that he has held since 1998. He has basics down, the trash is picked up on time and the streets are plowed when it snows. The police force is professionally run and he has partnered with Edwardsville to provide better fire protection and ambulance service.


Haggerty is also running for the Luzerne County Government Study Commission. He told me that he can contribute to the study because he is the Mayor of a home rule municipality and would bring the nuts and bolts experience of governing to the formation of the new charter. He also predicted that Home Rule would win this time.

Mayor Jim has 2 opponents in the GOP primary, Jeanne Shuella and John Cordora. I don't know anything about Shuella but Cordora rings a bell. He said the centerpiece of his campaign will be the lack of crime prevention in Kingston. “I have a common sense, aggressive plan to reduce crime in Kingston and I only want one term as mayor to prove it.” If someone can figure out how to prevent crime they should patent the process and sell it.


Cordora ran for State Rep against Phyllis Mundy in 2006 and got trounced. Then his "centerpiece" was his opposition to gay marriage and the pay raise. For most of the campaign he was the invisible man and when he did raise his head he attacked Mundy for supporting "abortion on demand, higher taxes, gay marriage and all the other liberal garbage." I think he listens to too much talk radio. After the election he blamed his loss on Lynette Villano and the dysfunctional Luzerne County Republican Party.

There are 2 Democrats running for Mayor of Kingston, Curt Piazza and Stephen Radinski.

The future of the Luzerne County GOP

“There was no backing from the local Republican party. The one thing the Luzerne County Republican Party needs to do is to get rid of Lynette Villano or there’s not going to be a Republican Party here in this county.”- John Cordora

I could dismiss Cordora's comment as sour grapes from a candidate that just got clobbered if I hadn't heard it before. Just as I think it's unhealthy for one party to control the national government it's not good that the local Republican Party is so inept. It's not only that they can't recruit candidates for many elections but when a good person decides to run for office they're on their own. It seems that the local Republicans are so used to losing to the Democrats that they don't even try. When one party controls the levers of government for a long time without serious challenge it's just asking for trouble. Yes, I'm a Democrat but before that I'm a citizen that wants good government. An effective opposition is essential at all levels of government. It's not fair to blame years of incompetence on one person but after reading Villano's comment below I think Cordora may have a point.

“I think people would settle back, enjoy the holidays, eat turkey and then start focusing. Two years is a political lifetime.”-Lynette Villano, chairwoman of the Luzerne County Republican Party, said she isn’t thinking that far ahead.

I feel cheated

CV: Because of prior commitments, state Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, and her challenger John Cordora in the 120th District, and Karen Boback, R and Fred Nichols, D, contenders for the open state representative seat in the 117th district, could not be available.

No debate between Mundy and Cordora. What entertainment that promised to be. When Cordora announced he was running he said his top priority, if elected, would be banning gay marriage. Like that's a problem. Other press reports quote him as saying the problems in our country and state are caused by liberals and leftists. I've never met the man and was looking forward to seeing him in action. How did this guy ever get nominated when voters of the 120th had 2 sensible candidates in Joe Chacke and Paul Stebbins?

120th District results

Cordora , John GOP 2,319 47.40 %

Chacke , Joe GOP 1,484 30.34 %

Stebbins , Paul GOP 1,089 22.26 %

TL: “Phyllis Mundy will face the strongest challenge of her career,” Cordora said Tuesday night.
Mundy was unopposed for her party’s nomination.
Cordora entered the fray in July, buoyed by widespread public outrage about legislative pay raises. Mundy was among the lawmakers who voted to increase their own salaries between 16 and 34 percent. The raises were later repealed.
But, Cordora says their differences go much deeper.
“I’m pro-life, and anti-gay marriage. I’m a real Ronald Reagan Republican,” he said. “Phyllis Mundy is a self-serving liberal who has become out of touch with the mainstream of her constituents.”
Cordora said he’s confident the other Republican candidates will back him.

Phyllis responds: Known for her battles with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Mundy plans to fight to keep the seat.“I have always found that a campaign is a good time to reflect on what I have accomplished and what I want to accomplish in the next term. A campaign every other year also keeps me close to the people I represent,” Mundy said. “My little army of volunteers and I are looking forward to a vigorous campaign. I have worked very hard and accomplished a great deal both here at home and in Harrisburg. The campaign will give us an opportunity to highlight those achievements. We know how to win. We have done this many times before. ““And I am looking forward to an in-depth discussion of the issues and challenges facing my constituents, the district and the region,” Mundy said.

This Cordora guy is something. Abortion, gay marriage, the ghost of St. Ronnie and yell liberal at your opponent. It sounds like he listens to too much talk radio. As far as having the backing of his opponents, he should read Joe Chacke's website.

Goldsworthy taking on Phyllis in 120th

As first reported by Sights on Pennsylvania West Pittston Mayor Bill Goldsworthy will seek the Republican nomination to take on long time Democratic State Rep Phyllis Mundy in the 120th District that includes a big chunk of the west side of Luzerne County.


Mundy was unopposed in 2008 and faced token opposition from one of my favorite local cranks and talk radio fan John Cordora in 2006. After losing the GOP primary last year for Mayor of Kingston to Jim Haggerty on a platform of having a secret plan to fight crime Cordora backed the Democrat in the General Election. Now he is writing letters to the editor supporting Dave Madeira's bid for Congress.

Goldsworthy has been Mayor of West Pittston for a long time and won reelection last year by 280 votes. He is not happy about the latest budget debacle in Harrisburg because it hurt senior citizens and children's programs. “Many people served by these agencies were harmed.” He sounds like a compassionate conservative.

Then there is ambition “I will enter the race,” Goldsworthy said Thursday. “I’ve always considered running for state representative, but after the travesty of this past year, well, it just put me over the edge.”...“I just feel the time has come for me to run for this office.”

Phyllis welcomes the challenge

“I will run on my record and my dedicated service to my constituents,” she said. “I’ve always been very issue-oriented; I will continue to fight for the best interests of my district. I think if you ask any average citizen, they will tell you they are pleased with my record.”

Mundy has been a long time thorn in the side of Blue Cross and a champion of senior citizens.

There is a rumor that another Republican may get into the race. I hope so because this is a political blog that hates uncontested elections. Give me a horse race.

Pointing fingers

"We need somebody in the Republican party that’s going to work for the Republicans ...she is controlled by the Democrats. She is the wrong person for the job. She has done nothing to help the party with fundraising. All of the candidates are forced to fend for themselves.”-
MINORITY COMMISSIONER Steve Urban

It seems like I do this post after every local election.

This time Steve Urban called for Villano's head and last year it was State Rep loser John Cordora saying “There was no backing from the local Republican party. The one thing the Luzerne County Republican Party needs to do is to get rid of Lynette Villano or there’s not going to be a Republican Party here in this county.”

From what I hear the local GOP organization resembles a collection of nerdy high school cliques that are getting bullied by the cool kids and will take whatever crumbs fall off the table. The TL has Bruce Phillips and John Rodgers pointing out that the party doesn’t have its act together. They can't raise money even though wealthy Republicans in the county regularly give to state and federal candidates. But many of them also contribute to the local Dems because they are smart business people who know that there isn't much chance of a Republican winning anything and want to influence the decision makers. At the GOP dinner the hostility to Urban and Walter Griffiths wasn't even masked and I've been told that Christine Katsock was working the polls for Tom Leighton. What a bunch.

The 6th District Republicans (W-B and surroundings) have a website that has a fundraiser listed and also asks that you take your aluminum cans to Bielecki's junkyard and donate the proceeds to the cause. They can have the money from my cans if they pick them up and cash them in, I'm not dealing with the zoo at the junkyard and I would just like to get rid of them. I think it's a creative fundraising technique, maybe next they will ask for people to donate their leftover food stamps.

“I think everybody should calm down. I don’t think we should make decisions in frustration or anger” -Luzerne County Republican Chairwoman Lynette Villano

John Cordora has a website

Just in time for Halloween 120th District Republican candidate John Corora has joined the internet age. He is running hard on the pay raise that Phyllis Mundy voted for.

During my political involvement as a non-paid activist over the years I have never heard the outcry for change as I have in this year's statewide races.

My opponent, incumbent Phyllis Mundy, was one of the state legislators who voted in favor of the largest self-pay raise in state history, a 16-34% increase.

Speaking of Halloween. Does he resemble Vincent Price?

State legislature debates set

WILKES-BARRE – A public debate between Christine Katsock and Eddie Day Pashinski, the respective Republican and Democratic candidates running for the 121st Legislative District, is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at King’s College Burke Auditorium.

The following public forums, all of which begin at 7 p.m., are slated for next month:

• Oct. 5, Maureen Tatu and Michael Carroll, running for the 118th Legislative District, will
debate at the Pittston High School Auditorium in Yatesville.

• Oct. 12, state Rep. Phyllis Mundy and John Cordora, running for the 120th Legislative District, will debate at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston.

• Oct. 17, Karen Boback and Fred Nichols, running for the 117th Legislative District, will debate at Penn State’s Hayfield House in Lehman.

• Oct. 19, Lisa Baker and Robert J. McNamara, running for the 20th Senatorial District, will debate at College Misericordia.

• Oct. 26, state Rep. John Yudichak and Ed Sieminski, running for the 119th Legislative District, will debate at Luzerne County Community College’s Conference Center in Nanticoke.

Looking to the fall: State Rep 120th District

I was going to a roundup of the 3 competitive Luzerne County state rep races in one post but decided to address them individually. Since I started blogging I think I have given more ink (ether, pixels) to state rep races than any other local blogger and maybe as much space as the local papers.I always cover the underdogs in these races.

At a rally that  Phyllis Mundy recently hosted for him our next likely Congressman Matt Cartwright said ""Phyllis is a giant in the Democratic Party." So that raises the question can Republican Aaron Kaufer be a giant killer? Probably not but that is why we have elections.

In the recent primary election with an abysmal turnout Mundy got 4210 votes to Kaufer's 2917. In the 2010 primary she gathered 5400 to Republican West Pittston mayor Bill Goldsworthy 3223.The General Election results returned Phylis to Harrisburg  in the very Republican/Tea Party year of  2010 winning a solid 53% 10,153, to Goldsworthy's 6154 32% with Libertarian Tim Mullen mounting a valiant effort finishing with 2858 15%.

Looking at the campaign finance reports on the PA Department of State Mundy is way out in front with $48,000 cash on hand to Kaufer's $3300. Mundy raised $21K since the beginning of the year adding to the balance carried over. Kaufer snagged $6375in contributions  which is a surprise. One item on Kaufer's CFR that piqued my interest was this in-kind contribution from Sheldon Kaufer of $6000. It is described as Office rent for Jan., Feb.,March 2012. Who get's 2 grand a month for office space around here?

I like Aaron and you all know that Phyllis is one of my top 5 legislators.

Below are a few challengers that Phyllis has vanquished in the past and may in the future

L to R

Bill James, Aaron Kaufer, Rick Arnold ( another district), Tim Mullen, Bill Goldsworthy, John Cordora

The Great PoliWizard predicts

This is great. Keep them coming!



The Great PoliWizard predicts...

In the 117th... Karen Boback

Boback has all but sealed this victory up for herself. Come to think of it isn't her opponent the same guy who posed with a gun for a personal ad? If he had used the picture for gun rights ads he would have stood a better chance. Boback 68%-32%

In the 118th ... Mike Carroll

Carroll has political experience in the General Assembly already as one of the most well-liked representative's (Yudichak) Chief-Of-Staff. I have heard Carroll speak and the truth is that he seems very genuine and that will go a long way. Add the fact that Bobbuine wasn't the Republican's nominee and Luzerne County will vote to keep the seat here in our county.
Carroll 57%-43%

In the 119th... John Yudichak

John Yudichak is an up-and-comer. The sad prediction is that he will not follow Kanjorski as the next congressman but that it may be some Democrat from Scranton ( people are trying to get their own McDade once again). Yudichak's opponent Ed Sieminski just hasn't done enough to get himself elected. He is going against a loved commodity in Nanticoke. The people of Nanticoke have pretty much named Yudichak "The Guy," even over their beloved Kanjo. Yudichak 65%-35%

In the 120th... Phyllis Mundy

Mundy will win, not because she deserves to but because her challenger hasn't done enough to make himself known. This year was an all-time low for Mundy's yardsigns but her opponent has none. If you hope to knock off a flawed incumbent you need to do more than scream about pay raises in the 120th. You need real plans and the ability to go door to door which hasn't been seen from John C.Cordora. Joe Chacke would have been a better choice in terms of what he could have done if he had won the primary. Despite the worst record in our area, Mundy survives for two more years. Mundy 60%-40%

In the 121st... Christine Katsock


Despite what Eddie Day has done in the Democratic Primary, his road ends November 7th. Christine Katsock is the "Lovable Loser," Someone who dared to take on Rep. Blaum and current Mayor Leighton. In case people have forgotten, Katsock lost to Leighton in a highly Democrat Wilkes-Barre by six hundred votes. Throw in Wilkes-Barre Twp. and some surrounding areas that are Republican and this is the closest race in terms of margin in the area. Katsock 51-49%

In the Senate 20th... Lisa Baker

Baker won this when she won the primary. McNamara is a worthy candidate but the geographics of the 20th District don't work in his favor. Baker 67% Mcnamara 33%

In the Congressional 10th... Chris Carney

Enjoy the seat for two years Congressman Carney. The fact that Sherwood strangled a woman and had extramarital activities is the only reason you are alive in the 10th District race. In two years the Republicans will put up a new candidate who will appeal to Republicans again. I will be very disappointed if Sherwood wins. Carney 57-43%

In the Congressional 11th... Joe Leonardi

It's just that Joe has worked so very hard on a budget that wouldn't buy a used Yugo. Kanjo's 9 million dollar blunder was enough to turn voters off but will Leonardi reach those voters? Leonardi has offered up proposals and ideas and should win, if he doesn't it will be because of name recognition and I for one will never donate to the NRCC ever again. 52-48%

In the U.S. Senate Race... Santorum

Everyone looks at polls. Polls are as good as toilet paper, you can use them for the same purpose the next day. I for one have never been polled. The only poll that matters is the one on November 8th. I believe the people of Pa. will realize when in the booth that Sen. Santorum is poised to become the second ranking Republican in the Senate. That's a lot of pork and that is why on Nov. 7th , the people will push those great new machines for Sen. Santorum. If Bob Casey ran against Specter I'd vote for him in a heartbeat (at least we'd have two somewhat conservative senators) 52-48%

Gov. Race... Ed Rendell

Swann just came on to late and this hurt him. I believe he is the lesser of two evils but the fact is that Rendell is a lot like Clinton, very lovable even with all his flaws. There is something about how we love politicians who can chuck down a greasy cheese steak without even blinking. Swann would have had more credibility in this area if instead of debating Rendell he challenged him to a Januzzi Wings eating contest and won. Rendell 56-44%

120th District

The hands down choice is Phyllis Mundy. I'll forgive her vote for the pay raise because the west side of the Wyoming Valley has been well represented since 1990. Like every incumbent she has brought home the bacon but her claim to fame is her knowledge of health care issues. She doesn't buy into the simplistic "blame the lawyers" BS but offers real solutions such as working to reduce medical errors. The people I know at Blue Cross consider her a total pain in the ass because of her attention to business practices of the insurance industry, I like that. Yes, Blue Cross is a "non-profit" but running up big surpluses, paying the executives enormous bonuses and treating their workers like shit deserves some scrutiny. Her opponent John Cordora can't be taken seriously. Yes he has a point about the pay raise but that can't be all your about. His other issues are gay marriage and yelling liberal. Phyllis will win big, 65%+.

120th debate

John Cordora didn't show up. I got distracted and missed this one.

KINGSTON-.....Paul Stebbins Jr. and Joe Chacke, seemed to not care who won the primary, just as long as somebody topples Mundy in November. "I'm just in this because we're not getting what we deserve in Harrisburg," said Chacke, who repeatedly criticized Mundy during the debate. "I think this is the race that's sailing under the radar," said Stebbins. "She thinks she"s already won."

Phyllis Mundy gets a challenger

The pay raise furor has inspired one person to take on a long time incumbent. The TL has the story:

Kingston man is planning to run in the Republican primary election for state Rep. Phyllis Mundy's seat. John C. Cordora, a freelance business broker, said he will officially announce his candidacy Tuesday. Mundy, D-Kingston, was first elected to serve the 120th Legislative District in 1990 and was unopposed in her last election in 2004.

Cordora said his decision to run for the state House of Representatives was ignited by Mundy's support of last year's controversial pay-raise legislation. State legislators increased their pay by 16-34 percent before repealing the legislation in November in response to mounting public anger.

This is good news as I hate unopposed elections. This seat has been traditionally Republican until Mundy beat a crook in 1990 to put in the Democratic column. She had a couple of strong challengers in 1992 and 1994 but has been winning ever since. She was not even opposed last time and beat the Republican candidates by 5000 votes in 2002 and 2000. Her constituent service has been outstanding and her well publicized battles with Blue Cross have put her on the side of the little guy. Her reaction to the news of an opponent is typically classy:

"I look forward to an in-depth discussion of all the issues. We are elected, not coronated. I understand I face the electorate every other year. If you look at my record, it has been to protect and serve the average person in my district."

Her new opponent sounds like he listens to to much talk radio:

In a news release, Cordora also attacked Mundy for supporting "abortion on demand, higher taxes, gay marriage and all the other liberal garbage."

State House news

Political Notes returns to the CV with an update on the activities of a few state house candidates.


Republican Karen Boback is having a get together to support her quest to become the next representative from the 117th district to succeed George Hasay. Her opponent is Democrat Fred Nichols (no website).




John C. Cordora (no website), Republican candidate for state representative in the 120th district continues his uphill struggle to unseat Democrat Phyllis Mundy. So if you want to hear someone yell liberal and leftist and sound like a transcript of the Rush Windbag show this is a must.




A safety summit, hosted by the Christine Katsock(no website, anybody see a pattern here) for State Representative committee, will be held Sunday, Sept. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Cafe on Route 315 in Plains Township. Her opponent for the 121st district seat held by the retiring Kevin Blaum is Democrat Eddie Day Pashinski.


A note. The absence of a website shows a lack of understanding of how politics is evolving. I got a campaign flyer from Christine a few weeks ago that listed one but I can't find it.

Who will take on Phyllis?

The TL highlighted the 120th District race on Saturday. The candidates are:

Joe Chacke

John C. Cordora

Paul J.M. Stebbins

Who will/would you vote for? The order of finish and the point spread.

New GOP candidate in the 120th District

In a first for this site a local candidate has informed me of his intention to run for office before it appears in the papers or on any other website. I guess you would call that a scoop.

Paul Stebbins Jr.from West Pittston will enter the Republican primary for the seat held by Democrat Phyllis Mundy. He is the third announced GOP contender joining Forty Fort Borough Council President Joe Chacke and Kingston businessman John C. Cordora in the race. This is a comment he left on an earlier post:

This is a very interesting forum. I would like people to know that this week I have announced that I will be running as a Republican candidate for the seat of State Representative. You can view my page at StebbinsForPA.blogspot.com I feel that I have what the citizens of this great district are looking for. My issues and personal info are located on my page. Feel free to drop by. I look forward to the Primaries. The first thing people need to realize though is that 300 is a lot of signatures. You really need good volunteers and inter-personal skills. I wouldn't say that there are 3 or 4 candidates yet.

The title of his site is 120th District "Leadership for a Change". In his first post he gives some bio info and lays out his platform putting education as his first priority. He also covers crime, property taxes and the the state of middle-class Pennsylvanians .