Luzerne County Council candidates

Harry Haas (R) will be running for another term and will have a meet and greet at Rondano"s Thursday February 28'th from 6 to 7:30 P.M.

Linda McClosky Houck(D) is in for another term.  Elaine Maddon Curry(D) has had enough and will not seek reelection.. Eugene Kelleher (R) will run for reelection. Democrats Eileen Sorokas and Renee Ciaruffoli-Taffera said they  will run for county council. Republicans Kathy Dobash and Alex Milanes are also mounting campaigns.

Renee Ciaruffoli-Taffera for Luzerne County Council

Larksville resident Renee Ciaruffoli-Taffera is the first candidate to announce a bid for Luzerne County Council. CV: She was an active member of the "Friends of Home Rule" campaign committee and aggressively campaigned for the successful adoption of the charter. Since then, she has attended and participated in more than 160 meetings and forum events.

 She has been a regular at council meetings raising concerns about the prison K-9 unit and advised that the county should ignore the Affordable Care Act until it's fully implemented in 2014.

On her website Renee4council.com she lists 45 cost savings ideas.

Some highlights:

3.     Consider abolishing flood authority, bring in-house reduced redundant operations

6.     Re-negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreements like we mean it.

8.     Consider outsourcing functions through attrition  

17.   Eliminate Passport Office, it's a Federal mandated function, not County (not a profit center)

19.   Lease moon lake pool to a for-profit organization (get a piece of the action)

 24.   Scrutinize KOZ’s

 29.   Have employees pay a greater share of health benefits.

 37.   Eliminate monthly fee for Kronos system and get rid of it all together. 

 44.   Stop monetizing delinquent tax claims

She is running for a Democratic nomination.

A toilet on a candidate's website might be a first. 

5 seats on the Luzerne County Council are spot are up for reelection next year. Democrats Elaine Madden Curry and Linda McClosky Houck and Republicans Harry Haas and Eugene Kelleher along with Independent Rick Williams were the bottom 5 of 11 elected in 2009 so their seats are up this time. The other 6 seats will be decided in 2015.

Luzerne County Councillors running for reelection

5 seats on the Luzerne County Council and the Controller's spot are up for reelection next year. Democrats Elaine Madden Curry and Linda McClosky Houck and Republicans Harry Haas and Eugene Kelleher along with Independent Rick Williams were the bottom 5 of 11 elected in 2009 so their seats are up this time. The other 6 seats will be decided in 2015.

In this story by Jennifer Learn Andes in the TL none of them definitely said they will run again but they all sound like candidates. The new form of government is a work in progress and except for 2 members the council seem to be trying to make it work. It will take a few more years to iron out all the kinks and these people want it to work.

This time around we will see plenty of candidates starting to circulate petitions starting Feb. 19th but fewer 3rd party and independent bids.

Republican candidate in 2011 Kathy Dobash sent this along:

I have gone to many Luzerne County Council meetings throughout the year, made comments and it resulted with a lack of response.

 

I remember a contingent of elderly veterans came to the Luzerne County Council meeting and had to wait over 3 hours before given an opportunity to speak because Mr. Bobeck refused to place them on the agenda.

Many left because of their age and I still recall the words: "Shame on you!"

 

The 2012 budget contained a tax increase.  Was it really necessary?  The 2013 budget gave a $1,000 bonus for non union employees.

 

Mr. Lawton was late presenting the 2013 budget and did not comply with the Home Rule Charter.  The 2013 budget revenues are questionable.  It is highly likely the revenue will not materialize without future borrowing.  I have seen Mr. Lawton keep County Council members in the dark about issues facing Luzerne County.  Updates must be provided by the County Manager on County business as required by the Home Rule Charter.  Why is the Charter ignored?

 

Throughout the year there was much discussion about the County debt, however the majority of Council has continued to spend Bond money without a plan.  Many Council members complain about the County debt but foolishly spend over $30 million of Bond money left over by previous administration.  They raised taxes and gave out bonuses. This sounds like tax the people and spend their money to me.

 

I will continue to attend Luzerne County Council meetings in 2013.  I will question our County officials on issues important to the residents of Luzerne County.

 

Happy New Year to the all citizens of Luzerne County,

 

Kathy Dobash

Hazleton, PA

2013 Luzerne County elections

5 seats on the Luzerne County Council and the Controller's spot are up for reelection next year. Democrats Elaine Madden Curry and Linda McClosky Houck and Republicans Harry Haas and Eugene Kelleher along with Independent Rick Williams were the bottom 5 of 11 elected in 2009 so their seats are up this time. The other 6 seats will be decided in 2015. I haven't heard that any of them are planning to run again or bow out but it's early and I'm sure there will plenty of candidates in the primary on both sides. I can think of a few people that came up short last time that will give it another try and a few others are making some noise.

Controller Walter Griffith told me he is definitely running for reelection and I don't see anyone taking him on in the Republican primary but anything can happen. Walter has taken some criticism over audits but I would argue that he is still the most popular politician in the county because he continues to be a pain in the ass. His 2009 Democratic opponent Bob Morgan said he is not looking for a rematch but I've seen him at all sorts of political gatherings the last few months. People change their minds. The other candidate in 2009 was Wil Toole of Pittston who can't be counted out. Former Commissioner Steve Urban is also threatening to run.