Yuddy pick-a-nick 2016

State Senator John Yudichak had his annual get together at the PAV in Plains today. Local labor unions sponsored the event . Many candidates running for election this year and in the the future  showed up.


Yuddy  actually made some news. He told me he favors legalizing Marijuana.

One statewide candidate made an appearance. Joe Torsella wants to be the next Treasurer of the Commonwealth.

Joe with Bob Caruso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The State Rep candidates are sticking together.

Maureen Maden, Yuddy, some guy and Bob caption

 And my pal Michelle  with Mrs. G

More pics at my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/gort.fortytwo?hc_ref=NEWSFEEDhttps://www.facebook.com/gort.fortytwo?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

Predictions: Home Rule Yes and some state legislature races

I have been doing an informal survey of office holders, fellow bloggers and other political watchers over the last few days and we pretty much agree on the following races.

The Luzerne County Home Rule Charter will win big. Unlike 2003 there has not been a very organized effort against it and people are so fed up with what has been going on for years that just has recently been exposed that they are willing to take a chance on another form of government. The charter is not perfect but the biggest objections about an elected county executive and council elections by district can be addressed in 5 years by amendment instead of going through the whole process of electing another commission and writing another charter.


The PA 14th Senate race will be won by John Yudichack(D). The district has an overwhelming Democratic registration and Yuddy has been a good state rep. I like Steve Urban (R) and think he has been a good county commissioner. The Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers will eat into his vote but even if she wasn't in this Yudichack would still win big.

In the 118th State Rep District incumbent Mike Carroll (D) will be returned for another term.
Carroll has pleasantly surprised me with his desire to overhaul the campaign finance laws (there aren't many) of Pennsylvania and reform the redistricting process. His opponent Terrance O'Conner likes to dress up in 18th century garb and stand in the bed of his pick up truck yelling into a bullhorn. Today is Halloween so O'Conner should fit right in. One of his campaign planks is repeal ling the sales tax on ammunition. It's hard to win an election when you make yourself into a cartoon character and a joke.

Karen Boback (R) will win big in the overwhelmingly Republican 117th District. I have to congratulate Richard Shermanski (D) for running a energetic campaign.

James O'Meara (R) is my favorite underdog in this cycle. He has stayed positive in his uphill challenge to unseat Eddie Day Pashinski (D). He came to every blogger event and he married a great girl. I have never cast a straight ballot so this is one Republican I will be voting for. Pashinski wins big.

Yuddy and Urban club each other in debate, Summers along for the ride

Senatorial smackdown

Urban, Yudichak fire off at one another in debate

Yudichak and Urban go after each other in 14th Senatorial debate

Watch it on WVIA

I wanted to embed it but kept getting an error

Blogger/Candidate Meetup September 17th postgame

The picture above is from Another Monkey who raised the question on what to call this semi-annual event. I probably created some confusion by posting it as a Blogger/Candidate Meetup on the blog but created a Facebook event page titled Happy Hour-Fall Edition then sent out a promo email refering to it as the Mega-Meetup. Joe Valenti tagged it Blogfest which appeared on the sign outside Rooney's. Beer Summit was suggested by the Blogfather who was MIA and many people were asking about him.

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We had another great turnout and expect the spring event to be the best one yet when all the local offices are on the primary ballot. National and state elections are not as nearly intense as the local ones and primaries have all the activists more fired up than the general election.

Gene Rooney and his staff did an outstanding job like they always do taking care of our need for beverages and really good food.

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Me and Mrs. G got there early and the first one in the door was 117th State Rep Candidate Richard Shermanski and Bob Caruso. This was real treat for me because I haven't seen Bob since we both worked for different candidates in the 1976 Presidential primary then organized a Young Democrats chapter in Luzerne County with a lot of help from State Senator Marty Murray. We shared some great memories like the time Jimmy Carter came to town and we lost Kevin Blaum in Mountaintop and the future Mayor of Boston, Tommy Menino, didn't know what a CMP was.

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Luzerne County Commissioner and PA Senate 14th District hopeful Steve Urban worked the crowd all night as did the Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers. Lackawanna PA 20th Senate District Republican nominee Frank Scavo was there with his lovely wife and he didn't get into a shouting match with Bart Simpson. Another Lackawanna county candidate was Republican Theresa Kane who is running against longtime State Rep Ed Staback in the 115th. She was accompanied by Scranton Tea Party activist Lauree Cummings.

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My 3rd favorite Congressman Paul Kanjorski showed up with a posse that included Joe Terrana, his COS Karen Feather and Nicole Giambusso and stayed well into the night. For some reason they all wanted to know how I learned to speak Polish. Lou Barletta didn't make it but his press guy Shawn Kelly made the rounds. Él estaba muy emocionado cuando le dije que si el alcalde Lou gane las elecciones voy a empezar a referirse a él como el congresista Nelligan.

118th Republican candidate Terrance O'Conner walked in the door dressed up in his 18th century garb but I didn't get a picture before he changed. He said he lost his bullhorn

I asked State Senator Lisa Baker what she thought her margin of victory would be and we recounted the 2006 race when Dave Madeira and Russ Bigus got in to that argument over who had killed the most animals. She confided that she ran into a deer around that time that totaled her car and was going to put out a satirical press release saying she was the only candidate that got a deer that year but demurred.

Hoping to win the 119th Rick Arnold (R) and Gerald Mullery (D) mixed it up with the crowd. 121st Republican candidate James O'Meara is a great guy and I just recently learned that he married a girl that I had a crush on in high school. Small world.

From the courthouse Solicitor Vito DeLuca made it as did Controller Walter "the hump" Griffith. I think Mary Jo was blushing when the wags were busting on him.

All 3 120th State Rep candidates attended like they always do for my events, thank you. In this cycle I have had the most contact with them and I'm sort of like the Will Rogers of the local blogosphere since I have got to know and like all of them. Whoever wins the district will be well represented. West Pittston Mayor Bill Goldsworthy (R) tells me he is good shape and is keeping an eye for yard signs for Tim Mullen in Democratic areas. My 1st or 4th favorite State Represenative Phyllis Mundy (D) has an energetic young staff including Omeed Firouzi who is running the show and is still in high school! Omeed, when I was your age I could only dream of such things. After I got some experience I was instrumental in sinking more than one candidate's aspirations when they were dumb enough to make me the campaign manager or field director. The difference is you have a great candidate and I never did. Libertarian Tim Mullen continues to impress me. The number of signatures on his petitions and actualy being able to open an office is impressive for a 3rd party candidate. He brought some his supporters including the head honcho of the local Libertarians, Lou Jassikoff, who sends out a great email everyday.

Speaking of third parties the Greens didn't show up but Renee was flying the banner of the Pirate Party, arrgh.

Radio personality Dr. David Madeira brought his "oldest daughter" and other radio guys in attendance were Duke from Dallas and Bible Buck. The mad drummer and special Gort42 correspondent Austin Smith jones Ford deSoto was in the crowd and talked policy with Harry Haas. My pals David Baloga and Zen always light up a room. I finally got to meet Luzerne County elections honcho Lenny Piazza and thanked him for all the help he has given me over the years.

A couple of our local bloggers that concentrate on national issues should write up this event. But as I told Kanjo the beauty of blogging is that you don't have an editor or a deadline although Mrs. G and Renita are pretty good editors and I welcome all the help I can get.

Big Dan's site moves so fast I can't keep up. He looks taller on the internet. It was great to meet Mrs BD who does great work with the Fresh Air Fund . Chris NovoRockey used to post about local stuff but has gone full tilt to the dark side on national issues. Just remember that Colbert married his hand.

People kept asking me before and during the gathering what are the rules for the event.

There are 3 rules.

1. No Speeches

2. You must wear clothes even it is warm.

3. Agree to disagree but don't be a disagreeable.

One of my favorite moments from this night is when Chris Hackett and Dan Mueser shook hands and spent a few minutes chatting. I'm sure you remember that they had a knock down drag out primary in 2008. Dan gave me some credit for driving that race and he said he wanted to get together during it but his press guy kept jerking me around.

Vito said it best:

"You should do this more often! It was probably the most stress-free 'political' event I have ever been to. It was so refreshing to meet people from all parties and discuss issues at such a casual affair. In addition to typical politics, I had the opportunity to engage in conversations about gas drilling, home rule, college football, and how my three boys believe it is their Constitutional right to maintain a messy bedroom. Great job Gort!

Maybe we should call this event The Rodney King Get Together.

The bloggers report

Another Monkey

NCFE

NEPartisan

LuLac

Pittston Politics

Loreley's Musings

More photos at this link.

Meet the 119th State Rep District candidates

119th District State Represenative John Yudichak(D) has his sights on the 14th Senate District seat held by retiring Ray Musto. He had a fundraiser on Sunday that was well attended but was not announced on his website or Facebook pages. His campaign hasn't updated his online outlets since the primary. Get on the stick guys and use every tool available to communicate your message.

Democrat Gerald Mullery hopes to fill his shoes in the 119th and has a meeting planned today at Mil & Jims Parkway Inn, 24 W. Kirmar Ave., Nanticoke starting at 7PM.

I spotted a sign at the Plymouth Kielbasa Festival that said GOP nominee Rick Arnold will be at Happy Pizza in Plymouth, Friday, September 10th at 6PM. I'm not sure if this is a go because it's not listed on on his website or Facebook.

The Libertarian candidate Brian Bergman doesn't have any events listed this week on his website or Facebook page but will be at the NEPA Libertarians Monthly Meeting Sunday, September 19th,
2pm at Grotto Pizza in Edwardsville.

Note to the candidates, send me a reminder of your upcoming event and I will plug it.

Update: The Rick Arnold camp confirms that he will be at Happy Pizza on September 10th and also has a shindig scheduled for Sunday, September 26, 2010 from 4-6 at the Alden Manor in Nanticoke.
Visit his website for the details.

To keep track of all upcoming local Republican candidate events visit the calendar page at the Luzerne County GOP website.

Libertarians make the cut

It looks like the local Libertarian state house candidates have enough signatures to spare to get on the November ballot and survive any challenges.

14th District Senate candidate Betsy Summers needed 1063 and got 2279. Brian Bergman's goal in the 119th State House District was 389 signatures and he too filed almost twice the minimum with 625. Tim Mullen's number just blew me away. Mullen has been working hard going door to door on the west side needing 436 signatures and was able to convince 2279 of his neighbors to sign his petitions. Remember that the Democratic and Republican state house candidates only need 300 signatures to get on the primary ballot. Signatures don't necessarily translate into votes but the Lib's have to be happy with these results and the Republican candidates should be worried. I doubt they will mount a challenge to the petitions but anything is possible. The local GOP's best signature challenger in the past, Liz Sichler, has other worries.

Links to candidate websites.


Senate 14


Steve Urban (R)

John Yudichak (D)

Betsy Summers (L)



State Rep 120th


Phyllis Mundy (D) incumbent

Bill Goldsworthy (R)

Tim Mullen (L)



State Rep 119th


Rick Arnold (R)

Gerald Mullery (D)

Brian Bergman (L)

Bergman get's a signature

The local libertarians put out a challenge to the major party candidates for the state legislature a few days ago to sign the petitions of their hopefuls as a show of good faith that they truly believe in the democratic process and that all qualified candidates should be allowed to compete.

As predicted the Republicans declined the invitation.

CV: Steve Urban, a Luzerne County commissioner and 14th Senatorial District candidate, called the move a "ridiculous request" and refused to sign Summers' papers...West Pittston Mayor Goldsworthy also declined to sign Mullen's papers, advocating Mullen join his campaign to usurp 10-term state Rep. Mundy. Goldsworthy said he has a stronger campaign and more name recognition than Mullen but believes in the similar ideals as the Libertarian Party...Rick Arnold brushed off signing papers for Bergman, a potential opponent in the 119th race, for fear of invalidating his own campaign.

Democrats John Yudichak and Phyllis Mundy haven't been heard from yet but Gerald Mullery believes in the small "d.""I would sign it. What the hell? I don't have any problem with thatI've met Brian. He's a nice guy. I welcome him into the race."


The lineup


Senate 14


Steve Urban (R)

John Yudichak (D)

Betsy Summers (L)



State Rep 120th


Phyllis Mundy (D) incumbent

Bill Goldsworthy (R)


Tim Mullen (L)



State Rep 119th


Rick Arnold (R)


Gerald Mullery (D)

Brian Bergman (L)

Libertarians make a good point

And issue a challenge.

If your not a Democrat or a Republican the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes you jump through all kinds of hoops to get on the ballot.


I got this press release from the NEPA Libertarian Party.


Wilkes-Barre, PA— According to Northeast Pennsylvania Libertarian Chairman Lou Jasikoff, “the Libertarian Party will be wrapping up their ballot initiative over the next few weeks, and will submit their signed petitions to Harrisburg on July 30th. The deadline for submitting petitions is August 3rd and the Libertarian Party is challenging all candidates to sign the petition as a show of good faith, especially in light of Bonusgate, that they truly believe in the democratic process and that all qualified candidates should be allowed to compete in the arena of ideas.”

“I think it is important for all the candidates to be on record as to whether they are willing to sign the petition because it has been the Republicans and Democrats that have made the rules by which another Party or Independent candidate must meet to be placed on the general ballot. We will focus on those candidates within the districts that we have candidates running for office, specifically John Yudichak, Steve Urban, Phyllis Mundy, Bill Goldsworthy, Rick Arnold, Gerald Mullery, Dan Rae, and David Millard, but will be encouraging all candidates to sign” said Jasikoff.

With the Republican and Democratic parties having a strangle-hold on access to the ballot, candidates from other political camps must go through the lengthy process of getting signatures from registered voters on their petitions to run. The process for Libertarian candidates Betsy Summers, Tim Mullen, Brian Bergman and Tom Anderson began in the cold and rain on primary day.

"Candidates from the major parties say they support all of those who are qualified to be on the ballot. Now is the time for their actions to speak louder than their words," noted Betsy Summers, Senate candidate 14th District.

Jasikoff concluded, “We explain to potential signers that this is not an endorsement but simply an effort to allow them, to allow us, to be on the ballot. That we have men and women dying in Iraq so they can have free elections there and we should not have to fight tooth and nail to get on the ballot here. We hope our current legislators and opponents agree and we will post their responses to our requests after August 3rd.

Good luck getting any of the Republican or Democratic candidates to sign on to this. But if I was running any of the Democratic campaigns I would have my people out there helping them get signatures.

Meet the candidate

Urban For Senator Meet-and-Greet

Time: July 16, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm
Location: Bo Brother's Pizza (Wyoming)
Street: 2004 Wyoming Ave
City/Town: Wyoming
Website or Map: http://bobrothersllc.com/
Phone: For Info: 570-825-2901

Libertarians to lend a hand

Libertarians cleaning up the garbage

Local Candidates Join July 5th Cleanup

Wilkes-Barre, PA— Libertarians are all about saving tax dollars. So on July 5th, local Libertarian candidates Betsy Summers, Tim Mullen, and Brian Bergman, along with members of the Northeastern PA Libertarian Party will be helping with the Kirby Park cleanup. “Once again Libertarians will be putting their backs into reducing Wilkes-Barre’s cleanup costs by picking up the trash that covers the park after the 4th of July festivities” states Betsy Summers the cleanup organizer and candidate for Pennsylvania’s 14th senatorial seat.


Summers added, “We will be meeting in Kirby Park’s Pavilion #3 at 8 am and will finish up with a lunch BBQ. Anyone that wishes to join in the cleanup with a great group of fun loving individuals, citizen politicians, and community activists, will be welcome. The more helping hands we have the sooner we can sit, relax, and eat!”


“Libertarians believe in people working together to get things done, not the government taking care of our every need, as one of the ideals our Country was founded on” said Tim Mullen candidate for Pennsylvania 120th Representative seat while Brian Bergman candidate for the 119th Representative seat said “we are not only looking to clean up the park, but hopefully help clean up our state and local governments.”


Lou Jasikoff Chair for the Northeast Pennsylvania Libertarian Party concluded, “we invite all interested parties to come out and meet our candidates in a relaxed and fun atmosphere while doing a little community service. We will also have literature on hand for those looking to learn a little more about the Libertarian Party along with fresh coffee and donuts!

For more information or interviews, Please visit us at:

www.nepalibertarians.org


www.vote4betsy.com


www.votemullen.com


www.votebergman.com

Meet the candidate

Normally there is a lull of political activity after the the May primary until Labor Day but not this year.

Today 117th Democratic State Rep candidate Richard Shermanski will be at King's Pizza, 49 S Mountain Blvd in Mountaintop at 7PM. Join us for free pizza and soda, and meeting the Democratic Party's nominee for State Representative! Representatives for other local and statewide campaigns will also be there, so please pop by and say hello!

Tomorrow Congressman Joe Sestak will bring his US Senate campaign to Misericordia University's Bevevino Library, 301 Lake St, Dallas starting at 2PM. It's good to see that his camp actually did some advance work this time.


On Tuesday James O'Meara will be at the Naked Grape in Plains at 6PM and he also promises free pizza. All this pizza is not going to help my ulcer. Jim has an uphill fight as a Republican in the overwhelming Democratic 121st State Representative District and also has a tea and crumpets event scheduled for June 24th at the GOP HQ in Wilkes-Barre or is it coffee and cake. My suggestion is to forget the deserts and go for a cheesesteaks and beer event.

State Senate 14th District Republican candidate Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban has a meet and greet scheduled for June 17th starting at 5PM at one of my favorite restaurants Dan's Keystone Grill , 162 Union St., Plains. If you go and decide to have dinner get the prime rib and order it rare. The next day Urban will be at the Chicken Coop in the East End section of Wilkes-Barre. The wings are way overrated.



El alcalde de Hazleton Lou Barletta está tomando su tercer disparo en la sede del Congreso de 11 y una barbacoa para programar 18:00, 22 de junio en la parrilla de Damon Estado Carr. 120. 93 de Hazleton, PA y estará a Dooley's Pub, 120 Oak Street, Old Forge a partir de las 18:00. No he comprobado el menú para ver si puedo conseguir un burrito o algunos de nacho

Sorry Shawn, I just can't help it.



This Sunday you can join my Libertarian Party friends including Tim Mullen at Grotto Pizza in Edwardsville at 2PM.

Yuddy wins big

With about 70% of the vote in John Yudichak is blowing Tom Leighton out of the water.


John T. Yudichak . . . . . . . . 11,796 71.59 %

Tom Leighton . . . . . . . . . 4,628 28.09 %

Victory Party

If you want to join your candidate tonight and watch the returns you can find a few of them at the following locations.

PA 11th

Congressman Kanjorski voted earlier and returned to Washington to do the job we elected him to do.

Corey O'Brien will be at the Scranton Hilton.

You can find Lou Barletta at Shenanigan, 703 Broad St., Hazleton.

PA 10th

Dave Madeira is holding his celebration at Grotto Pizza in Harveys Lake.

Congressman Carney also returned to Washington after voting.

14th Senate

Tom Leighton will be at his HQ in the Mid Town Village Mall in W-B and may wander over to Rodano's on Public Square.

The Waterfront on N. River St. in Plains is the spot to find John Yudichak.

119th State Rep

Gary Zingaretti snagged Alden Manor in Nanticoke.

116th State Rep

Tarah Toolhill will be joining Lou Barletta at Shenanigans.

120th State Rep

Libertarian Tim Mullen will be at The Frog Pond on Coal St. in Wilkes Barre.

Update: Rick Arnold, Bill Goldsworthy and Jim O'Meara will be at the Luzerne County Republican HQ on S. Main St. in W-B.

Bob Morgan will be at Tommy Boys, Main St., Nanticoke


If you know of the whereabouts of the others send it along.

Predictions

I've been wrong more times than not but what the hell.

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11th Congressional District

Kanjo wins big. 60%+

10th Congressional District

My friend David Madeira has the best ground game and will eek out win. I also predict that the 3 Republican candidates collectively will get less votes than Chris Carney running unopposed in the D primary.

Senate 14th District

John Yudichak has stayed positive in his advertising while Tom Leighton went negative. They have traded barbs in the papers.

Yuddy wins this one.

PA Senator

Joe Sestak has closed a 20 point gap in the polls in the last few weeks and the momentum is on his side. I have never voted for Arlen Specter in my life and I'm not about to start now.

Sestak wins big.

119th State Rep

There is no polling in this one and I don't live there. If I had a vote it would be for Bob Morgan. He has an ad up making fun of the Republican wannabes that is not on YouTube. Note to Morgan Campaign: Blast that spot to everyone.

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The readers of Gort42 that voted in the polls on the left sidebars agree with me.

Anybody that wants to prognosticate is welcome to chime in.

Vote in the PA 14th Senator poll

The candidates are Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and 119th District State Represenative John Yudichak.


Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.

Senate 14 update

A press release from Ed Mitchell


COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW YUDICHAK LINKS TO BONUSGATE ACTIVITIES

WILKES-BARRE — Official court documents filed by state attorney general Tom Corbett at the courthouse in Dauphin County show state Rep. John Yudichak, D- Nanticoke to be an active player in the ‘Bonusgate’ scandal of the Pennsylvania Legislature (see attachment).

E-mails to Yudichak link him directly to an indicted former legislator who is charged in the ‘Bonusgate’ trials.

Court papers filed in the indictment of former state Rep. Steve Stetler, who was head of the House campaign committee, show Yudichak participated in the use of state employee personnel and services for political purposes.

E-mails sent to Yudichak’s official taxpayer-funded legislature account show communication to him on behalf of former state Rep. Tom Tigue’s, D- Pittston, campaign for reelection that links Yudichak to the use of state employees on taxpayer time doing political work in the campaign.

The e-mails further question Yudichak on his political activity on behalf of Tigue.

“John Yudichak is part of the Bonusgate corruption scandal in Harrisburg. He has a number of questions that should be answered, “ Tom Leighton said. He asked Yudichak:

“What was your relationship with indicted Rep. Steve Stetler in regard to political activities on the state dime for Tom Tigue? How did you benefit?

“What services did PAC 102 provide to the tune of $8,000 for your current campaign? Did Marty O’Rourke or his company provide any services to your campaign? O’Rourke worked for Tigue and is the spokesman for indicted former Speaker of the House, John Perzel.

“Who runs PAC 102? Who are the officers? Detail your current and past relationship with them.

“Was any state legislature’ political activity using taxpayers’ funds used in behalf of your current or previous campaigns?

“What was Steve Stetler talking to you about in his email to your taxpayer-funded email account? Were you doing political activity using taxpayer-funded services?

“When you did work for Tigue’s campaign, were government staff on taxpayer time used?

“What were you trying to find out about then-Monroe County Commissioner, Donna Asure, Tigue’s election opponent, from the opposition research, performed at taxpayer expense that you are linked to in the Tigue campaign and the Stetler email?

“Did you arrange for housing for the staffer mentioned in the Stetler/Tigue email, as you were asked to do by Stetler?

“Did you know, as the e-mail suggests that this research was being done using government employees, and facilities?” Leighton asked.

“These documents show that John Yudichak is tied to the culture of corruption known as Bonusgate, in Harrisburg.

“He campaigns as a reformer while he avails himself of per diems to pay his personal mortgage and of all the other perks and political benefits of the broken system. These services were generally provided using taxpayer funded staff and services. That’s illegal and it’s also hypocritical,” Leighton said.


From SPPE



Yudichak response


The careening Leighton campaign has officially gone off the rails with today's despicable, scurrilously false insinuations. Tom Leighton's utter lack of ethical integrity and willingness to engage in the worst sort of dirty, gutter politics clearly indicates that his campaign has imploded beyond recognition.

Tom Leighton for months has deliberately and willfully mislead the voters about his role in writing a get out of jail free letter for a convicted felon caught up in the worst corruption scandal in Luzerne County history. The record is clear on how each candidate responded to the culture of corruption in northeastern Pennsylvania. I stood with the people and voted to strip public pensions from corrupt politicians. Tom Leighton wrote a letter to get a convicted felon a lighter sentence.

Tom Leighton has already demonstrated that he will evade the truth to serve his political ambitions. Now, he wants to abandon the truth all together and make wild allegations that have no merit or basis in reality. At no point in time have I ever had contact with the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the Bonusgate investigation. I have consistently and openly challenged the leaders involved in the Bonusgate scandal. The same cannot be said of some of Tom Leighton's biggest political friends and contributors.

It's also reprehensible of Leighton to impugn the integrity of former State Representative Tom Tigue, a decorated Vietnam war hero, an honorable man, and an effective legislator. For 12 years as State Representative, I have adhered to the highest ethical standards.

I have been lauded by good government watchdog groups for voting in the best interests of the people I represent and conducting myself in an open, honest and transparent manner. I was one of a very few elected officials who voted 'No' and refused to accept the legislative pay raise and pension hike. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the desperate Leighton campaign has once again resorted to more of the same filthy political tricks that voters have rejected.

Today's maliciously false insinuations are the handiwork of Ed Mitchell who is running Tom Leighton by remote control and whose last notable accomplishment was helping to elect three corrupt judges in Luzerne County. It's time to put an end to this reign of corruption in northeastern PA and the win-at-any-cost mentality. It's time for Tom Leighton to do the right thing and salvage what tiny shred of integrity he may have left because he cannot salvage his campaign.

Senate 14 race in the homestreach

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and State Representative John Yudichak have moved on from telling the voters about the good things they have done in their careers to bashing each others brains out. This has become normal in a close political campaign. Yuddy has done his best to tie Leighton to the ongoing corruption probe although nobody in Wilkes-Barre city government has been indicted or is even under investigation as far as I know. Mayor Tom did write a letter to the Judge who is going to sentence Bill Brace and danced around admitting it until the WVIA debate. I would say that was poor judgement but not indicative that he is also corrupt. Leighton has been pounding Yuddy over taking per diem's and owning a house in Harrisburg like many other legislators do. It's not against the rules but just about everyone agrees that the rules have to change.

Leighton, Yudichak neck and bloody neck


Civil final round between Leighton, Yudichak

Today Norton reported that Leighton got a last minute $20,000 from Citizens for Action, a Political Action Committee affiliated with Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11th) .
It's no secret that Yuddy and Kanjo stopped exchanging Christmas cards years ago.



Exeter Mayor Casandra Coleman hosted a meet and greet last night with Congressman Kanjorski and Tom Leighton as the headliners.








The local papers picked up on the story a few hours later and has some choice quotes from Yudichak.


“This won’t come as a surprise to anyone that has observed this campaign so far,” Yudichak said. “This midnight campaign contribution certainly speaks to why I’m for campaign finance reform in the state House.”

Yudichak said he thinks Kanjorski is supporting Leighton so strongly because Yudichak’s father, Joseph Yudichak Sr., spoke out against Kanjorski during the 2008 election. Yudichak said his father was interviewed on national television about Kanjorski and the failed $12 million Cornerstone Technologies venture.

“I’m proud that my father stood up and said politicians aren’t above the law,” Yudichak said. “I think voters will recognize that this late donation to my opponent’s campaign was not done in the light of day. If he wanted to endorse the mayor he could have done it at any time during the campaign.”

Yudichak called the situation an example of “the politics of the past.”



Yuddy has a new positive ad up but it it not posted to YouTube and Mayor Tom has a "contrast" spot on the air .

Yudichak and Leighton square off

More to come on WVIA-TV


Leighton promises surprise at tonight's debate


Leighton, Yudichak clash during forum

Senate 14 this week

Mrs G asked me tonight who I would be voting for in the PA 14th Senate race. I honestly don't know because I like both of these gentlemen.


Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton went up on the air today with an ad that says "Tom Leighton gets things done." He promises more property tax cuts using the casino revenue.




State Rep John Yudichak keeps racking up the labor endorsements

Yudichak Receives Unanimous Endorsement of AFSCME

On the way to Mark's yesterday we passed by the PAV where Yuddy had an event that was well attended.

The Yonk says he has another spot

State Senate candidate John Yudichak will preview a new ad Sunday night on “60 Minutes” Yudichak has been campaigning like a virtual whirlwind invading Plains Township yesterday for a polka party with John Stanky and the Coalminers.

Senate 14 tidbits

I wandered into downtown Wilkes-Barre yesterday to do some Boscoving and check out the Green Party gathering on Public Square. Pictures here. I always park in the Boscovs parkade for the free parking and this time it only cost me 42 bucks.

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I ran into Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton who is running for the PA State Senate seat being vacated by Ray Musto who is now caught up in the corruption investigations that have snared 28 people in Luzerne County so far.

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We were both pressed for time and I didn't expect to see him so the tough questions will have to wait to another day. For all the attention that has been put on attracting new businesses to downtown W-B I think one of Leighton's biggest successes is keeping the anchor store open. If Boscovs closes it's doors it would be the death knell for the square.

In an interview with the CV he defended the tough decisions he has had to make as Mayor such as raising taxes and closing Firehouses.

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His opponent for the Democratic nomination State Rep John Yudichak gave his pitch to the CV
for "modernized government in Harrisburg."

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Yuddy keeps racking up the labor endorsements.

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The Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association (PPFA).

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO