Meet Rapid Edward

Former PA Governor Ed Rendell will be at the Barnes & Noble at the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Friday 7-9PM to sign his book. The name comes from his famous rant about the NFL postponing an Eagles game in 2010 because the weather forecast predicted a blizzard that didn't happen.

HP:  "I think it is a joke," Rendell said, explaining that there was only five inches of snow on the ground when the game would have started. "I was looking forward to this. It would have been a real experience. This is what football is all about. We're becoming a nation of wussies."

The game was supposed to be played on Sunday night, but it was moved to Tuesday for safety concerns.

I first met the Guv at a campaign event in 2002  at the Riverfront in Plains organized by then Luzerne County Controller Steve Flood. I told him to get past the election stuff and get back on  CSN for the Eagles pre and post-game shows like when he was Mayor of Philadelphia that may have helped him win the primary against Bob Casey. He won the general election defeating Atty. General Mike Fisher 53% to 44%. He won reelection in a blowout in 2006 over Steelers great Lynn Swann 60%-40%. 

Many people dubbed him Fast Eddie, especially his political opponents. I think that is disrespectful so I prefer Rapid Edward that a commenter on GrassrootsPA  that is now The Keystone Report (gotta fix that link) came up with. Thanks Conservative Goddess. 

PN: In 2004, Rendell’s car was clocked at traveling more than 100 mph several times in a four-month period.

Steve Flood RIP

1. 
   
   
   My very first post about local politics was my disapointment that Steve Flood wasn't reelected. Before that I was writing about baseball so we will keep up the mix.
   
   I wrote this at the time:
   
   
   Watchdog Goes Down
   The powers that be in Luzerne county win again. Steve Flood Lost the Controllers race to the party favorite. The reasons they did not like him are the reasons I did. We need rabble rousers and bomb throwers. I even miss Fred Williams radio show on WILK. I did not agree with him on many things, but I like the way he stirred the pot. Steve was good at asking questions and just saying no. The way this county has been run during my lifetime I found him to be way overdue. When I lived in other areas I described m y hometown as a place that never got over the great depression, the best redevelopment project was the Agnes flood and the political reforms of the 1890's have yet to hit. Sadly, not much has changed.
   

Well, because of Steve Flood many things have changed. Just after he was elected as Contoller I met him at a wedding of some Mrs. G reletive. He got me to support Ed Rendell over Bob Casey for Governor although I was going there anyway. We had a great fundraiser in Plains.

30 people have been inticted or convicted in Luzerne County because he went to the FBI over the 20 year Juvie Center lease. After he was defeated for reelection the new controller dropped the whole thing

Conahan threatened Petrilla

“His final words to me were, ‘Maryanne, if you do this, you’re finished." Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla


TL: Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla told the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice on Tuesday that former county Judge Michael Conahan personally called her in early 2008 to order her not to replace former chief clerk/manager Sam Guesto.

Commissioner Steve Urban said he talked to the Feds in 2006 and Controller Steve Flood also met with the FBI about the 20 year lease of the PA Child Care facility in Pittston Twp. Urban also said that he didn't have faith in the Judicial Conduct Board or the District Attorney. Most of us don't.

Minority Commissioner Greg Skrepenak refused to testify before the panel on the advice of his attorney. This has fueled the speculation about Skrep from PittstonPolitics.com Skrep refused to testify in hearings about the juvie scandal. This is knows as “Taking the Fifth” and other places.


There is so much going on that I can't keep up.

Reform school threw parties for judges, probation officials
I never get invited to the really good parties like this or the one at the airport

Brace resigns from state position

Testimony: Ciavarella’s ways accepted

Parents, juveniles testify damage was done

Juveniles, parents testify before commission about effect of detention, court proceedings


Horrific, heart-wrenching, courageous testimony of parents and kids in the "Kids for Cash" judges scandal in Luzerne County!

And so much more.

Just to add to the rumors. From the inbox:

Little inside info for you. This is confirmed through more than 3 sources. Former Luzerne County Cxx Txxx Vxxxxxx has been a cooperating witness since June and has made a plea agreement with the feds. Announcement is coming very soon.

And some media gossip:

Tidbits

A few weeks back TV 44's State of Pennsylvania featured the two local newspaper publishers.. After the show, xxx invited anyone in attendance to the GoodFella's eatery down the road on 315. It used to be Bella Vino. xxx picked up the tab paying a couple of thousand dollars in food and bar bills. The next day the media reported that newspaper employees were asked to take a 10% paycut. Irony. Wonder where they will are going to have their Christmas party? Abe's maybe?

My xxx works for the ... He wasn't there but his co workers were and they said xxx was buying drinks and food for everyone and people were buying $200 bottles of wine. The xxx's showed up later after having their outing and tried to pay for their drinks but they could not because the restaurant was running the tab. The xxx's insisted on paying but the owner got pissed off and threw them out.

Where are the local Democrats?

The Luzerne County Republican Party and Row office nominees have had a bunch of high profile get togethers, media events and fund raisers since the the May Primary but I've hardly heard a peep out of the Democratic row officer candidates.

Democratic Judge candidate Bill Amesbury has been on the hustings and Tina Gartley has a slew of events listed on her website. Republican Dick Hughes is also working hard. I have bumped into Judge Thomas Burke (R), who is up for retention, in a few places and I have yet to hear anyone say a bad thing about him. As far as I know he is not even raising money. The other judge up for retention, Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., knows that he is in trouble and has an event this week. Via PittstonPolitics.com PPO-2 will host a retention rally this Thursday, Oct 1 at 7PM. It will be held at the Red Mil Tavern in Pittston.

It looks like the Judicial candidates are running their campaigns independently of the county Democratic Party. That is probably a good stratergy.

Back to the row officer races.

Long time Register of Wills Dottie Stankovic is up against Republican Gina Nevenglosky. I always liked Dottie because she wouldn't always play ball with the powers that be. Her best endorsement came from former county Democratic Chairman Joe Mazur who was "gleeful" that Steve Flood lost the Controller nomination to Maryanne Petrilla in 2005. He said that "She and certain other people have been a cancer within the organization."
I haven't been to any Polka festivals lately so I haven't seen Dottie. Gina has scheduled an event at the courthouse on Saturday October 10, 2009 at 1:00PM.

Republican Carolee Medico Olenginski is looking to return to the office of Prothonotary after being defeated twice by the disgraced Jill Moran. Carolee has been everywhere since the primary and I still predict that she will win in a walk. Nurse Nancy Bellas won the Democratic nomination in May and hasn't been heard from since.


In the Controllers race Bob Morgan surfaced today to complain about a math error on Walter Griffith' s campaign finance report. Morgan was the only Democratic candidate for Controller in the primary which I thought was kind of weird for an open seat. Take a look at Morgan's report and you will see some familiar names. This is the first times in months that I have read Morgan's name in the papers or anywhere else. Griffith has been everywhere asking people for their vote.

Regular commenter Will Toole, the Independent candidate, has been pressing the flesh, working the blogs and writing letters to the editor. His latest missive in the CV asks the same question I have been asking the last few years.

Why hasn't casino gambling reduced property taxes?

I'm sure (hope) that our Democratic candidates will be more visible in the next few weeks before the election. If they think that they can rely on the registration edge to carry them to victory they are in for a big surprise. You still have to ask people for their vote and in this toxic atmosphere that may not be enough.

It's about more than the kids

The Legal Intelligencer has a devastating story about the Juvie Brother's that details their misconduct that goes beyond the Cash for Kid's scandal saying that was just the tip of the iceberg and only the most blatant example of the corruption overseen by the two judges. In addition to Billy D'Elia former Judge Michael Conahan had a long history of links to organized crime figures. A lifelong friend of Conahan's, Tom Pendergast, said that he set him up with no show and delivery jobs that he was nervous about taking and walked away from the extra "work."


It also goes into the allegations of case fixing of auto accidents and tax assessment cases involving Bob Mericle. In addition, as The Legal first reported in March, multiple sources have said the federal government is investigating whether Luzerne County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Toole allegedly took a payment from Powell.

It also identifies Conahan's cousin Bill Sharkey as the "bagman" who would collect the "finder's fee" from local attorneys after a favorable judgement.


And former Controller Steve Flood was the object of Conahan's ire.


Flood, according to Stretton, attended a party after his election to the controller's office in 2001 with other political types. Conahan was there, Stretton said Flood had told him, and so was at least one prominent attorney from the area.

At one point, Conahan saw the attorney, Stretton said, relaying Flood's story.

"Conahan turned to the lawyer and said, 'Hey ... how about that $10,000 you owe me for the settlement last week,'" Stretton said Flood told him.

"That's what got him suspicious about these guys," Stretton said. "He walked out and, after that, they became adversaries."

Another source said Flood related the same story.

Four years later, in 2005, while Flood was running a re-election campaign, he and Stretton were sitting together when the phone rang.

Flood answered.

A prominent attorney from a major firm was on the other line.

"Conahan just called and said if we give one penny to your campaign, we'll never win another case in the county again," Stretton recalled the attorney telling Flood.

Marino testifies

SCRANTON – Luzerne County Judge Michael Toole’s tipstaff Tom Marino testified for more than 1 hour Tuesday before a federal grand jury investigating corruption within the county.

He was issued a subpoena on June 1. The Feds are looking into money Participant 1 Robert Powell paid to Toole. Zen says it was $82,000 for his services for refusing to rule on subpoenas issued by then Controller Steve Flood when he was looking into the county contract with PA Child Care in 2005 then owned by Powell and Greg Zappala. Toole could have ruled against the subpoenas, but that would have given Flood a chance to appeal to get the subpoenas enforced. Toole was also a guest at the Juvie Brothers Florida condo least once and also ruled on a dispute involving Robert Powell's yacht.


Prosecutors say Powell knew that Conahan and Ciavarella were committing a crime when they accepted the kickbacks from Powell and local developer Participant 2 Robert Mericle, but failed to report it. He also helped the judges disguise the source of the money he and Mericle paid.

Skrep says Petrilla is being investigated by the Feds

TL reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes witnessed a blowup between Luzerne County Democratic Commissioners Greg Skrepnak and Maryanne Petrilla that confirms that they are not exchanging Christmas cards anymore. Petrilla stormed into Skrepenak’s because he was repeating a rumor he says he heard that Petrilla was being investigated by federal authorities. She said she checked with the Feds and is not under investigation and said he should be the one worried about a federal investigation. Hard to argue with that because the Secret Service investigation of the debit card abuse has been completed and sent to the US Attorney plus there is still the question of why Skrep and former Commissioner Todd Vonderheid approved that 20 year lease of the PA Child Care facility. Why Petrilla didn't continue the investigation of it started by Steve Flood when she was Controller is another question.


“See what I put up with?” Skrepenak told the reporter after Petrilla left his office. “How dare she come into my office? I didn’t defame her...I think there’s a lot of animosity on both sides, and I think it’s at the point that it becomes personality not principle,” Skrepenak said. “It is what it is at this point, and it’s unfortunate.” Skrepenak said he and Petrilla have reached the point that they can’t have a productive working relationship. Petrilla said Skrepenak will have to “show up for work” to have a working relationship.
“He works maybe – and I’m really stretching it here – five hours a month."

She threatened to sue him for defamation and Skrep told her to sue him.

Just another day under the dingdome.

Et tu, Toole

Zen is reporting that another Luzerne County Judge may be in hot water.


The Legal Intelligencer says Federal authorities are looking at Luzerne County Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole in today's edition. I don't have a subscription (yet) but you can read the whole article at Sights on Pennsylvania.

A few days ago the CV revealed that Toole refused to rule on subpoenas issued by then Controller Steve Flood when he was looking into the county contract with PA Child Care in 2005. Toole could have ruled against the subpoenas, but that would have given Flood a chance to appeal to get the subpoenas enforced. Toole was also a guest at the Juvie Brothers Florida condo least once and also ruled on a dispute involving Participant one's, Robert Powell, yacht. Why a PA Judge would be ruling on a dispute in Florida is a good question.

Luzerne County Prothonotary

I'm surprised that there only 2 Republican candidates seeking to replace poor 'used and abused' Jill Moran who had to resign because of her agreement to cooperate with the US attorney's investigation into her business dealings with the Juvie Brothers Conahan and Ciavarella and her law partner Participant number 1 Robert Powell.

.

The Mayor of the breakaway Republic of Bear Creek Village Walter Michell (above) was animated about the lack remorse and a "toxic sense of perverted entitlement" in the "Democrat party" that has run the Luzerne County government into a ditch. Echoing Howard Beale he said "We can't stand it and we're not going to take it anymore."

.

Former Prothonotary Carolee Medico Olenginski (right) stressed that "experience does count." Unlike Moran she stated that she worked overtime when she held the office and increased revenue from the office during her tenure citing that the copy machine alone produced $21,000 in a year when it previously took in zilch. She paid tribute to former Democratic Controller Steve Flood saying he was our watchdog, "He said they were crooks and he was right."

Luzerne County Controller

I think this post is most important office in the county government. My friend Steve Flood was the best Controller in my memory. He questioned the PA Child Care lease right from the beginning and maybe if he had been reelected this mess with the Judges might have been exposed earlier.

Since our acting Controller pledged not to seek election to the office and had a wardrobe malfunction while he was shitfaced the field is wide open.

The big news in this race is former Luzerne County Democratic Commissioner Edd Brominski announced his intention Tuesday to run for Luzerne County controller in the primary as a Republican. After he lost the Commissioner's race in 1983 he landed a county job as chief assessor and was fired after he ran again for Commissioner. He sued the county for wrongful termination and got a settlement in federal court.

In his interview with Heidi Ruckno in the CV he claimed he was aware of corruption a long time ago. “I was aware of some of those things that happened, and when I tried to make them known, I was, frankly, fired for it.”

My question is why did you stop there Edd? If you were aware of corruption why didn't you go to the authorities at the time and if they didn't listen blab it to the press?

And what about this:

Brominski was first elected Luzerne County commissioner in 1979. He lost his 1983 re-election bid amid a voter fraud scandal, which he declined to discuss in federal court, according to The Citizens’ Voice archive.

I was in the Air Force in 1983 and stationed in England so I don't have any idea about a voter fraud scandal at that time. Give me some help in the comments. Our local polical historian, David Yonki, has some of Bromo's ups and downs and remembers that his father was a Judge.


Other candidates in the race are Democrats Russ Bigus and Tony Rostock who allegedly cut a deal with Pittston litigation specialist Wil Toole according to PittstonPolitics.com. Toole is now out of the race. On the Republican side Wilkes-Barre activist Walter Griffith is running for this post and the Study Commission. Attorney Nanda Palissery seems to be the early favorite of the Republican powers that be.

Other candidates mentioned are Alice B. Coffman, Bob Morgan and Bob Sypniewski.

Skrep and Vondy are shocked and sad

According to the CV. Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak and former Commissioner Todd Vonderheid expressed their regrets on the recent news that Judge Mark Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan were on the take for placing kids in the PA Child Care facility in Pittston Twp.

What they need to explain is why did they approve a $58 million, 20-year lease for the facility when all sorts of red flags were being raised by then Controller Steve Flood and the PA Dept of Public Welfare. Who the hell signs a 20 year lease for anything?


Luzerne County Juvenile Detention Center Analysis has a great rundown.

Papers filed in the Luzerne County Courthouse indicate that Pennsylvania Child Care took out a $10 million loan through S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., to finance the detention center project.If you calculate $10,000,000.00 at a 10% mortgage interest rate for 20 years it would cost PCC $23,160,521.88 in total payments including interest. Using the figures presented PCC stands to make more than $35 million on this lease since the prevailing interest rates would be less than 10%. Receiving $58.1 million total compensation is absurd.

Luzerne County Controller

So far we have 2 Democrats say they will run for the post.


Dallas School Board member Russ Bigus said “We need some competency in the courthouse. I think I might be able to bring some order"...“I would like to build up the public trust and get a real grasp of the financial crisis in the county.” Though he stressed that there’s a need for “teambuilding within the dome.” Last year Bigus lost the race for 117th District State Rep to Karen Boback and in 2006 he came in 4th in the 20th Senate District Republican primary.


The other declared candidate is former Pittston Area School Board member and Yatesville councilman Anthony Rostock. He pledges to be a full time Controller and takes a few shots at previous Controller and present Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla "There are certain things that have happened when the previous controller was there, things that should have been seen,” Rostock said, referring to Petrilla. “Even shortcomings in the county budget – that should have been seen years in advance.” Rostock said he’s not criticizing employees in the controller’s office.“I blame the people running the show,” he said.

Pittston litigation specialist Wil Toole has had cards printed up put has not formally declared his candidacy. He made sure that the public was informed about Rostock's $30,000 no-bid contract to provide landscape consulting services at Luzerne County Community College.

Bob Morgan, a financial adviser from Mountain Top said it’s “very likely” that he will run.


On the Republican side Attorney Nanda Palissery has been mentioned. He ran for Judge a few years ago and I voted for him. If we can have a President with a weird name we can put up with a Controller with one.

Two names are not mentioned in the press have been kicked around on this site and I have asked them for a comment.


Wilkes-Barre resident and unsuccessful city council candidate Walter Griffith does a great job of keeping an eye on things. Some people consider him to be a pain in the ass. My opinion is that the Controller should be a person who is willing to ask the tough questions like Steve Flood did.


Bob Sypniewski was the chairman of James May's 117th State Rep primary campaign is a local mortgage broker. Some of the back mountain big money people may be willing to back him.

Luzerne County Controller

Acting Controller A.J. Martinelli has put 21st Century Appraisals on notice that the reassessment gravy train has limits.

TL: “Therefore, I am placing you on notice that as a supervisor of the fiscal affairs of the county, I will not pay any bills for any unauthorized and unwanted services that you force upon the county, for the reasons stated in this letter.”

Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla was the the previous Controller replacing Steve Flood who asked a lot of of uncomfortable questions about the PA Child Care lease and other things. There is no way to tell but I think the debit card scandal and the no bid contracts at the prison would have come to light earlier if Flood had a 2nd term.


Governor Rendell was supposed to appoint a new Controller with the consent of the State Senate but he punted. A couple of people applied for the job but they were ignored. Former Wyoming Valley West School District superintendent Augie Piazza wanted the post but I haven't heard if he is running next year. PittstonPolitics reports that former Pittston Area School Director Tony Rostock has been shaking the bushes and a potential rival let everybody know that he got a $30,000 no bid contract at LCCC. That potential rival is Wil Toole.

Wil Toole wanting to be a fiscal watchdog has to one of the funniest things I've ever heard. He charged thousands of hours of overtime to Pittston City and is now suing because he contends that the city should pay for his wife's health insurance indefinitely. He is good at lawsuits.

Piazza, Rostock and Toole are all Democrats.

I think we need a Controller from the other party. The Dems have been in charge for too long and have become arrogant and reckless although Petrilla and her new BFF Steve Urban is trying to right the ship.

The only Republican name that I have heard that is willing to take a stab at running for Controller is Bob Sypniewski. We have a draft Bob movement going on in the comments but he is reluctant to make the run so let's encourage him.


Update from the inbox:

Dear Gort,

I am also contemplating a run for the Luzerne County Controller Position...I am a republican that really cares about the lack of accountability of our elected officials and will work hard for the Taxpayers of Luzerne County...

Walter L Griffith JR
Luzerne County Taxpayer and Activist

The jury is out

Democratic Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla has been getting some high marks from some of my friends lately. She has been joining with GOP Commissioner Steve Urban in making all the right noises about the countless scandals that have come to light over the last year. But what action has she taken?

She called for an investigation of Judges Mark A. Ciavarella and Michael Conahan business relationship with PA Child Care owner and Cargo Airport builder Robert Powell after it was widely known that the FBI and IRS had already launched a probe.


She called for Sam Guesto's head when it was revealed that he was strong arming county prison officials not to bid out items that were previously bid and deciding on his own to build a bigger prison. Not to mention the Debit Card Debacle. But Guesto has a job with the courts now and his boss is Ciavarella who says he's doing a great job. I have an idea, since this newly created court director job was invented for him after his position as chief clerk became untenable how about the salary board meet and eliminate the job.

The prison board suspended Warden Gene Fischi and the Purchasing Director for a week for violating the county bidding policy and possibly breaking state law. They should have been fired. Some sort of secret police organization is supposed to be investigating this mess according to DA Jackie MO.

And why does Sam Hyder still have a job on the public payroll?

Remember when Controller Steve Flood was screaming about the 20 year lease with PA Child Care and a bunch of other things. He was making too much noise and asking uncomfortable questions so he had to to go. So the County Dems recruited Maryanne Petrilla to take him out in the Primary of 2005. In her 2 years as Luzerne County Controller I don't remember her making any waves except for auditing the Republican Row Officers and even then she didn't find much wrong.

With all that said I hope that she does kick ass and takes names but I'm a cynical old bastard that has to see results.

The next Luzerne County Controller

Governor Ed Rendell will appoint a successor to recently elected Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla and she will be hard act to follow as Luzerne County Controller. Rapid Edward will nominate someone to fill the vacant post, and the state Senate must confirm the nomination with a majority vote. The post must be filled within 90 days, and Petrilla’s replacement will serve through the end of 2009.

Petrilla was recruited to run against Steve Flood, the only public official in years to question how the county did business but we can't have that. So the powers that be got a small town administrator without any accounting background to take him out. Her short tenure as controller has ended with the Debit Card scandal which has made her look incompetent or worse. Now she's a County Commissioner and is trying to restore the public trust in county government. Good luck with that one.

So far 2 people have expressed an interest in the job that are part of the good ole boy network.

Wil Toole wanting to be a fiscal watchdog has to one of the funniest things I've ever heard. He charged thousands of hours of overtime to Pittston City and is now suing because he contends that the city should pay for his wife's health insurance indefinitely. The dispute stemmed from a volley of lawsuits exchanged between Toole and other city officials in the late 1990s.

The other is former Wyoming Valley West School District superintendent Augie Piazza who now serves on the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees. From what I hear Piazza was a good manager with only a touch of nepotism.

The problem is that neither of these guys are ACCOUNTANTS! The election in 2009 will pick the next elected Controller and any politician can run for the office but what Luzerne County needs right now is a person with a strong accounting/management background without political ambitions or connections and big set of brass balls. Someone who will look at all departments of the county not just the ones headed by Republican row officers and put some spending controls in place. That ideal person may not exist but if you're out there:

From the TL:

If you’re interested in becoming the next Luzerne County Controller, contact Gov. Ed Rendell’s office via www.governor.state.pa.us or call (717) 787-2500.

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated

So much to do, so little time. The blog had to take a back seat for a while and will again over the next few weeks. So what did I miss this week?

The Phillies got off to the usual fast start by getting swept by Atlanta.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Yankees made their debut in the snow amid more arguments among the politicians about selling the team. And the grope, er Grump, got arrested for "entertaining" young boys.

In politics the candidates for Judge have dueling polls.

The Sixth Legislative District Democratic organization is in a quandary on who to endorse in some W-B council races. I thought the whole idea of a primary was to decide which candidates to back.

Lou Barletta says he wants to be Mayor of Hazleton forever.

Hillary and Obama raised $50 million between them. But the real surprise was the Democratic field as a whole out raised the Republican contenders.

Steve Flood has been released from the hospital after suffering a stroke but will remain on the ballot for Luzerne County commissioner. Get well Steve.

Back to my hiatus. In my absence the Mean Old Man will be filling in.

Luzerne County Commissioners race-Democrats

It looks like former Controller Steve Flood is in according to a story in the TL. He still has questions about the sweetheart deal involving the juvenile detention center in Pittston that the Bond Brothers committed the county to for the next 20 years. He also smells a rat regarding the proposed cargo airport near Hazleton and he is concerned about the long delayed reassessment saying “We paid $7 million for this, and the values are already two years old.” A look at the county's long term debt will be on his agenda. Somebody with a calculator and some common sense should take a look at pace the county has been borrowing money over the last few years. An audit of the row offices is order after the revelation that at least $200,000 is missing from the Recorder of Deeds office. That's the Controller's or Auditor General's job but they won't do it.

The story also noted that Attorney Ray Hassey will not be a candidate. Fine with me as he is quoted that his biggest worry was the reassessment's impact on the elderly. I got news for you Mr. Hassey, senior citizens aren't the only ones who pay property taxes. My raise this year was less than what Social Security recipients got. I'm sure I'm going to pay much more when this thing is done. Yeah I could go get a 2nd job to pay them but that would eat into my family time just like running for office will interfere with his.

According to the CV the other Democrats interested in running are:

Pittston Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Greg Gulick.

Dennis Kijek, a Rice Township Democrat who is retired.

Greg Skrepenak is seeking a second term

County Controller Maryanne Petrilla.

Joseph Killinski, a retired Wilkes-Barre resident.

Mario Fiorucci, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Sugar Notch as a Green Party candidate in 2005.

Update on the Republican candidates is coming