The LuLac Edition #199, April 16th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE CITY COUNCIL ASPIRANTS CHARLOTTE RAUP, CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT E AND TIM ANDERSON, CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT D.

COUNCIL CANDIDATE NEWS

So if I were running for office, I'd tell people I was related to former wyoming Area School Director Timmy Pribula who also worked for years at the Luzerne County Courthouse. I'd also tell people my aunt was Joan Petrillo Yonki, who was Director of Nursing at NPW and later Geisinger for many years. I'd want people to know about my relatives. I'd want the voters who might have known these two high profile figures in local politics and health care that I was a nephew. Related. It's good political sense. Apparently Council candidate in District E Mike Merritt decided that he doesn't want to tell us who his relatives are. When Merritt stopped by my house a few Saturdays ago, he made no mention of his relationship with Bill Brace. He should have.

Bill Brace is a fine fellow. I had the honor of playing on one of his Killer Bees softball teams in the eighties and Brace even encouraged me to field a team in the league which I did. (We were called The Lady Killers and were dreadful save for our starting pitcher David DeCosmo of WYOU TV fame). If I were related to Bill Brace, I'd tell someone. Well, Merritt told the Democratic Committee members who were endorsing last week. He recieved the endorsement in District E. Too bad he hasn't been bringing up his relationship to the voters with the average rank and file citizen. Still, I have no problem with using your relatives to get you votes. What bothers me the most is that Merritt works in the same facility as Tony Thomas, current incumbent on Council. When we need independent voices on the Council, that relationship to me is way too cozy and close for comfort.

RAUP ENTERS THE FRAY

Charlotte Raup wrote me a quick note and told me she'll be particpating in The LuLac Political Letter Forum on May 6th at Genetti's. Here's her information:

WILKES-BARRE CITY COUNCIL:
Charlotte Raup
Democrat, District E which includes North End, Brookside,
Parsons and Miners Mills sections.

50 years old / Married 27 years to Greg Raup
Wilkes University / B.A. Philosophy
President of the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition

Charlotte was the recipient of the 2006 Governor’s Citizen Crime Prevention Volunteer Recognition Award. The award is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Coalition on Crime and Delinquency. It is given annually to those who organize crime prevention initiatives in their communities. She has also received three Resolutions from Wilkes–Barre City Council members extending their appreciation for service to the community.

For the past ten years, Charlotte has been working for the people as a volunteer with the police, city officials, magistrates and the District Attorney’s Office to improve the city, prevent crime and reduce illegal drugs. She has seen first hand how the city works and what problems need to be corrected. If elected, she will apply the knowledge she has gained to implement stronger ordinances that will assist the police, health department and The CAT Team to eliminate slum landlords that house drug dealers and illegal aliens. Charlotte is also committed to beautification of our neighborhoods and recreation for our youth.

Charlotte is President of the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition,
Coordinator of the Parsons Crime Watch, Member of the Luzerne County Crime Watch Coalition, Member of Wilkes-Barre City Charter Review Commission , Member of the Wilkes-Barre Shade Tree Commission, Member of the Community Emergency Response Team and a Luzerne County Penn State Master Gardener.

WEB site - charlotteraup.tripod.com

ANDERSON WEIGHS IN

Tim Anderson, candidate for Council in District D weighed in on the ridiculous dual endoresement of incumbents Bill Barrett and Mike McGinley in that district. Great letter, superb logic. Imagine this type of thinking on council!

Dear Editor,

I would like to go on the record as saying that I am glad that I was
never even considered to get the endorsement from the Democratic Party
for this year's primary election. Even though I am not really shocked
about who was endorsed, it never really ceases to amaze me. First off,
every district that has a current council member running for
re-election gets the proverbial rubber stamp from the committee. Then
the District E endorsement (which has no incumbent) goes to Mr.
Merritt. It just goes to show that it is all about who you know. But
my personal favorite (and not just because it is the district where I
live) is the council race in District D. In this case, both
incumbents, Mr. Barrett and Mr. McGinley, get the endorsement!? This
shows that the committee wants to make sure that they endorsed the
winner come May 15, no matter who it is. No one in this area is
willing to stick their neck out and do what is right for us, the
taxpayers, the citizens. It has nothing to do with ideas or
leadership, only politics as usual. Are we just going to keep allowing
politicians to lead us around like blind sheep? Let's show the people
in power that we are not as dumb as they think we are. This year,
let's look at the person running for office, not their lineage or
family tree, not their party affiliation or endorsements. Let's look
at their moral fiber and their credentials. Let's look at their ideas
and the supporting information to back those ideas. Let's vote for
individuals that can represent us in a way that correspond to our own
values and principles, people that will do what is right for the City
as a whole, not just themselves. Let's look for individuals who
understand that true leaders put themselves last in order to do what is
right for everyone else.

Timothy Anderson
City Council Candidate
Wilkes-Barre