The LuLac Edition #216, May 6th, 2007

THANK YOU



To all the interested citizens of Wilkes Barre who attended the LuLac City Council Forum and especially to the candidates, we say THANK YOU. More than twenty candidates attended the event. Each candidate had his or her own ideas, thoughts and visions about where they wanted to take the city. An audience member said it was a shame that this was a district voting set up, he said to me after the meeting that there was an abundance of candidates in each district that could easily become his number one choice. There was passion, energy and enthusiasm. Wilkes Barre is served well by the quality of each candidate for council that presented their ideas today.
Here's a quick impression of how I saw the candidates at the Forum. In later editions, we'll show you photos, news coverage of the meeting as well as some other thoughts. The meeting lasted from 4:30PM to 7:30PM and the order in which the candidates spoke was done by lottery, first by district, then by candidate in each district. And the rundown is:



DISTRICT E

CHARLOTTE RAUP: Started the Forum, talked passionately about neighborhood crime watch units, the many awards and contacts she had in making her a great representative for District E. Raup said she was tired of looking at the filth on the streets and said that an ignored neighborhood would soon become a crime ridden neighborhood.
MIKE MERRITT: Was short and to the point, talked about his volunteer efforts in youth sports, his commitment to the neighborhood, his door to door efforts in finding out what the people in his district will need as well as his ability to work with others.
RON SILKOSKY: Brought up his Hollywood and film experience by telling the audience about the 1972 movie starring Robert Redford called “The Candidate”. Citing his commitment to his roots, Silkosky let it be known eloquently that unlike the Redford character in the movie, he’d have an answer to the question, “now what?”



DISTRICT B

RAY ARRELLANO: Gave a wonderful speech cut short by time. But his comments would bring Chamber types to their feet. He cited the love he had for the area as a transplant but was dismayed by how politics seems to overrule what good government should be.
TONY THOMAS: Thomas gave a vigorous defense of his tenure on council. Brought up past and proposed paving projects. Gave credit to the Rendell administration for believing in the city and defended the Leighton administration on community and neighborhood projects.
VINCENT GUARNERI: A Republican, Guarneri brought up some good points about social behavior. He said we were the most entertained country in the world and therefore more susceptible to being bored. Said the city has to concentrate on all of the people, especially basic neighborhood services and remarked that after that’s finished, the other things will fall into place.
LISA MCGLYNN COPE: Short and to the point, she listed her credentials and gave a presentation that centered on her being a people’s representative. Said that in her travels, many people were unhappy with the “status quo” and wanted a change.



DISTRICT C


JUSTIN McCARTHY: Paid tribute to his father’s time on council, identified himself as the son who didn’t run for Mayor. McCarthy told the group that a council representative needed to protect the district and look out for the whole city, not necessarily in that order. McCarthy said he wasn’t crazy about the District set up but declared if elected he’d try to walk a balanced line between serving the city as a whole and his district too.
PETER GAGLIARDI: In an informative presentation, Gagliardi said that council needs a Republican on Council to present a bi partisan working agenda. He proposed having hearings on major department issues like snow removal and essential city services. His speech mirrored the basic campaign themes he has been utilizing in his frequent letters to the editor. What was ground breaking was his comment that if a voter didn’t like him as a GOP representative on Council, there were others to choose from.
SAM TROY: A very passionate presentation about why he was running. Said that Council needs to make city residents welcome and make sure they (the citizens) are treated with respect when they come before Council. Troy said it was time to take back the government, trim the fat from the bloated city budget, and make Council a more accountable body in its approval of spending practices in any administration.




DISTRICT D

MICHAEL McGINLEY: Defended the current administration and his tenure on Council. McGinley in a forceful defense of his colleagues, told the assembled about his time on the school board, his commitment to the city and his family’s role in his political life. Saying that he’s working for his children’s generation and those thereafter to be better, he asked for another term on council. His prsentation sounded like a political speech, befitting his years of community elected involvement, well reasoned, sound, enthusiastic and always remembering to ask for the vote.
JOE DANIEL: This candidate talked about his runs for an "at large" seat in the 1999 and 2003 elections. Daniel said that the only thing that has changed has been the re-districting format. He told the group that he was commited to the same pledges as before in past campaigns which included agressive police protection, enhanced services for neighborhoods like a spring time "clean up" program as well as reaching out to members of his district to get their comments in how things can change for the better in the city. While not slamming the incumbents like the other candidates did, Daniel still deftly got his point across that in a district where he was facing two current office holders, change was needed.
BILL BARRETT: Barrett cited his time as a police officer and the need for more police protection. He talked about the quality of life in the downtown, (citing the new street lights and theatre as examples) on how when he first came on council there were no downtown amenities to speak of and said that any change needs to take time and planning. On the crime and quality of life issues, Barrett also told the crowd that he knew the inside workings of the criminal justice system which would help with his mission to make the city a safer place. His speech was short, to the point and very polished.
LINDA STETTS: Said that the city was going to “pot”, and that her neighborhood was a “pig’s sty”. Commented that the city administration has all but ignored the neighborhood’s and parks, she pledged to make her district and the city the focal point of a renewal that would give neighborhood’s a safe, clean and tree lined environment.
TIM ANDERSON: Characterized himself as a numbers cruncher. Said the city can do great things with community development money but that there has to be an accountable money trail. Felt that the colleges in the city, which are tax free should contribute something to the city funding on a student by student basis. Said taxes would not have to be raised to come up with new revenue but rather creative ways of raising dollars for improvements in the neighborhoods and the city.
BRUCE SZECZENSKI: Gave one of the better presentations of the evening poking fun at his novice candidacy. Said that he felt he needed to go directly to the people to hear what their needs and ideas were. Told the audience voters actually gave him lists of things to work on in his tenure, said that he ignored voter lists and met with every citizen, no matter what party to get his information.



DISTRICT A

JOHN MADAY: Talked about his volunteer work through the years and his commitment to community service. Maday talked about the need for each district to work as a viable entity in serving its people but to look out for the needs of the city as a whole. Proposed informal meetings with each district representative to make sure needs of the city are being met.
WALTER GRIFFITH, JR.: Told the audience about his 2003 race for Council, said that as a Council member he would treat citizens appearing before the body with respect. Said that the taxpayers needed a watch dog to make certain that all money is being spent properly and that neighborhood expectations are being met. His presentation got a very vigorous reception from the crowd when he said that all of the incumbents needed to go and pledged his effort in rebuilding a better Wilkes Barre.
RICK CRONAUER: Cited his expertise in running a 100 year old business, said that the city and district needed representatives who would get the straight information from citizens. Said he would hold monthly informal meeting and essentially prepare a list of objectives that his constituents wanted addressed. But added that the effort has to begin with more face to face communication.
TIM GRIER: Tim Grier stood up in front of the crowd without any notes and spoke from the heart. He said Wilkes Barre needs to do a few things different in getting grant monies to develop the city. He cited high administrative and health care costs and felt citizens could be served better by their government with less money for staff, cronies and campaign contributors and more for the actual running of the town. Said the downtown replaced beat up old empty buildings with shiny, new and clean buildings. Like Griffith, he received the longest and loudest applause.