The LuLac Edition #228, May 17th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: PITTSBURGH MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL, NEW PHILADELPHIA MAYORAL NOMINEE MICHAEL NUTTER AND WILKES BARRE MAYOR THOMAS LEIGHTON.

MORE ELECTION NEWS

We were so busy with the local races, we never got a chance to tell you about the races for Mayor in the big cities. In Philadelphia, Michael Nutter took the Democratic nomination beating not only a Congressman but a State Legislator too.

In the Steel City, 26 year Luke Ravenstahl, the young Mayor who took office upon the death of Bob O'Connor was unopposed and looks to have a free ride to November.

LEIGHTON WINS DEM NOD

Mayor Tom Leighton beat back a spirited challenge from Wilkes Barre activitst Tim Grier. Leighton polled two to one and touted his record of downtown revitalizatiion. Despite some political troubles in some neighborhods in the city on snow removal and litter pick up, Leighton ran up an impressive total. There are some who will say Grier, with vitually 10 signs in the city and no resources to speak of pulled a good vote with 1500. Every incumbent Mayor has had primary challenges after their first term going back to Thomas McLaughlin. McLaughlin had Joe Burns to contend with in 1983, Mayor Namey had Jack Smith Junior in 1991 and Tom McGroarty had Ed Soltis in 1999. A challenger is nothing new. Leighton faces GOPer Linda Stetts in the fall.

COMMISSIONERS RACES

So in Luzerne County, there will be three races to watch for Commissioner. Greg Skrepenak and Mary Ann Petrilla will have their campaign, Steve Urban, GOP Minority commissioner will have his and challenger Bill Jones will also conduct his own race. Both Republican nominees have indicated they'll go their seperate ways and not run as a team. So Skrep and Petrilla will run their effort and the other two Republicans will have their seperate slates, volunteers and staffers out and about. Terrible for the Republicans in the county but fun for the political junkies.

SELF INTEREST VOTING

A recent poster to the last edition talked about how voters sometimes do not vote in their own interest. I've always contended that not everybody should vote because many people are just too damn uninformed on the issues and stupid. My political friends are horrified when I say this but that's how I feel. C'mon, how many times have you had a conversation with someone who tells you they vote and you realize how scary their ideas are? Anyway, I digress. The poster talked about the Coroner's race and how area voters let go a qualified Doctor and replaced him with a Funeral Director. Luzerne County has had Doctors as Coroners for over fifty years, there was Dr. Hudak and before him Dr. John Gibbons. (And full disclosure here, in College I dated a young lady whose father was the Coroner in Sullivan County. He was a Doctor and had his hands full. If Sullivan County recognized the need for a Doctor, why can't we?) Nothing against John Corcoran, he goes to my church, but now, after that time, we vote "down" in terms of qualifications. But this is not only in Luzerne County. It happens in politics all the time. During the 2004 Presidential race, I worked with a shrill, empty headed young lady who loved George Bush. Thought he was the savior of the world. In the same breath she was lamenting the fact that her "WIC" program funding was reduced. When I told her that it was the Bush administration that reduced that program she relied on, she still looked me square in the face and told me what a drunk Kerry's wife was and how cowardly the Democratic standard bearer was in Vietnam. Despite getting less "WIC" money, she loved the President. People routinely vote against their own interests. Our founding fathers and brave serviceman and woman fought and died to protect American freedoms. Even the one that allows you to be as stupid as you want.

MEDIA MATTERS

My buddy L.A. Tarone had a show on today talking about the media coverage on election day. In a future edition, we'll give you our thoughts on election night coverage and who we thought was good.