The LuLac Edition #267, July 19th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: FORMER WBRE TV NEWS REPORTER AMY BRADLEY, WILK'S "CORBETT" AND LACKAWANA COMMISSIONER AND PRISON BOARD HEAD A.J. MUNCHAK.

PRISON REDUX

The current Lackawanna County Commissioners, Bob Cordaro and A.J. Muchak were elected in 2003 because of allegations surrounding the Lackawanna County prison. It was said Commissioner Joe Corcoran used prison employees to do things for him persnally as well as the warden Thomas Gilhooley. Both GOP candidates attacked the issue as an indictment on how the long term commissioners were resorting to favoritism and cronyism. The charges, in addition to a few other things, resonated and a new majority was formed. Now in this race, the news that a female prisoner gave birth on the floor of a jail cell has brought to the surface allegations against the new majority, specifically Munchak who is head of the prison board. The prison has escorts that take the female prisoners back and forth for visitations. The prison has cells that reoccupied by inmates in a block, you mean to tell me that no one heard the prisoner in question or any of her cell mates screaming for help? I'm not a dad but I've heard women in labor. They scream. And what about the fact that medical help could not be contacted from within the facility. It is an issue much different than 2003. The issue is not cronyism but competence. If this regime can't even handle a prisoner mdical issue and politically lets it blow out ofproportion, how prepared are they to govern into the next term? Let me remind all who will listen, the Cordaro -Munchak ticket won office by a mere 200 votes. 200 more votes and Joe Corcoran would have been re-elected. They didn't get a mandate, they won in a squeaker. And now, with this latest prison revelation, they can lose In one too. Add to this mix is WILK's "Corbett". In 2003, there were no voices of righteous indignation like his. Munchak has his hands full with Mr. Corbett, a young prisoner forced to bear a child in prison is something all of us should have sympathy for, no matter what she's been charged with. But this case is in Corbett's wheelhouse. Look for the talk show host to keep talking about this until election day. 200 votes and Corbett everyday keying in on this....200 votes. That's all they won by. With Corbett, the tax hike, the Yankee deal which is losing a bit of its bloom now that Luzerne County is in a lawsuit with Lackawanna over it, and this prison issue, it can all add up. Or down. 200 votes. And one more thing about the prison issue, it is ironic that people who cannot vote because of their confinement, can control the destiny of the commissioner's race. Lackawanna Wonderful, indeed!

GOOD LUCK AMY!

A belated good luck and God speed to Amy Bradley from WBRE TV who left last month to go back to school to pursue a degree in law. Bradley covered the Hugo Selinksky case and without a doubt came into contact with many local barristers. After meeting with them, reporting on them and observing them in close proximity, she probably thought, "yeah, I can do this". Amy interviewed me a few times and was always professional and a pleasure to talk with off camera. I hear she's even read my book so it is only proper and fitting that we "wish her well in her future endeavors".