The LuLac Edition #341, Nov. 6th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: NEWLY RE-ELECTED MAYOR TOM LEIGHTON OF WILKES BARRE AND THE WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN.

A SWEEP!

Imitating the 2007 Boston Red Sox, the Wilkes Barre Democratic party swept into office in the five districts. Each Democratic contender beat their Republican challengers by commanding margins. It seemed like the Democrats were employing the old "Rose Garden" strategy of past politicians. Wearing the office as a badge of honor, campaigning from afar and letting the power of the office sweep them back in without saying much of anything. Various candidates made sporadic appearances in their districts and the Mayor campaigned by being Mayor, showing up at the Murray Fire, getting Governor Rendell to show up with $750,000 dollars to tear the building down and not engaging his foe in any way, shape or form. You gotta love it, why campaign when you have all that going for you.

The Mayor and the Dems won by touting past accomplishments but not saying much about anything else. This frustrated the GOP to no end.

Here's a District by District breakdown and some thoughts.

DISTRICT A

To winner Rick Cronaurer, it was a numbers game. Pulling 800 votes in the primary, Cronaurer kept a low profile, didn't engage his opponent and walked away with a huge 2 to 1 win. Walter Griffith fought a great fight but could not overcome the huge registration in that district.

DISTRICT B

Tony Thomas romps to another term beating back a challenge from former Police Chief Tony George and Vince Guaneri. Thomas, who succeeded the late Al Boris on Council knows how to campaign. Tony was in the Rose Garden too.

DISTRICT C

Kathy Kane wins over Peter Gagliardi who pulled about 300 votes to Kane's 700. Kane was scarce on the campaign trail but the force of her name and service gave her a huge edge. The hysterical thing is that when the Re-districting proposal was going through the court process, the biggest foe was Kane who did everything she could to derail its success. A district wide seat didn't seem to hurt her at all.

DISTRICT D

Bill Barrett avoided debates and confrontation and let Linda Stets flay about talking about his aloof attitude and how he walks straight ahead in his Parsons neighborhood and doesn't look right or left. Bill was just smelling those roses in the Garden.

DISTRICT E

Mike Merritt spoke his mind, defended the Mayor's salary against the GOP attacks and campaigned like a man possessed. Turns out he didn't have to because John Yencha never bothered to show up or put up a fight.

IRONY

The biggest irony of the night was that the person who was the driving force behind the Council realignment, the person who saw it through and made it happen, Christine Katsock, chose not to run for any citywide office. To me it was almost like Jefferson or Madison doing the Declaration of Indepedence and The Constitution respectively, putting it in place and then being asked if they wanted to be a part of it and then saying, "Uh, nope. You handle it". Her presence on the campaign trail was missed.

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