The LuLac Edition #373, Dec. 18th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: NEW DEPUTY SHERIFF CARL ZAWATSKI AND NEWLY ELECTED SHERIFF MIKE SAVOKINAS SEEN AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY IN THE SUMMER.

SHOCKED!!!!

How can some people say they are shocked that newly minted Sheriff Mike Savokinas has appointed Carl Zawatski, a former top lawman himself to the post as his deputy? Zawatski and Savokinas were joined at the hip during the past campaign. But Zawatski's appointment was oversahowed by sniping between incoming Sheriff Savokinas and the outgoing incubent Barry Stankus. Savokinas, who takes office in January, on Monday accused Stankus of being unhelpful in aiding Savokinas in the transition into office. But Stankus insists his door has been open. Savokinas, he said, has lost a valuable opportunity to learn about how the office operates. Savokinas, a Democrat, defeated Stankus in the November general election. Savokinas complained about the lack of cooperation offered by Stankus during an interview Monday. Savokinas said he chose Zawatski, in part, because his experience as a former sheriff will be helpful in the transition into office.

Stankus disputed Savokinas' claims saying he has seen Savokinas only twice since the election. He said Savokinas has never called him to ask for a meeting. With all due respect, there seems to be a common thread with Savokinas. Whining. He complained someone stole his campaign signs and had the media turn that into such a spectacle you'd think it was a rerun of Pearl Harbor. There was an investigation launched but we hear they were derailed looking for Nicole Simpson's real killer. Throughout the campaign, he said to anyone who would listen that he was not getting a fair shake from the media. Now, he's complaining that Stankus is blocking him from touring the office. What does he need to talk to Stankus about? I thought he was fully qualified, according to his campaign literature of doing the job from day one? And besides, if Stankus is being petchulant, big deal. He has Zawatski to show him the ropes after the first of the year. This complaining does nothing to enhance the new Sheriff''s image and only underscores how important Zawatski will be to him. I can just see a scene like in the Godfather where Johnny Fontaine is sobbing and whining and The Godfather grabs him by the lapels and says, "Be a man! Stop crying!" Zawatski should take him aside and tell him to stop complaining. He'll have plenty of time to make his mark and try to break the late Frank Jagodinski's longevity record in that office.

OF LITTLE NOTE

Barely noticed amidst the hubbub of the county financial mess is this little item from the Times Leader. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry is asking the county to forgive about $1 million in interest owed on property in the Crestwood Industrial Park and the Hanover Crossings because that land has been deemed "unusable," county officials said. See, this is a huge problem. Local government gives tax breaks to organizations like the Chamber and out of town jaspers who promise "high paying jobs" for the consideration. Then when something goes wrong, they go hat in hand to "daddy government" and want all forgiven. Yet if a taxpayer tries to do that on a property, they'd laugh he or she out of the room. Wonder why we're in debt at the county level and still have pathetic paying jobs? Here's your answer.