The LuLac Edition #516, July 8th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: CURRENT LACKAWANNA COUNTY CONTROLLER KEN McDOWELL, THE PA. TURNPIKE SIGN, AND LUZERNE COUNTY DA JACKIE MUSTO CARROLL.

CALLING KEN!!!

The Scranton City Council has "come a calling" for Lackawanna County Controller Ken McDowell. The august body in the Electric City wants to question McDowell on his tenure as the city tax collector. Scranton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to subpoena former Tax Collector Ken McDowell. The vote came only after the panel formally requested an investigation into Mr. McDowell's activities over the past six years, when he administered the Single Tax Office. The action also came after the majority on the panel expressed frustration with the lack of answers from Mr. McDowell about $12.2 million in undistributed tax funds found in the office earlier this year by the current tax collector. McDowell would do well to appear before Council and answer their questions. There are some who say that McDowell though well educated does not have the political or rhetorical skills to answer questions from the famously rambunctious legislative body in the land of Lac. What's worse is that Council is getting no answers from the current administration. Back in May

Marilyn Vitali-Flynn, the current tax collector went before council in May to answer questions about the Single Tax Office. However, during that meeting, Councilman Bill Courtright was told by Mrs. Vitali-Flynn it was "none of your business," when he asked about the interest earned by the account holding the $12.2 million. This Council which has been factionalized in recent years voted straight up with no opposition to get answers. Someone better provide them because right now non answers are under penalty of law.

McDOWELL AT A GLANCE: Age: 36.

Occupation: Lackawanna County Controller.

Education: Scranton Preparatory School, 1989;

bachelor’s degree, public administration, University of Scranton,1993.

Family: Single; daughter, Kelly.

PIKE SPIKE

Mixed in with the ads for Presidential candidates and cable network convention coverage will be a full scale media blitz on behalf of the Pa. Turnpike. Undeterred by the recent rebuff by the State Legislature, the private group that hopes to manage the Pennsylvania Turnpike is still committed to winning the support of politicians and the public. A multimillion-dollar public relations blitz will begin this month. It will include radio spots and a direct-mail campaign that will place 4 million to 6 million pieces of literature in mailboxes. Field teams will promote the proposal at selected fairs and festivals around the state. That's right, dress up a couple of hotties and strategically place them in state fairs around the state sand you have yourself a campaign. The Legislature must sign off on any plan to lease the turnpike, and the plan faces a fight in Harrisburg. The Abertis group has offered $12.8 billion to operate the turnpike for 75 years. The mailings will tout the benefits of that cash to the state, along with planned safety and road improvements. Meanwhile Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed leasing the turnpike to a private operator to generate more money for roads, bridges and mass transit. Radio ads are set in late July to compliment the mailings. TV spots may not be far off.

FORE!! FOR THE DA!!!

On Friday, August 8, 2008 the District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll Invitational Golf Tournament will be held at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. Tee time is to begin at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start. Registration fees are $125 per person. If you would like to attend the dinner only, the cost is $50.00 per person. Please register as soon as possible to secure your place in the event.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Platinum, Gold and Silver Hole Sponsorship indicates a monetary donation from an individual or organization in support of the event in one of 3 levels:
* Platinum Level Hole Sponsorship: $500.00

* Gold Level Hole Sponsorship: $200.00

* Silver Level Hole Sponsorship: $100.00

If anyone is interested in helping to sponsor the event, please contact Sal Bernardi at 570-820-8459.

Golf tourneys have long been successful fundraisers for non profits, media partners trying to make their goals for the corporations that own them as well as politicos. Musto-Carroll has so far recieved high marks for her tenure in the DA's office and grateful appreciation from local TV news reporters for her ability to articulate the summary of an arrest, indictment or conviction in understandable language.