The LuLac Edition #720, Feb. 11th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: ATTORNEY THOMAS MARSILLIO AND THE LATE JARRETT JENNINGS, CIRCA 1959.

ANOTHER THREE IN

Three more attorneys threw their hats into the ring for a seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Tina Polachek Gartley announced that she’s a candidate for Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Gartley, 42, of Plains Township, made the announcement before 200 supporters at the Courthouse. A Democrat, she intends to cross-file. Attorney Mark Bufalino, of the storied Bufalino legal family, will announce his intention to run on Feb. 17, the first day candidates are permitted to circulate and file nomination petitions. A Citizens for Bufalino campaign office will be opened in West Pittston. Bufalino's father Charles, lost an extremely close race in the late 80s and has been a pillar of the legal community. Tom Marsillio announced that he will make another run for Judge this time around. Marsillio is in private practice and ran against Judge David Lupas for a seat on the bench. He has also run as a Republican for District Attorney. Marsillio switched party affiliations during the Bush administration citing his disappointment with the direction his party was headed. A former Marine, Marsillio is well known in the communities of Wilkes Barre and Hazleton. More attorneys are expected to jump into the fray.

WHY WE LOVE ARLEN

It might have been the three brushes of death with cancer, his midwestern upbringing or just plain integrity, but my friends and I might even start believing the "Magic Bullet" theory. Specter's behavior and willingness to cooperate with the Obama administration clearly shows the man is concerned about the country first and his party, well that listing might be somewhere down the top 10 for Arlen. Specter has shown why Pennsylvanians have voted for him for 30 years. His moderate belief system is good for the country. Helping with the stimulus package is proof of his good intentions.

NOT SO FAST.......

Even though Specter is enjoying wide support, look for candidates to get into the race in 2010 to oppose him. One of them is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston. Former National Constitution Center President Joseph M. Torsella became the first person to file paperwork starting a campaign committee to challenge Specter. Torsella, is a Berwick native. Torsella said in his announcement that the time for change is now in Washington pointing to the high unemployment rate in the Commonwealth and the many health care unisured in the state. Good points but these are precisely the issues Specter is working on and if there's a modicum of progress, the 30 year veteran can point to his bipartisan stances and involvement in the Obama stimulus efforts.

JARRETT JENNINGS

Jarrett Jennings, former Luzerne County Commissioner died at the age of 97 the other day. Jennings had many accomplishments of public service at home and abroad. During World War II, he served as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army in the Ordinance Department, and overseas in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations headquarters in Italy, where he received a Bronze Star medal for meritorious service during military operations there. He was associated in the practice of law with attorneys Leo W. White, J. Justin Blewitt and Vincent M. Quinn for many years, with offices in the city of Pittston. He was active in the community affairs of Greater Pittston as an officer-director and trustee of many charitable, civic and community organizations. From 1947 to 1959, he served as a school director of West Pittston School District, now Wyoming Area, and from 1960 to 1964, as a County Commissioner of Luzerne County. During his term of office, Valley Crest Nursing Home was established, equipped and placed into operation. From 1953 to 1973, he was one of the major stockholders, directors and officers of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Wilkes-Barre. As County Commissioner, Jennings was involved in a great deal of political intrigue. He was elected in 1959 as a Democrat with running mate Edward J. McCullough. They beat Republicans T. Newell Wood and J. Bowden Northrup. Jennings and McCullough polled 74,000 votes to Wood's and Nortrup's 64,000. 1959 was a year of Democratic rebirth. The Dems won a Judgeship (Bernard Brominski) and the offices of DA (Stephen Teller) plus County Treasuer, Register of Wills and Coroner. The Dems were beside themselves finally cracking open the Fine GOP political machine. But somewhere in the middle of his term as a duly elected Democrat, Jennings switched parties forming an alliance with Northrup making McCullough the Minority Commissioner. This move demoralized the Dems who in 1963 lost the Commissioners seats, the DA's office, the Treasuer's office, Register of Wills and Coroner. Jennings and Northrup were rejected in the '63 GOP primary. Jennings later ran for school director posts in the Wyoming Area but lost. His one term as County Commissioner turned out to be eventful for the progress the county made as well as for the political fireworks he provided. A memorial service will be held on Saturday February 14, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. at the Anthony Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Friends may call Saturday, from 1 p.m. to time of service.

KAJORSKI'S BOMBSHELL

Congressman Kanjorski laid a bombshell on CSPAN viewers yesterday. In response to a very frustrated caller, the Congressman revealed some nuances of the breakdown of financial institutions last fall. Kanjorski said that there was in effect an electronic run on the banks of more than 550 billion. His comments were the number 2 story on Keith Olbermann's show on MSNBC. Here they are from YOU TUBE: