The LuLac Edition #753, Mar. 11th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: SCALES OF JUSTICE.

THEN THERE WERE 17

As of 430PM Tuesday, there were 17 candidates in Luzerne County competing for the seat on Common Pleas Court. That information came from the Pa. Department of State website. All 17 candidates have cross-filed to run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. The primary election will decide two or three nominations in each party. Former Judge Ann Lokuta has asked the state Supreme Court to rule that only two nominations in each party will be decided because Lokuta is appealing her removal from the bench. Party nominees will run in the November election, and voters will then will elect two or three judges. The amount on judicial seats up for election depends on how the Supreme Court rules on Lokuta's motion. Even off the bench, the ramifications of the Lokuta decision by the Judicial Review board still have an impact. That ruling is set for late March. Sixteen Democrats have filed as well as one Republican. They are:

Richard Hughes, Fairview Township.
Anthony J. Lumbis, Ross Township.
Thomas Marsilio, Dorrance Township.
Stephen Menn, Plains Township.
Molly Hanlon Mirabito, Forty Fort.
Joseph J. Musto, Duryea.
Tom O’Connor, Kingston.
Michael Pendolphi, Kingston Township.

Jennifer L. Rogers, Harveys Lake.
Joseph Sklarosky Jr., Fairview Township.

Eugene Sperazza, Dorrance Township.

William H. Amesbury, Wilkes-Barre.
Michael Blazick, Fairview Township.
C.J. Bufalino, Dallas.
Tina Polachek Gartley, Plains Township.

Joseph Terrana, Yatesville.
Daniel Zola, Hazleton.

With 17 candidates competing for so few offices, it is possible that a winning candidate can garner just under 20% to gain a seat. What will be interesting to see is how each candidate will try to campaign for both party's blessing. Two other Judges are up for retention, Thomas Burke and Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr.