The LuLac Edition #754, Mar. 12th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: LUZERNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

(PHOTO FROM PITTSTON POLITICS.COM) AND SENATORIAL WOULD BE CANDIDATE PEG LUKSIK.

HOME RULE ASPIRANTS

These are the candidates running for the Home Rule Study Commission. They are: John Adonizio, Hughestown; Veronica Ciaruffoli, Larksville; Frank E.P. Conyngham, Shavertown; Darlene Duggins, Wilkes-Barre; James T. Gaughan, Courtdale; Walter L. Griffith Jr., Wilkes-Barre; Ray Gustave, Swoyersville; Jim Haggerty, Kingston; Richard Heffron, Dallas; Christopher C.J. Kersey, Kingston; Paul P. Krombel, Wapwallopen; Charmaine H. Maynard, Sugarloaf Township; Rick Morelli, Sugarloaf Township; Jefffrey Niemiec, Wilkes-Barre; Jack Schumacher, Kingston; Frank Sindaco, Wilkes-Barre; Phillip Struzzeri, Jenkins Township; Edward Transue, Dallas; Robert Wanyo, Forty Fort; and Joe Wizda, Freeland. Twenty candidates are running for nine seats in the May 19th primary.

POLLS STARTING

Last night we received a telephone poll asking this one question on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas race. Would we have a problem or concern voting for a Judge who is in his mid 60s and would not finish out the 10 year term due to mandatory retirement? Intriguing question. It seems like it is directed toward Judge Joseph Musto a jurist in his mid 60s and Magistrate Bill Amesbury who is in his early 60s. Like most polls, we could not determine whether it was pro or con for a more mature candidate. But interesting nonetheless.

TOOLE UNDER SCRUTINY

Published reports have Judge Michael Toole under scrutiny by people investigating the Judiciary in the County. It is alleged that Toole recieved some sort of payment from Robert Powell, he of the Powell Law firm. Powell has told investigators that he was extorted by Judges Ciavarella and Conahan. THe scrutiny in this thing, at least in my mind is going to lean more heavily on Powell than Toole. But like all things with this federal probe, "we shall see".

LUKSIC ON THE MOVE

Peg Luksik, who ran for governor three times in the 1990s, plans to challenge Arlen Specter for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010 and said Tuesday she wouldn't back down if fellow conservative Pat Toomey decides to join the race. Luksik said she is not deterred by Toomey's prospective candidacy. Specter defeated Toomey, a former congressman, by less than 2 percentage points in the 2004 primary after then-President George W. Bush and then-Sen. Rick Santorum stepped in to help the incumbent. The 79-year-old Specter, who has said he plans to seek a sixth term, recently drew the wrath of many members of his party when he cast one of three Republican votes for the $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed in February.
Toomey, 47, had been encouraging speculation that he would run for governor in 2010 but announced last week that he was considering another run for Senate. He cited Specter's stimulus vote as a reason to run.
Toomey declined to comment on Luksik's candidacy. Luksic is a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, in Special Education and Elementary Education. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree by Stonehill College in Massachusetts in 1997. Mrs. Luksik is the founder and Chairman of Mom's House, an alternative to abortion project which provides single parents and their children with the combination of child care and support services necessary to allow them to complete their education and escape the welfare cycle. Currently, 11 programs are open in four states, and over 300 single parents have successfully completed post-secondary educational programs using Mom's House services. She is also the Chairman of the National Parents Commission, an organization dedicated to giving parents a voice in the public policy arena. National Parents is recognized as an expert in the areas of education and family issues. Mrs. Luksik is the author, with Pamela Hobbs Hoffecker, of Outcome-Based Education: The State's Assault on our Children's Values. She has also written a book about being a parent, called Love, Mom.

A TAXING SITUATION

I've never run a small business but have the utmost respect for people who do. As a radio sales rep, I saw my share of hard working people who put their heart and soul into their enterprise. One thing I noticed about all of them, without exception was that they knew where every penny went. That is why I am so perplexed over this Representative Ken Smith situation. Smith has paid off three years’ worth of overdue city taxes — but now owes delinquent school and county taxes from 2008 totaling almost $9,000. Smith owes the money on his family’s Cedar Avenue restaurant and a parking lot adjacent to Fig Street. Plus penalties and interest, the taxes are now more than two months overdue. I give Ken Smith credit for paying his taxes, albeit late. He has chosen the honorable course. That said, one still has to wonder how someone could wage a campaign for public office and not pay taxes on a property. Smith has said that "no one is perfect". I can agree with that but public officials should be held to a higher standard. There are thousands of people in his district who have paid their taxes on time. None however have run for his seat which has been unopposed in 2008.