The LuLac Edition #805, May 4th, 2009

ATTORNEY MICHAEL PENDOLPHI, FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JOHN EDWARDS AND LUZERNE COUNTY GOP CONTROLLER CANDIDATE WALTER GRIFFITH, JUNIOR.

JOHNNY BE BAD

During the 2004 campaign, then Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards entered auditoriums to the strains of Johnny B Good, the Chuck Berry classic. Now, his once-prominent political career is buried and the turmoil of his marriage is playing out in public. If things didn't get any worse than that, word came Sunday that John Edwards is facing a federal inquiry. The two-time Democratic presidential candidate acknowledged that investigators are assessing how he spent his campaign funds — a subject that could carry his extramarital affair from the tabloids to the courtroom. Edwards' political action committee paid more than $100,000 for video production to the firm of the woman with whom Edwards had an affair. In a poll taken by AOL, 90% of those surveyed said they did not want to see Edwards return to any public office.

JUDICIAL CANDIDATE BIO

As part of our on going series in covering the Luzerne and Lackawanna County Judicial races, we are going to do brief profiles on those candidates running. In today’s edition, we continue with Attorney Michael Pendolphi. The order was determined by our lottery at the LuLac Forum this past week.

MICHAEL PENDOLPHI

MICHAEL A. PENDOLPHI is an attorney practicing in the areas of family law, criminal defense and personal injury. He is a frequent lecturer on family law issues for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Mr. Pendolphi taught criminal defense and family law for five years at Luzerne County Community College and also taught at Lackawanna Junior College in their municipal police officers education and training commission. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Scranton and his J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law. Mr. Pendolphi is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Luzerne County Bar Association (Family Law Division and past chairman of the Young Lawyers Division). Pendolphi, who was elected to Laflin Borough Council when he was 18, said he is not a politician. He said his family has instilled in him a strong work ethic and he vowed to bring that to the county bench. Pendolphi is sole proprietor of his law office in Forty Fort. His practice concentrates in the areas of family law, criminal defense, personal injury, corporate/commercial law, real estate and municipal law. He is a graduate of Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Del., and received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Scranton. He and his wife, Sharon, have one daughter, Madyson, 6.
In his announcement and to the Times Leader, Pendolphi said, "The county court system has been rocked, but it’s not broken,” Pendolphi said. “We need judges who are honest, have integrity and will adjudicate disputes on a level playing field, regardless of who the parties are or the lawyers representing them.” Pendolphi said his 18 years of trial experience is more than any of the other 16 announced candidates. “There is no time for on-the-job training when people’s lives, liberty, family and property are at stake,” he said. Pendolphi said that while getting his petitions signed he spoke to many voters who told him they want to see a change at the courthouse. “They are tired of the way things have been done and want a change,” he said. “We have already seen what happened in our county when elected officials put their interests before the public. I promise that that will not happen when you elect me judge.” Pendolphi, who was elected to Laflin Borough Council when he was 18, said he is not a politician. He said his family has instilled in him a strong work ethic and he vowed to bring that to the county bench. Pendolphi is sole proprietor of his law office in Forty Fort. His practice concentrates in the areas of family law, criminal defense, personal injury, corporate/commercial law, real estate and municipal law.

MEET AND GREETS

PENDOLPHI

A “Meet the Candidate” night will be on Thursday, May 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Chicken Coop, 531 Scott St., Wilkes-Barre, for Michael A. Pendolphi, candidate for judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

GRIFFTH

Walter Griffith Jr would cordially like to invite you to come and enjoy breakfast on May 16, 2009 at 9:00 AM at Picketts Charge Restaurant 64 E Center Hill Rd in Dallas PA. the cost is $10.00 per person. Walter L Griffith Jr is your Republican Candidate for Luzerne County Controller, and would be pleased and honored to have you attend this breakfast and get the chance to ask questions and meet Walter Griffith Jr. Please respond to Imabari1@aol.com or phone Walter at 570-822-3667 if you would like to make a reservation.

REILLY REDUX

There has been some feedback regarding the Bob Reilly story. We received a letter from Walter Griffith, Junior, candidate for one of the county row offices on his thoughts regarding this issue. As always, he pulls no punches.
I would like to write in regarding the story about Bob Reilly " Luzerne County Clerk of Courts" and his ability to have a job as a Automobile salesman in addition to his County Row Office. Mr. Reilly is a disgrace to the County Row Officers and the taxpayers for his behavior and he should immediately quit his job as a salesman or County Row Officer. This is the same person that has stated "on the record" that his job requires more money from the taxpayers and he has demonstrated that he isn't even on the job "Full Time". This is the same person that used the County Taxpayers money to fund a lawsuit against the taxpayers to stop the Clerk of Courts budget because it was not enough funds for his office. The Luzerne County Courthouse has had its time in the sun for to long for all the wrong reasons, and this is just another case of the abilities of a few, that tarnish the entire beauty of the wonderful building that will be celebrating its 150 year's of existence. My time has been spent the past 3 years trying to hold the elected officials of this County accountable to the taxpayers, by attending County Commissioner meetings, and asking for accountability and transparency in government, when all the rest of the candidates that have now come on the scene have been silent. The County Commissioners have never held anyone accountable for their abuse of power in government in the past, and I as a taxpayer advocate, have been trying to have them do this since attending the first meeting regarding the issue of the Debit Card abuser's in which I call the "magnificent seven. The taxpayers of Luzerne County should and must have elected officials that are "Full Time" and should not accept anything less, and this can be accomplished by instituting a policy in personnel that requires everyone to "Log In" and "Log Out" and show mileage for all travel to designate their time out of the office. I have been asking for the use of a " Badge Scanner" or "time Clock" to verify the attendance of all County Employee's and I feel with the abuse of this type with Mr. Rielly it is long over due for the taxpayers. I, as a taxpayer advocate, the past three years in the County, and the past 7 years in the City of Wilkes Barre, have taught me several lessons about our government regarding our Elected Officials like Mr. Reilly and Ms. Moran, as well as a few others, that feel they are above the same rules of employment as the people they supervise, and that is that we, as taxpayers, are always being taken advantage of by a few people in government that can get away with it, and we need people to always be there asking questions and holding our government accountable.
I, as your taxpayer advocate, have attended the meetings at my own cost, and have been a taxpayer advocate for the taxpayers of Luzerne County on many issues that concern abuse of power by the elected officials. I spoke out for the taxpayers regarding the "Debit Cards" and tried to have the "Abuser's" fired for their actions, however the Commissioners chose to turn their heads and wink and nod at this type of corruption.
I, as a your taxpayer advocate, represented everyone in the County. at my own cost, regarding the court case to borrow over 16 million dollars because of the Commissioners reckless spending and was successful in having the courts rule in the taxpayers favor to lower that to 5 million.
The reason for my bringing this to light is because at election time, we always seem to see candidate ask for the taxpayers confidence and vote, and then we never hear from them again after the election. I have demonstrated that I will always be there for the taxpayers "AT MY OWN EXPENSE" because I truly care about them and its not about myself or the money.
I vow to all the taxpayers that I will be a " FULL TIME" Controller, and that means that I will be in the office at the same times that I expect my staff to be there, and I will lead by example. I will not abuse the taxpayers like Mr. Reilly or Ms. Moran or the others that are pledging to be "FULL TIME" just to get elected and then "Thumb their noses" at the taxpayers once they are elected. I will be the right person for the job and will not pay a vendor for work if they don't follow the contract like what happened with 21st Century and our botched reassessment for the profit of our corrupt officials.
I would like to conclude by saying that there are several people that are professionals running for public office, and are asking for your support to get the votes required to win the election on May 19th.I would suggest that each taxpayer ask this one very important question on election day and that is " Where were these people that are asking for our vote when we needed them when our elected officials were abusing their power and our money" ?
The answer is clear that on election day we need to vote for "Walter L Griffith JR for Luzerne County Controller. He truly is a man of "Honesty and Integrity" and also someone that has demonstrated his ability to fight and speak for the taxpayers because he cares and will not abandon the taxpayers after he is elected as your next County Controller.