The LuLac Edition #812, May 10th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: ATTORNEY ANTHONY "TONY" LUMBIS, SCRANTON MAYORAL CANDIDATE GARY DEBILIO, BLOG EDITOR AND LATE MOM AND SCRANTON MAYOR CHRIS DOHERTY.

ELECTRIC CITY DUAL

News out of Scranton tells us the Mayoral race is heating up. The Times Tribune reported Saturday that Mayor Chris Doherty’s re-election campaign raised more than $500,000 since Jan. 1, more than seven times as much as former Councilman Gary DiBileo, his opponent for the Democratic mayoral nomination. The source was campaign finance reports filed Friday. I'm sure this campaign funding will be a focal point of the big debate this Monday night at the University of Scranton's Brennan Hall. The debate starts at 7PM. We plan to be there and give you our perspective. Also, WNEP TV will carry the debate live on WNEP 2. Check your local cable channels for dial position.

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 Anthony "Tony" Lumbis. The order was determined by our lottery at the LuLac Forum last week.

TONY LUMBIS

Tony Lumbis is running for Judge on behalf of the children of Luzerne County… the abused, neglected, abandoned and unwanted children whose cases he has brought to the Orphan's Court for the last 26 years. Tony is a full-time child welfare attorney. Over his career he has brought literally thousands of children’s cases to the court so their parents might get the help they need to be the parents they should be. There are two judicial positions open on the ballot. One is in the Orphan's Court where 80% of the judges time is devoted to child welfare cases. The children of Luzerne County have suffered too much at the hands of judges who did not know what they were doing because they simply did not have the experience. The Orphan's Court Judge should be the one with the most child welfare experience, not someone who will need on-the-job training while deciding the lives of our children. Tony Lumbis is the only candidate with that extensive child welfare experience. Every candidate will promise to keep their integrity if elected. However, voters must look beyond promises and, instead, focus on a candidate's previous actions. If you want someone to serve our county with honesty, dignity and integrity, then look beyond the promises to someone who has served our country with honor, dignity and integrity. Tony is a proud veteran, having served with honor as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Tony has 31 years of trial attorney experience. He is a former union worker and honor student, and an active community leader. But most of all, Tony Lumbis is dedicated to our children. On May 19th, please make one of your two votes for the children of Luzerne County by voting for Tony Lumbis. Together we will serve and honor Luzerne County.

Thank you.
Tony Lumbis was born in Alaska, to Anthony, a Lithuanian immigrant. When he was almost three, Tony moved to Wilkes-Barre and was raised by his Grandmother, Victoria. She was a hard-working union seamstress who taught him the two most important things in life were God and His people--all of them. When Tony's father returned from abroad, they moved to Tehran, Iran in the Middle East. He graduated first in his class from the Tehran American School in 1969. His father's untimely death made college at that time impossible. So, like his father and many of the citizens of Luzerne County, Tony enlisted in the Army. He became a paratrooper and was assigned to the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division, "America's Guard of Honor,” and rose to the rank of non-commissioned officer. Returning to civilian life, Tony enrolled in King's College and achieved numerous academic awards including the award for highest grade point average out of over 400 students. He did this while working up to three jobs at a time to finance his education. It was at this time Tony met Sharon Kormos, daughter of Rosie Albert. He and Sharon married and moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania where Tony attended the Dickinson School of Law. Sharon worked as a nurse and Tony as a union Teamster to help pay for law school. While at Dickinson, Tony was selected for a pilot family law clinic program in which 3rd year law students were specially admitted to the Court of Common Pleas, representing indigent citizens in family law matters. Tony's work with the poor and mentally challenged helped shape his career path. In 1979 the couple returned to Wilkes-Barre and Tony joined the firm of Hourigan, Kluger and Spohrer where he worked in the litigation department. In 1981, Tony became an associate in the Law Office of John P. Moses and in 1983 he opened his own law practice. His legal experience includes numerous criminal cases from simple harassment up to 1st degree murder. Tony also began his child welfare practice in 1983. Although the County Commissioners were Republican and Tony was a Democrat, he was hired over other applicants because the protection of our children was recognized as a non-partisan issue--the concern being experience and knowledge, not politics as usual. Tony has remained a child welfare advocate for the last 26 years, giving up his opportunities in the more lucrative personal injury and criminal fields, to continue his passion for protecting the children. Sharon and Tony have been blessed with two children of their own, Tony II, 28, and Tina, 24. Through the years, Attorney Lumbis has been a youth soccer coach, CCD teacher and lector at his church, Our Lady of Victory at Harvey's Lake. Tony is a past Grand Knight and Former State Advocate of the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the American Legion, Post 495.Tony was a member and president of the Tatra Society, which promotes awareness of Eastern European cultures. He believes one must actively promote one’s heritage to keep cultures alive, such as when he instituted an award for the best Luzerne County high school essay on the topic of one's Eastern European heritage. Sharon and Tony enjoy camping, dancing, motorcycling and just relaxing with friends in their Sweet Valley home.

CHILD ABUSE FACTS

DID YOU KNOW . . .

· The effects of abuse can be devastating and life-long.
· Abused children can grow up to be troubled adults living painful and difficult lives with 45% of them growing up to be alcoholics.
· Luzerne County provided services to 6100 families last year.
· 2200 potential child abuse/neglect reports were investigated last year.
· The average age of a child in foster care is 10 years old.
· The direct and indirect costs associated with child abuse is $1,461.00 per United States Family, per year.
· All child welfare and neglect cases are decided by the Orphans' Court.
· 80% of the Orphans' Court Judge's time is devoted to child welfare cases.
· Tony Lumbis has appeared in Orphans' Court over 21,000 times in his 26 years as a child welfare attorney.
· About 2/3 of the other judicial candidates have no child welfare experience at all.
· The total number of child welfare cases handled by all the other judicial candidates combined is a fraction of the number brought by Tony Lumbis.
· Luzerne County needs a full time Orphans' Court Judge.
· Tony Lumbis is the first and only candidate pledging to seek assignment to the Orphans' Court.
Our children have suffered enough. They deserve the most experienced child welfare advocate. On May 19, 2009 please place one of your votes for the children of Luzerne County. Vote Tony Lumbis for Judge.

LUMBIS ON VIDEO



HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To all those political foes out there fighting tooth and nail for advantage, remember this: no matter what you say about your opponent, their mother loves them. From the Intruders, a song for Mother's Day. This is a video I found on YOU TUBE that is not my story with my mother or your story with your mom. But on this day, there is a common thread.