The LuLac Edition #975, Oct. 15th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: WILKES BARRE AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE HARRY HAAS AND SAM TROY, RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT FOR THE BOARD.

LULAC FORUM FINALIZED

The LuLac Political Letter will be holding a political forum for candidates for Luzerne County Controller Monday night, Oct. 26th from 7 to 9pm at Bentley’s Route 309 in Ashley. We had originally scheduled it for Tuesday the 27th but WVIA TV is doing its broadcast debate on that evening with the three judicial candidates. Democrat Bob Morgan, Republican Walter Griffith and Independent Wil Toole have all accepted our invitation and will participate. The event is open to the public. The format is yet to be determined.

TROY IN

Sam Troy is running for the Wilkes Barre School Board as a write in candidate. Troy comes from a great tradition of public service in area school districts. His father Wilbur Troy ran for the Wyoming Valley West School district many times until finally one day HE WON!!! Sam tried to run in the primary but as a registered independent that wasn’t possible. Then he missed the deadline to get on the November ballot and has decided to try a write in. With the new voting machines, a write in campaign is much easier. Troy points to the federal troubles enveloping (Board President Frank) Pizzella, and two other board members – James Height and Brian Dunn – who are also accused of corruption. Height agreed to plead guilty and resigned from the board. Dunn awaits a hearing and has kept his seat on the board but has not attended any meetings. Troy said the corruption charges, the board’s refusal to oust Dunn for his absenteeism and a lack of reforms since the first charges were leveled in spring all added up to his decision to run. There are five candidates for four open seats. Three cross-filed and won on both tickets in the primaries: Christine Katsock, Robert Corcoran and incumbent Lynn Evans. Phillip Latinski will be on the Democratic ballot only, while Harry Haas will be on the Republican ticket only. Katsock garnered the most votes in the primaries in both parties and was appointed by the board to fill Height’s term through the first week of December, when new board members will be sworn in.

HARRY HAAS ON LINE

Republican candidate for the Wilkes Barre Area School Board Harry Haas is on line with a web site. Haas is running in the general election for a seat on the Wilkes Barre Area Board and has some forward thinking ideas. Here's his site: http://www.harryhaas.com/.

HEALTH CARE BILL

For months, President Obama and his administration waged a fight for a health care program without a clear opponent. They even courted the industry executives and interest groups that helped kill reform efforts 15 years ago. But attacks on the leading Democratic reform plan this week by the insurance lobby left little doubt that two of the most powerful entities involved in the debate — the White House and America's insurance companies — have jettisoned any real hope of compromising. What was a tenuous truce has turned quickly into an all-out battle, with both sides ratcheting up the hostilities. The Senate Finance on Tuesday approved a broad, 10-year, $829 billion bill to remake the nation's health-care system, Obama's top advisers and the insurers moved into a new, more intense stage of conflict.