The LuLac Edition #981, Oct. 21st, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: OUR DEBATE LOGO AND GOP LOGO.

DEBATE WEEK IN WILKES BARRE

Ever hear of Football Night in America? How about debate week in Wilkes Barre. Next week starting on Monday Luzerne County residents can have three informational opportunities to meet and greet the candidates. Here’s the schedule:
Monday Oct. 26th 7PM: Bentley’s, Luzerne County Controller’s Debate/Forum. Sponsor: The LuLac Political Letter.
Tuesday Oct. 27th, 8PM on WVIA TV, a debate forum with the three candidates in the race for Judge of Common Pleas Luzerne County. See it live on TV44.
Wednesday, Oct. 28th, 7PM at King’s College, second floor Student Center, row officers Forum.
Three days in a row voters will have the opportunity to hear and see the candidates up close just days before the election. Take advantage of this because it is free and open to the public.

OPERATION H.E.A.R.T. CONTRACT

With Luzerne County Courthouse as a backdrop, Republican candidates Walter Griffith and Gina Nevenglosky on Wednesday signed a “Contract With Luzerne County” that promises to reform the way the county row offices are run. Griffith, who is running for Controller, and Nevenglosky, candidate for Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphan’s Court, were joined by Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban and GOP officials on the steps of the courthouse.
The concept, borrowed from the Republican Party’s 1994 Contract With America, is an issue that is not solely Republican, Democratic, conservative or liberal, said Executive Director Renita Fennick.
“It is a good-government issue,” she said. “That’s what we all want. That’s what we deserve.” Fennick spoke on behalf of Griffith, Nevenglosky and Carolee Medico Olenginski, the Republican candidate for Prothonotary, and read a statement from Luzerne County judicial candidate Richard Hughes who missed the press conference because he was home with a sick child. She also urged voters to retain Judge Thomas Burke to the county Court of Common Pleas. County Chairman Terry Casey was out of town on business and Olenginski could not make the event. Casey, in a prepared statement, said: “The people of Luzerne County are searching for leaders that can bring the principles of honesty, ethics, accountability, reform and transparency back to a government that has failed them. By pledging to follow the standards listed in the ‘Contract With Luzerne County,’ our Republican candidates are stepping up to the plate and demonstrating exactly why they are ready to move Luzerne County past the corruption scandals of the past.” This is a pretty good way to demonstrate the serious stance the local GOP is taking in trying to reclaim the row offices. However that said this is not the first time Carolee Medicco Olinginski has been absent from GOP ticket events. The word on the street is that there are the local Republicans and the Carolee Republicans. Other GOpers in the past have stayed away from party function by building coalitions in both parties. Frank Trinisewski and Steve Yanoshak come to mind. It will be interesting to see who has the stronger coat tails on Electinion Day, the local GOP or Carolee.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

In 1994, the Republican Party drafted a Contract With America that promised fiscal responsibility, accountability, reform and transparency in the federal government.
Americans loved it.
Why?
Because it was all about simple, common-sense principles. The idea appealed to people of all political affiliations, and all viewpoints.
Its focal point was to “restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.”
That is what we offer you today on the county level. This is not a Republican issue nor a Democratic one. It is not conservative. It is not liberal.
It is a good-government issue. That’s what we all want. That’s what we all deserve.
The premise can be traced to the most basic of human values and ideals: Honesty, Ethics, Accountability, Reform, Transparency.
That is what we offer to you on Nov. 3.
We ask that you look beyond philosophical ideas and beyond party lines and support the candidates who will restore accountability to county government.
It doesn’t matter if you are Republican or Democrat or Independent. Our slate of candidates promises to serve all residents with honor, ethics, integrity and fairness.
We ask that you support:
Richard Hughes for Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas;
Walter Griffith for County Controller
Carolee Medico Olenginski for Prothonotary
Gina Nevenglosky for Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphan’s Court.
Judge Thomas Burke who is seeking retention to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.