The LuLac Edition #987, Oct. 27th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: TINA POLACHEK GARTLEY AT WILKES, THE CANDIDATE WITH STUDENTS ATTENDING THE EVENT, A CROWD SHOT OF THE EVENT AND THIS BLOG EDITOR, LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER CANDIDATES DEMOCRAT BOB MORGAN, REPUBLICAN WALTER GRIFFITH AND INDEPENDENT WIL TOOLE.

TINA ON CAMPUS

Attorney Tina Polachek Gartley spent her lunch hour today on the campus of Wilkes College. The candidate for Judge of the Luzerne County Common Pleas Court met with about 50 students sharing pizza and ideas on the judicial system. Key points in the candidates address to the students were:
1. They had their future to change things for the better in Luzerne County.
2. Citing her “wanting to make a big difference instead of a small fortune” quote Gartley asked the students to get involved in politics on the local level saying their diverse voice was needed.
3. Asked for volunteers to help in her effort to become Judge. The candidate expressed concern over a projected low voter turnout and asked those in attendance to talk up the importance of the election.
4. Gartley joked about her age after her introduction when the student said “I was only three in 1991” when you started your legal career.
The event was hosted by the Young Democrats of Luzerne County. Head Mike Sistak was pleased with the turnout. Member Tony Thomas told me that there were about 15 to 20 active members and that these informational sessions were things the group planned to do in the future. Thomas said that with 2010 looming the group was going to get involved inviting more statewide candidates.

9 MINUTES

Tina Gartley also tossed out this aside in her talk. She mentioned the recent Michael Moore movie and pointed out that the Luzerne County Corruption scandal had 9 minutes devoted to it in the film. Gartley said the scandal has not only reached the silver screen but is now known on a national and international level. “If that doesn’t say we need change” said the candidate, “than nothing will”.

CONTROLLER’S DEBATE

Still getting good feedback from the Controller’s Forum. Here’s Michael Buffer’s article from the Citizen’s Voice and a link to Gort42 who did an excellent recap job. http://gort42.blogspot.com/.

ASHLEY - During a candidates' forum on Monday night, Walter L. Griffth Jr., the Republican nominee for Luzerne County controller, questioned the authenticity of a controller's audit of the sheriff's department.
Bob Morgan, the Democratic nominee, responded that Griffith was making "headline-grabbing accusations" without knowing all the facts. Wil Toole, an independent candidate, said Griffith should file criminal charges if he believed "a fraudulent report" was filed.
Griffith responded he filed a complaint with the Auditor General's Office and explained he was making "a supposition" based on contradictory information. Griffith questioned how a 2007 controller's audit of the sheriff's department was filed when the last audit done was from 2006. About 30 people attended the question-and-answer forum at Bentley's on Route 309. David Yonki, who runs a Web site called The LuLac Political Letter, was the moderator and organizer of the forum. Morgan questioned Griffith's interest in serving as controller by noting Griffith in the May primary election ran to be a polling place judge of elections, a constable and a member of the Luzerne County Government Study Commission. Griffith said serving as county controller would be his top priority, and he added he would resign from the study commission if elected controller.
Griffith repeated a claim that Morgan can't keep his job as a financial consultant with PNC Investments if elected because PNC does business with the county. Morgan said PNC Investments doesn't do business with the county and is completely separate from PNC Bank. Morgan said he would abstain from any retirement board votes if PNC wanted to invest and handle money from the county employee pension fund. The county controller is one of five members on the retirement board. While Morgan touted his financial background, Griffith stressed his abilities as manager. Griffith is president and owner of Rutter Auto Service in Nanticoke. Toole touted his experience in government. He was Pittston city clerk from 1986 to 1997. In 1999, Toole agreed to repay $18,743.75 in overtime pay to Pittston. The city claimed Toole illegally inflated his overtime hours, and as part of the settlement, the city agreed to begin paying Toole a $30,600-a-year pension. "The administration that replaced me dragged me though a living hell," Toole said Monday. "I ran out of money, couldn't fight any longer." The three candidates said they are willing to serve as controller at the current salary - $36,562 a year with an additional $5,000 for retirement-fund duties. But Toole said the salaries of elected officials "are kept low to keep good people out of government." Toole said he can afford to serve at the current salary because he is retired. But Griffith said the salary is sufficient because many people in the county earn less than $36,562.
mbuffer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2073