The LuLac Edition #993, Nov. 1st, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: BLOG EDITOR WITH JUDGE PETER PAUL OLSZEWSKI JUNIOR, JUDGE THOMAS BURKE, BLOG EDITOR WITH MAGISTERIAL JUSTICE WILLIAM AMESBURY, BLOG EDITOR WITH ATTORNEY TINA POLACHEK GARTLEY, ATTORNEY RICHARD HUGHES, THE LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER CANDIDATES DEMOCRAT BOB MORGAN, REPUBLCAN WALTER GRIFFITH AND INDEPENDENT WIL TOOLE, AND HARRY HAAS FOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR TEE SHIRT.

PREVIEW SUNDAY

LUZERNE COUNTY JUDICIAL

Bill Amesbury is the Rodney Dangerfield of this year’s election. You really have to wonder what the guy needs to do to get some respect. He won a dual nomination and outpolled all of his opponents on both tickets. He has never been endorsed by the power brokers and had to beat a family dynasty to succeed the late Michael Collins. He is the everyman of this race, saving his money to get a college degree, working in various jobs, going to law school late in life and trying to cap off his career with a Judgeship that he is certainly qualified for. But to hear some people you’d think Amesbury was an elitist backed by the establishment. The fact of the matter is he’s a neigbborhood guy looking to do what he’s always done, serve the community. His problem is that even though he won a dual nomination, he’s on a ballot where you have to pick two. The Amesbury people are telling people their man needs the vote this time. His campaign has been well organized and will continue that way into Election Day. He shouldn’t be an underdog in this race but he is. Amesbury and his people are hoping nice guys finish better than third.
Tina Polachek Gartley is running a race against 3 other opponents. Amesbury, GOPer Dick Hughes and the Whisperer. Gartley has been the victim of whispers and rumors that have her on a jet with the gangster judges, at the Condo in Florida, working against the youth in Ciaveralla’s court and a whole host of other ridiculous comments which she has refuted very well. Gartley beat out an entire group of attorneys in the spring who were more connected and experienced. Plus they definitely spent more money too. A few believed it was their last shot to become Judge so you know she is not the darling of the legal establishment either. Gartley has been periphetic in her race leaving no stone unturned. Her greatest asset is her energy and enthusiasm. However because she is so professional the perception is that she belongs to “the club”. She doesn’t and will have to convey this message to the voters: I'm still, I'm still Tina from the block, Used to have a little, now I have a lotNo matter where I go, I know where I came from. (Apologies to J Lo). In the next few days Gartley will have to persuade her core of support in the primary (about 8,000 votes), regular Democrats who supported other candidates and key Republican districts to join her effort. She has a big rally Sunday getting her troops galvanized, and most likely will have to defuse the rumor that she was on the grassy knoll at Dealey Plaza on November 22nd, 1963. But she has had experience at both, a strong suit that makes her a very attractive candidate for one of the Judicial posts.
Richard Hughes is the All American Boy made good. His image is that of a nice, effective barrister that no one has a bad word about. Hughes has taken this appeal to become the first choice of his party, the rebuilding GOP and the second choice for some Amesbury and Gartley voters. County Chair Terry Casey is urging a bullet vote for Hughes and that could help. Hughes is the type of guy that looks you in the eye, remembers your name, and unlike other candidates stays and talks to his potential supporters. I’m not saying the man can’t work a room, he could, but Hughes will spend time with each voter as if he’s on a retainer with them. In all of the events I’ve been to this year, I have never seen Hughes rush past one person to get to another. Politicians are always looking for that bigger fish to fry, looking over the shoulder at the person their talking to, watching the door. Not so with Hughes and that slow and steady appeal has won him support. In a County where the Dems outnumber the GOP by a hefty majority, Hughes has the total support of his party. But he’ll need voters for Amesbury not happy with Gartley and voters for Gartley not happy with Amesbury. Plus he’ll need the Independents in the county who might be attracted by his bipartisan style. Look for Hughes to get a good vote out of Hazleton where he is known. Unlike Amesbury and Gartley, rumored, imagined or image challenged, he’s had no baggage attached to him. Straight arrow, straight shooter persona of Dick Hughes is presented and in his case, what you see is what you get. Hughes’ challenge in the next 48 hours is to continue to forge his coalition consisting of his own party, and voters of other stripes.

YEAH OR NAY?

Tom Burke and Peter Paul Olszewski must feel cheated. I don’t believe the two of them ever anticipated having to campaign vigorously for retention but their fellow Judges Mike and Mark fixed that. Both Burke and Olszewski have had very good respectable careers. In any other county in the country there would be no question about their characters or reputation. But here in Luzerne County people are angry and the people responsible can’t be punished. But Judges up for retention can and the knee jerk reaction is to throw somebody out. Anybody. And since their wardrobe is pretty much the same as Conahan and Ciavarellla’s, (basic black Jurist’s robe) they are big targets. Both are good men and both should be retained. To throw the baby out with the bath water is poor practice anyway. But think about this: if voters show Burke and Olszewski the door, then we will have to have another election to replace them with another 20 candidates running. Then we might be stuck with over half of the Common Pleas Judges with little or no experience. That’s plain dumb. Making Burke and Olszewski sweat for retention should be enough to exact some sort of anger and revenge, to throw them out would be an injustice and counterproductive.

CONTROLLER’S RACE

Wil Toole finds himself as the wild card in this race. Toole is the former Democrat turned Independent facing off against Democrat Bob Morgan and Republican Walter Griffith. What impact if any will Toole have on the race? Griffith’s people will tell you as a former Democrat, he’ll take away votes from Morgan. Morgan’s people will tell you he’ll chip away at Griffith’s image as a reformer. No one is sure but here’s what we know. Morgan has a Democratic registration advantage and a party looking for a convincing win. But Griffith is well known as a taxpayer advocate. However Griffith had 4 opponents in the spring primary and in typical GOP style I’ve see none of his spring antagonists breaking their necks to campaign for him. Toole’s debate and forum performances have been lauded by even his harshest critics and with little money he is competing on radio and the newspapers. His signage is strategically placed and he is on the ballot. So to recap, Morgan seems to be the favorite, but if Griffith can hold the GOP together and get a few Democratic votes he might have a chance. But will Toole pull votes away from Morgan and Griffith or as one wag at the Wilkes Barre 6th District meeting was heard to say, “ How many votes will Morgan and Griffith pull from Toole?” When Mary Anne Petrilla became Commissioner Wil Toole wrote the Governor and asked for the appointment to serve only the remainder of the term. Toole was the only one who applied and as we know the Governor never filled the post. You have to believe that on this Sunday 2 days before the election both Morgan and Griffith wish Governor Ed did give the job to Toole. If he did, there’d be a lot less drama in this race.

PROTHONOTARY

Carolee Medico Olinginski faces off against Nancy McGinley Bellas. Olinginski is well known, has a track record and is staging a comeback. McGinley Bellas comes from a prominent political family and has had to contend with the legal situation of her husband Allen Bellas, the former Executive Director of the Luzerne County Housing Authority. The Democrats have the registration edge but with the Jill Moran resignation and connections to the Powell Law Firm as well as the aforementioned connection with McGinley Bellas’ spouse, this might be a rough one for the Democrats. However that said, Olinginski has never been gentle in her dealings with Attorneys in the area and even though she has not been at debates, McGinley Bellas has been going to Democratic rallies. So you never know.

REGISTER OF WILLS

Dottie Stancovic is facing off against Gina Nevenglosky. Stancovic is going for a fifth term, has name recognition and even though she has torqued off the Democratic organization in the past she can count on their support. Nevenglosky has the support of the GOP and has been a tireless campaigner. She home schools her children and win or lose, Gina Nevenglosky will never have a shortage of teaching moments learned on the campaign trail.

JURY COMMISSIONER

Jerry Bonner is indicted and is still on the ballot. Write someone in. I was thinking of campaigning as a write in but then some personal circumstances happened. I feel the job should be abolished and is as relevant to the court system as the iron lung is to the practice of medicine. Get rid of it.

WB AREA SCHOOL BOARD

I’m writing in Sam Troy and voting for Harry Haas. I guess you can say I’m double bullet voting.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY JUDGES

There is only one race in the Lac for Judge. Margaret Bisignani Moyle faces off against Frank Castellano. Both are experienced lawyers but the race has been marred by charges that the new seat will concentrate on Juvenile Court. Castellano has experience in that area and has charged that Moyle has not. Moyle has a great grass roots organization and a solid base consisting of her party and gender. She appears to be the leader in this race but Castellano is highly regarded, has the full support of the GOP and is said to have some strength in the Mid Valley. This should be a walk for the Democrat but in the closing days no one is calling it.

SCRANTON MAYORAL

Gary DeBillio is back in it because Chris Doherty is running for Governor. DeBillio is thinking the third time is going to be the charm but as a write in he has little chance. He is making Doherty spend some money on TV ads but that’s about it. Perhaps if DeBillio buys ad time for his insurance business, the TV sales managers will give him a break.

STATEWIDE

SUPERIOR COURT

9 candidates are running for 4 seats. I’m going with Democratic Rober Colville a Common Pleas Judge from Allegheny County, Chester County Common Pleas Judge Paula Ott, a Republican, Tioga County GOP Attorney Salllie Mundy (love her slogan vote Mundy on Tuesday) and Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge and Democrat Teresa Sarmina who I met this fall. On Commonwealth Court where there are two seats available, I’m going with one Democrat Linda Judson and one Republican Patricia McCullough from Pittsburgh. The other Democratic candidate Barbara Ernsberger is very good too. However the GOP candidate Kevin Brobson endorsed by Governor Ridge is 38 and way too young for the job. Here's Attorney Mundy talking about the role of the Supoerior Court in the state:


SUPREME COURT (We’ll cover before the election).