The LuLac Edition #1157, Apr. 20th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE BOB MORGAN, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE IN THE 11TH COREY O'BRIEN AND 14TH DISTRICT SENATORIAL CANDIDATE JOHN YUDICHAK.

MORGAN ON THE WEB

Bob Morgan, candidate for PA State House of Representatives in the 119th district, has launched his official website, bobmorganstaterep.com. Bobmorganstaterep.com provides voters with a closer look at the issues, information about the 119th district, a biography of Bob Morgan, how to donate to the Morgan campaign, ways to volunteer, upcoming events and how to contact Bob Morgan.“The newly launched website will give residents in the 119th district a chance to see where I stand on issues, learn a little bit about my background, and provide a way to get in contact with me,” said Morgan. “I want to learn about what issues concern the residents of the 119th district, it's always the question I ask when I meet someone when campaigning, so I hope people will let me know what issues concern them online as well.”The site also offers a link to Bob Morgan's Facebook page. The facebook page will provide a more personal way for residents in the 119th PA House District to get in touch with Bob.“Social networking sites, like Facebook, can provide people with a more personal way of getting in touch with me and learning about my campaign,” said Morgan. “Email can seem to be impersonal, but it seems that with Facebook people feel more comfortable sending me a message to ask a question, offer support, or just say hello.”The 119th District House seat is currently held by John Yudichak, who is now running for State Senate. extends from Bear Creek Township,Laurel Run Borough, Fairview Township, Wright Township, Slocum Township, Nanticoke, Newport Township, Nanticoke, Hanover Township, Sugar Notch, Warrior Run, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Larksville and Edwardsville.

O’BRIEN ON THE ROAD

here will be a rally for Corey O'Brien, Democratic Candidate for United States Congress in Pennsylvania's 11th District, at Kilcoyne's Tavern on Thursday, April 22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening.Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the door or online. Kilcoyne's Tavern is located at 129 South Main Avenue in Scranton.

YUDICHAK GETS NOD

John Yudichak, Democratic State Senate candidate in the 14th Senatorial District, which encompasses parts of Carbon, Luzerne and Monroe Counties in Northeastern PA, yesterday received the coveted endorsement of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the largest labor organization in the state which includes more than 900,000 union members represented by unions affiliated with the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. "John Yudichak and the other endorsed candidates have displayed their leadership and their support of issues that matter most to the working people of Pennsylvania -- issues that improve living standards and promote a better quality of life for all,” said PA AFL-CIO President William George. “They have demonstrated an uncommon commitment to protecting and creating good jobs, helping unemployed families survive the recession, compassion for the injured and the disabled as well as the less fortunate, and improved educational opportunities for the children of working families. It is for these reasons as well as many more that we are proud to endorse these individuals for election in the May 18th Primary.” The AFL-CIO pledged to Yudichak and the full slate of endorsed candidates that it will conduct an aggressive education and mobilization campaign on their behalf, sharing their record and message of support for the working people they proudly represent. “I am honored to be the only non-incumbent candidate for office in Pennsylvania to have received the important endorsement of the state AFL-CIO. I thank President George, the State Labor Federation's Executive Council, and all rank and file union members across Pennsylvania for this extraordinary vote of confidence,” said Yudichak. “As the son of an AFSCME mother and a United Mine Workers father, I hold labor’s guiding principles near and dear to my heart, and take pride in my strong voting record on issues that matter to the labor movement. I want to continue to stand tall for labor as State Senator.”

NUMBERS CRUNCH

If you think people are getting disgusted with both parties you only point to the information provided by the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections. According to the Times Leader nearly as many people switched their voter registrations to a third party as they did to the Democratic Party. Figures revealed that third parties such as Libertarian, Green, Communist or Constitutional or simply becoming “non-affiliated” drew larger-than-normal percentages of the activity. Of the 1,237 people who switched political parties since Nov. 4, the date of the 2009 general election, 614 became Republicans, 323 became Democrats and 300 switched to any of the other parties. That means nearly one-third of all party switchers in the county became a member of a third party. Of the 1,632 new registrations, 785, or 48 percent, were Democrats, 498, or 31 percent, registered as Republicans, and 349, or 21 percent, registered as a member of a third party or as unaffiliated.
This says two things: First off people are taking a more independent stance and departing the traditional Democratic-GOP model. It also points to the strong registration efforts made by the county GOP. It is no secret that the local GOP is trying to capitalize on the scandals throughout the region to bolster its numbers.