The LuLac Edition #1514, March 20th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: RICK GAZENSKI AND OUR JUDICIAL ROVES LOGO.

JUDICIAL BALLOT RANKING

The order has been determined for the Luzerne County ballot positions for Judge. As you can see the big winners appear to be Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty and Attorney Lesa Gelb. But ballot positions sometimes are only as good as how a campaign is run. Take a look at what I wrote in 2009 in LuLac Edition # 762, March 22nd, 2009.
"In the meantime, regarding election logistics, C.J. Bufalino nabbed the top spot on the Republican side while Judge Joseph Musto got the top position on the Democratic side. Ballot position is never regarded as very important except when you have a multitude of candidates running, like say 17!!!! Amesbury fared well too except that he was on the bottom of the ballot. It's easy to say to a voter, 762, especially ones not politically vested or savvy, "look at the top or the bottom of the ballot". Once you have to explain that a candidate's name is somewhere in the middle, there's a chance of losing them."
The ballot position didn’t give us Judge Charles Buffalino III or another few years on the bench for Joseph Musto.
William Amesbury who got the last slot on the ballot for the Democrats literally had a step by step TV ad and mailer which led voters to him. (Attention Jennifer Rogers campaign: note that Amesbury model!) So while the top of the ballot is better than being mired in the middle it doesn’t guarantee a an automatic win. Here's the rundown and ranking:

REPUBLICANS

Jim Haggerty, Kingston;
Dick Hughes, Fairview Township;
Joe Sklarosky, Jr., Fairview Township;
Mark Bufalino, Kingston Township;
Vito DeLuca, Franklin Township;
Michael Blazick, Fairview Township;
Paula Radick, Hazle Township;
John Aciukewicz, Kingston Township;
James L. McMonagle, Jackson Township;
Michael T. Vough, West Pittston;
Molly Hanlon Mirabito, Forty Fort;
Tony Ross, Fairview Township;
Joseph F. Saporito Jr., Jenkins Township;
Lisa Gelb, of Laflin;
Fred A. Pierantoni, of Dupont;
Jennifer Rogers, of Harveys Lake.

DEMOCRATS

Lisa Gelb, of Laflin;
Mark Bufalino, Kingston Township;
Fred A. Pierantoni, of Dupont;
James L. McMonagle, Jackson Township;
Michael T. Vough, West Pittston;
Joseph F. Saporito Jr., Jenkins Township;
Jennifer Rogers, of Harveys Lake;
Michael Blazick, Fairview Township;
John Aciukewicz, Kingston Township;
Paula Radick, Hazle Township;
Dick Hughes, Fairview Township;
Molly Hanlon Mirabito, Forty Fort;
Jim Haggerty, Kingston;
Joe Sklarosky, Jr., Fairview Township;
Tony Ross, Fairview Township;
Vito DeLuca, Franklin Township.

A NEW CAREER?

South Wilkes Barre political activist Rick Gazinski has always been a major voice in expressing his concern for the business district of South Wilkes Barre. With Councilman from District A Rick Cronauer, Gazenski helped form the “District A Fund” Business and Community Alliance. But Saturday night at the F.M. Kirby, Gazenski joined the Temptations in a solo rendition of one of their hits from the 60s, the follow up to “My Girl”, “The Girl’s All Right with Me”. The last time the Temps were in town which was 1987, all of the original members of the group were on a reunited tour as chronicled in the made for TV movie “The Temptations”. This time around the Temptations had only one original living member, the group’s founder, Otis Williams.
When the Temptations were at the Kirby in 1988 they invited a few people on stage to sing “My Girl”. This time around, they asked for two male volunteers and Gazenski was up like he was shot out of a cannon. He crooned, he had all the right moves and he had damn near perfect pitch. Plus Mr. Gazenski got a big hand from the more than 1500 at the Kirby. Now if Gazenski could get his friends the Temps back for a fundraiser with him being the 6th Temptation, his community activities would be flush. Gazenski is involved in the following: Past President Of The Rotary Club of South Wilkes Barre, Past President Of The Northeast Erie Agents Group, Member of the Redistricting Commission of The City of Wilkes Barre, Instructor for Wise Education (Continuing Education) Insurance Courses, Past Member of The CYC Board, and Past Chairperson of The CYC Annual Fund Campaign, Co Founder and Vice Pres. of The South Wilkes Barre Business Alliance. Here’s that Temptations song Rick wowed the crowd with.