The LuLac Edition #1546, April 12th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: COMMISSIONER MARY ANNE PETRILLA, THEN CANDIDATE TINA POLACHEK GARTLEY AND ADVERTISING AGENCY OWNER SUSAN KOLESAR. IN THE BOTTOM PHOTO FORMER COUNTY RECREATION DIRECTOR JOHN CHARLES AND THIS BLOG EDITOR. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT A GARTLEY FOR JUDGE EVENT IN 2009.

$ CONTRIBUTIONS $

Michael Buffer had an excellent story in the Sunday Citizen’s Voice about the contributions some of the people running for Judge made to past Judges as well as past candidates for Luzerne County Common Pleas Judge. His source was 2001-2010 campaign reports and when you break them down, it is darn right interesting. Since I am a great baseball fan and have been checking the Standings every day of my sorry life since age 8 , I thought I’d separate the donors into categories.

THE FATCATS

Joe Saparito/Mark Bufalino: Saporito wins the money race giving $5,225.00. Half of that was to disgraced Judge Mark Ciavarella in his 2005 retention effort. The rest of it was spread out pretty evenly among incumbents Mundy, Muroski and Augello. (They got about $600.00 each). Bufalino came in a close second with $4,250.00 with more than half ($3500.00) going to Ciavarella. Bufalino, don’t forget was Luzerne County Party Chairman and I guess wanted to increase his standing in the party. He gave nominal support to Judges Lokuta, Muroski and Toole. In 2009 he gave money ($250.00) to Tina Polachak Gartley. It appears he did not contribute financially to his brother C.J. Bufalino’s 2009 run for Judge.

THE MIDDLE TIER

This consists of lawyers who have been around the block for a few years. Dick Hughes was listed as giving $2,000 and half of that was for his old boss Dave Lupas. Mike Vough gave $700.00 of his $1400.00 to Lupas too. This makes sense. You work for the guy, you like him, you might want to see him kicked upstairs so I can understand giving the guy a bigger chunk than the rest. Even though Molly Hanlon Mirabito only gave $600.00, $500.00 of it was to Lupas. Again, her boss. Vito Deluca at ($1600.00) John Aciukewicz ($1325.00) and Jim Haggerty ($1300.00) had very even contributions averaging about $250.00 which tells me they went to events to “be seen”. No big chunks of money, just a respectable amount to get their names out there for the future. And as you can see their future is now.

THE LOWER TIER

This group consists of Joe Sklarosky Junior, ($525.00) Lesa Gelb ($475.00) and Tony Ross ($250.00) all were modest amounts divided among the likes of Lokuta, Mundy, Toole, and Ciavarella.

THE DABBLERS

Jim McMonagle ($95.00) divided by two events for Hughes and Polachek Gartley and Paula Raddick ($100.00) for Gartley.

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE

Jennifer Rogers comes in at a whopping $60.00 at a Polachek Gartley event at Bentley’s that was co hosted by Mary Anne Petrilla and Phyllis Mundy (although Mundy couldn't make it because she was in Harrisburg. ) I know all the details because I was at the same event and paid $60.00 for the same ticket. In a way, the fact that Rogers and I bought the same priced ticket has me conflicted. In terms of giving cash to the Luzerne County Judiciary, she is the lowest on the totem pole. But in a strange sort of way, that brings her to the top of my list.