The LuLac Edition #1597, May 15th, 2011
PHOTO INDEX: LACKAWANNA CIUNTY LOGO.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY POLITICS
The big news in this Tuesday’s Lackawanna County Commissioner’ race is going to be whether Corey O’Brien’s ambition of 2010 will comer back to haunt him a year later. O’Brien of course ran for Congress against Paul Kanjorski in the primary election. An ordinary election was transformed into a donnybrook when certain events in 2010 charted the course for this year. Jim Wansacz ran for State Senate and was defeated. Mike Washo threw everything into chaos by announcing that he was not running for re-election again. It was assumed that a Washo-O’Brien ticket would give the latter some political cover. But with Washo gone, the enmity that was always there against O’Brien came out in full force. In a Super Bowl ad that cost more than most people in LuLac make per year. O’Brien picked Blakely Mayor Jeanette Mariani and they began to run as a team. Enter then former State Representative Jim Wansacz who’s $70,000 a year job was taken by Sid Michaels Kavulich. Wansacz teamed with Brian Jeffers to run against O’Brien and Mariani. Other candidates joining in were Tom Fox, Tom McHugh, Elizabeth Randol. Randol is the most intriguing because she actually served as Chief of Staff in the Washo-O’Brien administration. She is making strides among mainstream Democrats and women’s business groups. On the GOP side you have Bill Jones II, Patrick O'Malley and Bruce Smallacombe. In 2003 in Luzerne County, the only incumbent running was Steve Urban who won his nomination on the Republican side. However the last time that happened in Lackawanna County was 100 years ago in 1911!!! Lackawanna County politicos on both sides have always insisted on running as teams. And when one member opted out, he was replaced speedily by the party apparatus. (O’Brien is the only incumbent seeking re-election).
I used the pronoun “he” in the last sentence because in Lackawanna County there has not been a woman County Commissioner. Evie Refalko McNulty tried hard in 2007 but came in third.
With 7 Democratic candidates in the race, and with everything so fluid, you might get a tried and true team running together that would make politicos lives very easy in Lackawanna County. Or you can get a political shot gun wedding where you have two candidates not in sync at all. The media guys would love that !
Look at the contrast between these two ads:
DEBILIO/MELLOW
The County Controller’s race is going to be pretty interesting. John Mellow who threatened to be dragged kicking and screaming from his office a few years ago wants another turn at the wheel. He is opposed by Gary Debilio who has decided to give up his crusade to be Scranton Mayor and run for this seat. Word is DeBilio will have this one in a walk.
posted by David Yonki @ 4:35 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
I was all set to vote Liz, I even fingered donated a couple dollars, then I heard Steve Corbet endorse her on the radio kat last week. I will now be voting against her. I can't in good faith vote for any one Steve Corbett supports.
Hi Mr Yonki,
Long time reader, first time poster. A bunch of my friends and I, we are what is commonly referred to as blue dog democrats, get together weekly around election time to discuss and debate the candidates. Up here in the Lac as you call it, my group had been strongly considering voting for Ms. Randol, that was until this past Friday. It seems that Mr. Corbett, the radio personality, not the governor, has actively endorsed Ms. Randol with bullet voting.
While we respect Mr. Corbett's right to use his show for whatever he deems appropriate, we can not, and will not vote for any candidate for office that Mr. Corbett endorses.
The reason being that one if Mr. Corbett endorses them, they must have very socialistic views or they gave into Mr. Corbett's bullying and underhanded tactics to get on the air.
We, and our families, will be voting against Ms. Randol and we will all vote for 2 candidates. We are also encouraging are friends to do the same. While it may only amount to 100 votes or so, we feel this to be a matter of principle that we can not allow our election to be influenced by a radio personality who harbors such blatant hatred for the United States.
Thank you
Thank you both for reading and posting. But Steve Corbett is not the candidate, nor is he a socialist. Liz Randol is a quality candidate who if elected would be a good county Commissioner. Why would you penalize Liz Randol because you don't like Steve Corbett? That's not doing your community a service or yourself as a voter.
Not from Scranton, but that Corey O'Brien attack ad was hilarious. He's going down.
you're right dave, Steve is not running, but as the old saying goes, you can tell alot about a person by the company they keep. if randol is accepting of corbett's endorsement,then it says much about her. she wont be getting my vote either.
Ditto to not voting for Randol. I agree if Steve Corbet likes and endorses her, she's not for me. That man is a detriment to anyone who he blows his stack for or against.
Count me as a vote against Randol as well. Same reason. If the long haired loud mouth is for I'm against.
Those who do not vote for any candidate because of Steve Corbett's support should have their voting privlege taken away. STUPID!
Anyone who knows the record of Corey O'Brien's term of office and does not vote for him is only allowed out on weekends. The only mistake Corey made was not teaming up with Jim W. (can't spell his name) but you know who I mean, the former state Representative. What a great team they would make, a dream team.
Stupid or not, we took many votes away from Randol. Politcally speaking if the likes of Steve Corbett supports a candidate that says a lot about the candidate. Besides what are you whining about, our efforts more than likely propelled O'Brien over Randol.
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