The LuLac Edition #1729, August 23rd, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: INFORMATION ON EVENT THIS FRIDAY AT RODANO'S. (CLICK TO ENLARGE).

BARLETTA IN

After 8 months in the job Lou Barletta says he likes the job and has a lot of work to do. Barletta was interviewed by WYLN TV 35 Monday and said his district as well as he personally was being targeted by Move On.org. Barletta complained that he was being questioned by targeted individuals who presumably are out to make him look bad. Barletta said he will not hold town meetings but rather round table sessions on issues such as health care. It is almost a given in the local media that Barletta will have no opposition in his Republican primary. But don’t forget, these are the local Republicans who have people fighting each other in primary races all the time. The word I got is that there are some Republicans who feel Lou is not conservative enough!There have been visits and approaches made. Whether it will materialize into something concrete is not yet evident. Stay tuned on this one.

MEANWHILE………………..

His presumed opponent Bill Vinsko came out with a statement Monday in reaction to Barletta’s announcement. “Northeast Pennsylvanians are very concerned about jobs, the economy, Social Security and Medicare. We cannot blame America’s problems only on what the ‘public doesn’t know,’ since what the public does know is that the extremist wing of the Republican Party played games with our credit rating, intentionally voted on legislation that had no chance of passing, voted against Medicare, and insisted upon voting along party lines, without regard for their home district. Our Congressman has consistently voted with them. My first priority is and always will be what is good for the people of the
11th Congressional District. I believe that once you take the oath of Congressional office, it means you represent and have to listen to everyone, regardless of the format. I will be there to listen to the people.”

ANOTHER INDEPENDENT

The County Council race just keeps on getting crowded and crowded. Another Independent has made an announcement that he will run in the fall. So we’ll have 11 Dems, 11 Republicans and at last count 3 independents. Here’s what the Times Leader reported:
As an architect, Rick Williams is used to getting involved in projects at the ground floor. Independent Rick Williams announces his candidacy for Luzerne County Council Friday night at Rodano’s in Wilkes-Barre.
He’d like to put that experience to use as a member of the Luzerne County Council and announced his candidacy Friday as an Independent for one of the 11 seats on the panel that will govern under the new Home Rule Charter in January.
The 63-year-old Kingston man and native of the Midwest decided to get involved after others chose not to run.
He told a group of more than 50 supporters at Rodano’s on Public Square that he asked former state Rep. Kevin Blaum twice about entering the council race. But Blaum declined and taught him a lesson about public service, telling Williams, “If you aren’t going to do it yourself, you shouldn’t be asking people.”
Williams, who is part of Williams Kinsman Lewis Architecture on South Main Street, asked himself what he had to offer and realized he had plenty as a professional, a businessman, husband, father who is active in the community. He moved to the Wyoming Valley in 1977 and worked with architect Peter Bohlin before starting his own firm in the 1980s. He and his wife Linda have two children, Lily and Oliver. He has served on the boards of a number of organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Wyoming Valley Montessori School.
“The reason I’m doing this is because I believe we can change the way we govern ourselves,” said the first-time candidate.
The charter, adopted by voters in November 2010, replaces the three commissioner form of government with an elected council and appointed county manager. Williams is among the 28 council candidates running in the Nov. 8 general election.
“Having one party in power and one party not in power is not a foundation for cooperation,” said Williams.