Tuesday, October 04, 2011

The LuLac Edition #1783, October 4th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: OUR COUNTY COUNCIL LOGO.

COUNTY COUNCIL RACE

11/11/11=11 COUNCIL MEMBERS

We are now into the month of October. There are only 5 weeks before Election Day. I’m not sure the people who are voters in this election truly understand the high stakes that this election is going to have on the future of this county. I’m not even sure the candidates themselves realize their responsibilities. Here are the facts:
On 11-11-11, how’s that for irony, the winners of the Luzerne County Council race will be certified. 11 members of the Council will be put in charge of the government. 11-11-11-11. The people who are on the Transition committee will be joined by the elected 11. The duties and responsibilities to this newly elected council will begin immediately after certification. This Council will be paid less than 9 grand a year and have no health benefits. The first thing they, as a body will need to do is study. They will have to look at what the Transition Committee did. They will have to understand the charter. Most importantly they will have to put aside all of the political rhetoric and actually become caretakers of the charter. These members will be the team that implements the charter. The charter passed and is the law. The Council members will be legislators. They will make sure the charter is followed. As members of Council they can’t amend the charter. The public needs to do that.
So the terms “fiscal watchdog”, “restoring integrity back to government” and “watching how the tax dollars are spent” have to be put aside. A “fiscal watchdog” is a catch all phrase. Sounds good but in the frame of this Council it won’t mean much. The Controller already does that and the County will have a Financial Department which will include the current Treasurer’s office as well as other financial areas of the county. “Restoring integrity back to government” is another laughable one I hear on the campaign trail. To me that is an insult to the work accomplished by Mary Anne Petrilla and the other Commissioners. Despite opposing the Charter, the Commissioners have done their best to make sure the Transition Committee got everything they needed and asked for in its work. . “Watching how the tax dollars are spent” is another campaign slogan that sounds good. But the budget has hundreds of line items. “Watching” is a campaign term. When the Council is seated, they will be asked by the new County Manager to act on recommendations of spending and consolidation. There may be cuts. There might be departments streamlined and reduced. If the candidates are serious about “watching the tax payer money” they better be serious about accepting cuts, increases, and whatever is needed to make the government functional. The County Council members can’t be 11 Mr. or Mrs. Smiths going to Washington. If they come in with that mentality, we’re doomed. The Council members were not elected to make change. They exist because the change already happened in the 2010 General Election. Voters said yes to the charter. They said yes to change. This first, historic County Council must be the agents of the change by providing a legislative majority that will make government run smoothly.
This will not be a ceremonial role. The 11 members elected are going to be very busy. The press will scrutinize every move they make. The Contenders will be exposed for who they are, the pretenders will be too. And no Council member can just say no without a reason. If they do, the media will make them look like an ass. Especially in the early stages, with no County Manager chosen, there will be no place to hide a Council member’s ambition, arrogance, laziness, stupidity or agenda.
The first 6 finishers will serve four years.
The last 5 will serve for two years. There will be accountability. But there also must be patience. This is huge change. History making change. A truly successful council member will have done their job if at the end of their term no one is happy.

FIRST ORDER

The Council will need to pick a County Manager. There have been 55 applicants applying for the position. So far the biggest debate is whether the names should be released. There will be intense lobbying to pick a Manager. The pressure will be ungodly. The crew at the Courthouse will have their favorite. The hapless business community will have one of their own prepped for the plum claiming that he or she can help the economy. Not the job. Job one of the Manager is to get the county on track. The unions will want to stake out their positions and try to enhance them. Every interest group in this County will want a piece of the new Council members. The power might be dizzying. My advice: put blinders on and get an unlisted phone number.

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Council will have to appoint interim department heads. The County will be divided into the following departments.
Administrative Services.
Operational Services.
Human Services.
Judicial Services.
Correction Services.
Public Defenders Office.
Department of Law.
Budget and Finance.
More than h50 cents of every budget dollar go to court administration, judges, judiciary employees, correctional services, Judicial records, and probation. THAT’S ONE HALF! There are 300 separate employees in the Judicial system. This in my opinion will be the biggest challenge. The Council as well as the new County Manager will have to make certain there is no overlap. Also there are jobs being obtained in the Judicial system that are never advertised. If you are a lawyer that is on suspension or you lost your license, not to worry, there is still a place for you in the Court system. The biggest battles are going to come in this area. Human nature will tell us that people will always want to cling to the status quo. Even more so if it is a lucrative status quo.
Another big issue down the line will be what to do with properties the county owns and can’t sell due to the economy. Will this council have the foresight to keep them and possibly use them as part of county government? Or sell them at a fire sale for a quick fix.
I’m not even going to get into the issue of Tax Collectors because that will be a political snake pit. And if someone is running on the sole platform that they are concerned about the way bills are paid, I suggest they read the charter. This is not part of the bigger picture, it is minutia that will only bog everybody down.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

When you meet one of these candidates, ask these 9 basic questions. Do not accept bromides and non specifics.
1. WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF BEING A COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER?
It’s okay to say you’re ambitious and want to be part of history. But the Council member has to be honest and not say, “watchdog, integrity,” and other campaign junk.
2. IT’S A BIG COUNTY, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS AN ELECTED MEMBER?
3. ARE YOU WILLING TO SET ASIDE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE COUNTY?
I’d be interested to hear the responses of the Union ticket members and the candidates backing tax collectors.
4. TELL ME YOUR IDEAL OF AN IDEAL COUNTY MANAGER.
5. WOULD YOU SACRIFICE YOUR RE ELECTION FOR A TOUGH DECISION?
6. ARE YOU WILLING TO RAISE TAXES IF THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS?
7. DEFINE ETHICS FOR ME.
8. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A LEADER, FOLLOWER OR A PERSON OF FLEXIBILITY?
9. WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT BEING?
If the candidates can’t answer these questions to your satisfaction, then scratch them off your list. You’d be better off voting for 5 or 6 rather than an entire team of 11 where half of them would be dead weight.
Here is a list of the candidates running by party.
Republicans
Stephen J. Urban
Rick Morelli
Kathleen Dobash
John Ruckno
Harry Hass
Blyth Evans
Bill James
Gene Kelleher
Gina Nevenglosky Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt
Michael Cabell
Democrats
Stephen A. Urban
Linda McClosky Houck
Jim Bobeck
Edd Brominski
Jane Walsh-Waitkus
Eileen Sorokas

Sal Licata
Tim McGinley
Michelle Bednar
M. Theresa Morcavage
Elaine Maddon Curry
Libertarian
Tim Mullen
Brian Bergman
Independent
Michael Lacey
Jeremy Packard
Rick Williams
American Independent
Charles Bible Buck Hatchko
There are 35 days left before the election. Candidates: drop the platitudes and start getting specific.
Voters: Start to ask questions. Let’s get to work.

SATURDAY SOUND OFF


Since I get a lot of heat for my Saturday Interview features (some people hate them and sometimes I can’t even stand to talk to myself let alone someone else!) I am making LuLac available to County Council candidates on the following Saturdays: October 15th, 22nd and 29th. Here are the rules:
1. Try to answer the above questions in 400 words or less.
2. Tell LuLac reader why you should be elected in 100 words or less. So you have 500 words total.
3. Any attack reference to any candidate running will be edited.
4. Send me a jpeg picture if you have one.
5. Send me a Word document, not a PDF.
6. First in, first on.
7. Participation is voluntary. We have room for all the candidates but we’ll do less if necessary.
I would have liked to have had a LuLac Forum but the sheer number of candidates has pretty made that impossible from a time perspective. (Our Judicial forum and City Council forums lasted an entire afternoon.) You can send your information to my e mail address: yonkstur@aol.com.

25 Comments:

At 2:27 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 7:03 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"If you are a lawyer that is on suspension or you lost your license, not to worry, there is still a place for you in the Court system."

YONK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. CCAN YOU NAME EVEN ONE DISBARRED LAWYER WHO IS OR WAS WORKING AS A DISBARRED LAYER IN THE COURT SYSTEM? BET YOUR SWEET ASS YOU CAN'T BECAUSE IT ISN'T DONE. COMMENTS SUCH AS THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION. THEN YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO COMMENT ON WHAT A GOOD JOB PETRILLA AND HER TO IDIOT COLLEAGUES ARE DOING, ARE YOU NUTS? THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A PLAGUE ON THE TAXPAYER AND YOU CONDONE THEIR MANAGEMENT? WAKE UP PAL, PATHE THE F... UP!

 
At 8:59 AM, Blogger louallen said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 10:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Me thinkest Mr. Brominski goofed by putting is name on Iouallen . could that have been un purpose?

I have got to ask the question that drives me nuts ...... How can Charlie Bible Buck Hatchko call himself an Independent when he is legally a member of a Party? The American Independent Party is a stupid name ..... you can't be independent and part of a Party. WTF?

 
At 11:43 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are ****ed!!!!!

 
At 12:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Asking the very hard questions Yonk. But will these guys and gals know the answers?

 
At 12:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jesus Yonki, if these candidates can't use their favorite catch phrases, what are they going to campaign on?
Facts?

 
At 1:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The LuLac Edition #1783, October 4th, 2011":

As bad as things have been in the past, this is a recipe for a horrific disaster. Can you imagine any combination of the 22 involved in the recent flood event? CLUSTER ****!
All of you who pushed this abomination on the county deserve a nice middle finger pointed in your direction. That is nothing compared to the non-lubricated, telephone pole sized, ass fucking the residents of Luzerne County are in for though.

 
At 1:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think this County can handle telephone pole with out it even touching the side walls of the a**. This county has been screwed with bigger objects.

 
At 2:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is my DREAM TEAM...in no order.

1.Stephen J. Urban
2.Rick Morelli
3.Kathleen Dobash
4.Bill James
5.Gina Nevenglosky
6.Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt
7.Stephen A. Urban
8.Jane Walsh-Waitkus
9.Tim Mullen
10.Michael Lacey
11.Charles Bible Buck Hatchko

 
At 4:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

2:04PM, that's your dream team? You have to be a member of the media. Or else you were deprived as a child and did not attend any circus events.

 
At 5:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the "dream team" poster was CLEARLY making a joke.

I think that was obvious enough. It would be a dream team of excitment, for sure.

 
At 5:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dream team? Sounds like a nightmare to me. This total lack of caring, understanding all that is involved and the structure of county government reinforces my decision to vote against the charter. Whatever happened to the charter in The city of Wilkes-barre?

 
At 12:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some recent posters cant spell or write a sentence and resort to terms and words easily avoided by those who are even marginally able to communicate intelligently, but one thing is certain and justified
and that is the anger. We have learned to have no respect for those who hold or run for office. We dont trust any of them and we have no reason to expect better. I believe the new form of government in Luzerne County is doomed because it is idiotic. In the days to come we can watch it play out and it wont be good. The system is broken on all levels. The cancer is GREED and it is a killer!

 
At 1:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

well that dream team will at least be entertaining... **** it all, it is time to get the hell out of NEPA once and for all. only a bunch of heynas could have, in their wildest imagination, thought this new form of government was a good idea. i can't believe bloggers like Yonki and Gort, and those in the media actually swayed public opinion to vote for this. at least the other screwings we got, actually got some things done, this fiasco just makes my reaffirms my decision to get out of this area.

 
At 3:05 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since it is my DREAM TEAM , I did follow the Luzerne County rules and added a father and son into the list...after all it IS Luzerne County.

 
At 9:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

after looking at your so called "dream team" i know now who i wont be voting for!

 
At 12:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Yonki:
I've known you for some time and your comments about Commissioner Petrilla and her administration is tainted by your lust for long legged, fairly attractive women. Couple that with the fact she is a Democrat and you're smitten. Get to know her better and trust me, she becomes quite unattractive. Everyone seems to forget her alliances with Conahan, Powell and Jill Moran. She appointed an incompetent yes man in Doug Pape as Chief Clerk who is also smitten with his cougar leader, Petrilla. The administration did some good things, but from a fiscal point of view only moved in the right direction when Mr. Pribula was Chief of Budget and Finance. He helped stop the bleeding, but when if came time to make the difficult decisions he was basically forced out for pure political theater. Of course Mr. Turncoat Urban has no desire to do what's right for Luzerne County; he just has to have a forum to perfect his acting craft. Mr. Cooney just slept through his couple of years after being chosen by judges that were closer to him than most realize. He probably abstained from more votes than he actually voted on and only provided the tie breaking votes when Petrilla needed it. Petrilla had the chance to lead Luzerne County in the right direction, but chose to basically continue business as usual. Home Rule really didn't win, all the previous Commissioners in recent history lost by refusing to do the right thing.

 
At 1:40 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
I've known you for some time and your comments about Commissioner Petrilla and her administration is tainted by your lust for long legged, fairly attractive women. Couple that with the fact she is a Democrat and you're smitten.
OKAY MY "SMITTEN" DAYS ARE PRETTY MUCH IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. AND I THINK MR PETRILLA WHO I'VE MET WOULD NOT APPRECIATE ANY TYPE OF SMITTEN GOING ON FROM ANYONE BUT HIM. SO LET"S PUT THAT ARGUMENT ASIDE. YOU SEEM TO IMPLY THAT I AM BLINDED BY A WOMAN'S GOOD LOOKS POLITICALLY. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ME FAWN OVER SARAH PALIN OR THOSE BLONDE BOMBSHELLS ON FOX? NO I HAVEN'T AND I SIR, KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT BOMBSHELLS. YOUR PREMISE IS FAULTY.
Get to know her better and trust me, she becomes quite unattractive. Everyone seems to forget her alliances with Conahan, Powell and Jill Moran.
SO BECAUSE PETRILLA IS FROM HAZLETON THAT PAINTS HER WITH THAT BRUSH? HARRY TRUMAN WAS A PRODUCT OF A POLITICAL MACHINE. IT NEVER AFFECTED HIS HONESTY OR JUDGEMENT. AND IF YOU THINK WHAT IS LEFT OF THE CONAHAN WING OF THE PARTY HAS ANY GREAT LOVE FOR PETRILLA THESE DAYS, YOU ARE TOTALLY WRONG ON THAT ONE.
Of course Mr. Turncoat Urban has no desire to do what's right for Luzerne County; he just has to have a forum to perfect his acting craft.
HE'LL NEED ALL THE ACTING IN HIS ARSENAL IF HE APPLIES FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER JOB AS RUMORED.
Petrilla had the chance to lead Luzerne County in the right direction, but chose to basically continue business as usual.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. IF IT WERE BUSINESS AS USUAL UNDER THE DOME, THIS INVESTIGATION WOULD BE COVERED UP. IF IT WERE BUSINESS AS USUAL UNDER THE DOME, THE TRANSITION COMMITTEE WOULD BE MEETING AT THE WHITEHOUSE DINER IN FORTY FORT WITH LEFTOVER PENCILS FROM THE GUY WHO USED TO SELL THEM ON PUBLIC SQUARE. IF IT WERE BUSINESS AS USUAL, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY INDEPENDENTS OR INDEPENDENT DEMS RUNNING FOR COUNTY COUNCIL. DON'T KNOW OR MET TOM COONEY, NEVER MET THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX GRAD DOUG PAPE, URBAN, I GRADUATED FROM KING'S WITH IN '77 BUT I'LL BE DAMNED IF I CAN FIND HIM IN THE YEARBOOK AND PRIBULA IS MY COUSIN WHO IF I WON THE LOTTO I"D GET TO MANAGE MY MONEY. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND WITH THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS AND I'M NOT ONE TO JUDGE. BUT ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THE MESS PETRILLA HAD TO CLEAN UP AFTER SKREPENAK AND VONDERHEID. THE CHARTER IN 2010 WAS PASSED BECAUSE THOSE TWO GUYS IN 2003 SAID "TRUST US-WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT-YOU DON'T NEED NO STINKING HOME RULE!" THOSE ARE THE GUYS WHO MADE HOME RULE HAPPEN, NOT PETRILLA, COONEY (SNOOZING OR ALERT) OR URBAN.

 
At 3:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! I must have struck a nerve. I could answer each of your responses as you did mine, but if you think Petrilla has any degree of honesty or is capable of exercising good judgment you are WRONG. Oh, by the way, Palin is somewhat short and a Republican. Not your type Yonki.

 
At 5:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

David, David, David how clueless do you think we are? Petrilla didnt do a friggin thing to clean up the mess those two clowns left. What did she do? Go ahead, I'm listening, what did she do? Oh, you mean the million dollars she just spent on time clocks because she can't get her managers to be at work and sign employees in and out? Oh, wait a minute, I got it. You mean the small fortune the commissioners just spent on a consultant to give them a plan oh how to best use Moon Lake ~~~~~ You know, Moon Lake where they had no money to eoperate it so they closed it down? Yeah, you know what I mean. No money to operate it so they spend a small bundle to learn what it could be used for. Swiming, camping, fishing and general park use would never enter their minds, they needed a consultant....... OK, here is a great place to say, WTF?

 
At 5:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Spweaking of dream team, here is mine and I'm sticking to it:

I have my candidates for county council and it is a mixed bag and only 7 out of 11 possible. I will throw the remaining 4 votes to the wind.

Republicans:
John Ruckno
Blythe Evans
Harry Hass

Democrats:
Edd Brominski
Sal Licata
Eileen Sorokas
Jim Bobeck

 
At 9:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The LuLac Edition #1783, October 4th, 2011":

give me skrep and vondy back over this ****ing home rule charter... at least there were only 2 of them to worry about, not 11.

 
At 10:27 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i have a dream team as well in no order

democrats:

brominski
maddon curry
mcginley
sorokas
morcavage
licata
bobeck
bednar

republicans:
hass
evans
ruckno


thats the winning ticket folks!!

 
At 4:13 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
David, David, David how clueless do you think we are? Petrilla didnt do a friggin thing to clean up the mess those two clowns left. What did she do? Go ahead, I'm listening, what did she do?
OKAY, FOR STARTERS PETRILLA HAS KEPT THE COUNTY SHIP FROM SINKING INTO AN ABYSS. THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS HAVE GONE OFF WITH NO GREAT CALAMITIES.
IN CONTRAST TO THE LACKAWANNA COUNTY PRISON, THE FACILITY ON WATER STREET IS BEING MANAGED BY A COMPETENT WARDEN AND A DECENT STAFF.
WHILE I’M SURE SHE DISAGREES WITH THE HOME RULE FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND HAS IDEAS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE TRANSITION COMMITTEE, THERE HAS BEEN COOPERATION BUT NO OBSTRUCTIONISM.
DURING THE FLOOD EMERGENCY, THE COUNTY AND ITS OFFICIALS WERE RIGHT ON THE SPOT MOINITORING DEVELOPMENTS. WHILE IT IS TRUE ONE OF THE RIVER GAUGES WAS FAULTY, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH BEYOND THEIR CONTROL UNTIL THE WATERS REACHED THAT HIGH A LEVEL. THERE WAS COOPERATION WITH OTHER TOWNS IN THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF INFORMATION AND MANPOWER.
THE GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT. ALL THE INFORMATION IS RIGHT ON THE WEB SITE AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MORE BACK ROOM DEALS. PLUS EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD, WHEN NEEDED HAS RESPONDED TO ANY PUBLIC OR PRESS INQUIRY WITH SPEED AND ACCURANCY.
MOON LAKE? I’M PRETTY MUCH AGAINST CONSULTANTS BECAUSE THEY TELL YOU STUFF YOU ALREADY TEND TO KNOW. BUT I THINK IF YOU CAN’T SELL OFF MOON LAKE FOR A PROFIT, THEN YOU PUT IT TO USE IN THE COUNTY. MAYBE GET SOME CORPORATION TO BUY THE NAMING RIGHTS AND TURN IT INTO A SUPER CAMPGROUND. BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THE TAX CRAZIES THAT YOU MIGHT BE LOSING MONEY FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS. MAYBE MOON LAKE SHOULD BE RE-EVALUATED TOO. TIMES THOUGH HAVE CHANGED WHEN YOU COULD RUN MOON LAKE WITH PAYING A GUY $15 GRAND A YEAY AND LETTING HE OR SHE LIVE THERE.
LET’S ALSO TALK ABOUT THOSE TIME CLOCKS. THE INSTALLATION OF THOSE IS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, COUNTY WORKERS ARE NOW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HOURS THEY PUT IN. THERE ARE NO MORE NO SHOW JOBS ANYMORE, NO MORE MOONLIGHTING AT CAR DEALERS AND A WAY T TRACK THE WORK THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE DOING.
TRASH HER ALL YOU WANT. AFTER TWENTY YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFE I’M SURE SHE’S USED TO YOUR CRAP. BUT FOR ONE MINUTE DON’T DIMINISH THE FACT THAT WHEN SHE SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, SHE DIDN’T FOLD LIKE OTHER POLITICOS IN THIS AREA HAVE DONE. SHE SET HER OWN COURSE AND BEGAN TO RIGHT THE WRONGS. IT WASN’T PERFECT BUT WAS A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN WALKING AWAY FROM IT AND NOT FINISHING THE JOB SHE WAS ELECTED TO DO. AND BEFORE YOU EVEN START IN ON THE FACT THAT I’M IN THE COUNTY’S POCKET, DON’T EVEN GO THERE. I TALKED TO THE WOMAN TWICE THIS YEAR AND THE LAST BUSINESS I HAD UNDER THE DOME WAS WHEN WE GOT PASSPORTS IN 2006. AND THAT WAS IN AN OFFICE RUN BY JILL MORAN. DESPITE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MORAN, WE WERE IN AND OUT IN UNDER 15 MINUTES AND WERE TREATED LIKE GOLD. I HAVE NO DOG IN THE COUNTY HUNT, I'M JUST CALLING 'EM AS I SEE 'EM. IF THAT MAKES E CLUELESS, SO BE IT.

 

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