The LuLac Edition #2127, July 15th, 2012

Can this guy ever smile again?

New County Chair of the GOP Bill Urbanski might think so. (Photo Times Leader) 

COUNTY GOP’S NEW MOVE  

The Luzerne County Republican party had a change in leadership this afternoon at Genetti’s in Wilkes Barre. Ousted by a close vote was current chair Terry Casey. He was replaced by Bill Urbanski of Kingston who serves on the Zoning Board for the borough. The vote was close. 79 to 72. Casey has been Chairman for the past four years and has presided over a party that has not really reached its potential. Given the corruption in Luzerne County, you’d have to believe that a strong county party would be able to capitalize on that. Critics within the party charge that the current leadership has failed to seize the moment. A few other things are at work here too. The party in 2009 allowed a five person primary fight to sap its energy for the Controller’s race. Taxpayer advocate Walter Grifffith the most visible of the five was not only not endorsed but had people within working against him. In Wilkes Barre city in 2011, the party did not take part in shaping the primary field and when the nominee was elected, the county organization did not lift a finger to help her (Lisa Cope) in her effort to unseat Tom Leighton. This year in Pittston, an avowed supporter of white supremacy won a committee post because there was no opposition. In fact, more than 100 committee posts have sat empty. Plus there was a blow to the party when two of its stalwarts, Rusty Flack and Jonathan Balester passed away in 2009. (Flack to cancer, Balester to an as yet unsolved murder). All of these factors added up to formidable opposition to Mr. Casey. Urbanski said that he will fill those committee vacancies and build the party from the ground up. He will have a daunting task but seems to have more of a handle on how to effectively communicate in this new century. New leadership though will not put the fear of God into the Democrats or make the County GOP a force. The vote difference was so slight that you can bet there will be a fissure in the party. This of course is nothing new in Luzerne County and one of the reasons why the Democratic party, despite itself, has been so successful. Before Mr. Urbanski sees success on the horizon, he has to acknowledge the fact that there are lunch pail Republicans as well as banker Republicans. It has been like this for the GOP for generations. Before he can even get out of the gate, he, as the new Party Chair must crack the code on how to merge those two wings so that both can prosper and coexist as a viable alternative to the Democrats here in the County.