The LuLac Edition #2422, May 15th, 2013

Denied job candidate, Linda Coxen. (Photo: Citizen's Voice) 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOW 

Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton was handed his first real taste of process politics in Luzerne County last night as the Council voted 5-5 with no abstention to deny his choice for County Director of Judicial Records Linda A. Coxen of Colorado. I just switched the Channel back to catch this action and it was an education into the mind set of how this Council works. The candidate, who was the Town Clerk and Administrative Services Director for Brekrenridge, Colorado also worked for a District Attorney there. She had more than 25 years experience in this field and obviously Lawton was sold on her. Selling the County Council was another matter. 
Those who voted yes were Rick Williams, Rick Morelli, Elaine Maddon Curry, Linda McCloskey Hauck and Jim Bobeck. 
In what I think is an overreaction to the scandals, Harry Haas abstained because one of Home Rule’s initial advocates,  Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty served on the selection committee. And Haggerty donated to Haas’s re-election. I applaud Haas for the integrity he showed but when it might have come to denying the Manager’s pick, this is stopping progress. 
Rick Morelli said he wasn’t going to vote against anyone because she “was not local”. 
So we have 5 for and one abstaining. The two Urbans voted no with the son giving some lame excuse that the newly elected Council should get out of the shadow of the original Home Rule committee that formed the government. His father said no too. The Council has to always operate on the assumption that these are going to be no votes. 
Edd Brominski’s vote had nothing to do with the woman or her qualifications. He wanted his vote to be a vote of no confidence in Lawton. Jeez Edd, just stand up at a meeting and tell Lawton he stinks. (No, no, don’t do that, you sit next to Bobeck and he might want to take your pulse). So now we’re down to 5 to 3. 
Eugene Kelleher and Chair Tim McGinley voted no too for reasons only they could elaborate now. 
So Lawton who has been accused of being a despot, dictator, outlander, what have you got his first defeat by the Council. He walked away from the podium and did not look pleased. Coxen for her part shook some hands on her way out the door and was whispering to someone on Council about the courage of those who voted for her. Lawton said he would conduct another national search but this afternoon thought the better of it saying he would name interim Director Joan Hoggarth to the post. 
Lawton most likely decided to cut his losses before Urban decided to send Steve Junior to law school or the other no voters dug up a crony from the County. Hoggarth has one up on the Colorado candidate, she lives in Hanover Township and that obviously will make the Council comfortable. Lawton should have looked to other interim directors too but that’s for another time. 
One thing I would wonder about is why he (Lawton was offering $67,5 when WILK is reporting Hoggarth, (she of the County) is getting $75,000. If her salary is now set at $75,000, where are the people on the Council so crazed about cutting costs when it comes to a couple of grand difference? 
In the meantime, Linda Coxen goes home with at least two parting gifts. Only in Luzerne County can a person go on a job interview, come here at their own expense and get their name and face plastered on not one but two local newspapers. ON THE FRONT PAGE!! 
She could tell her friends in the Rocky Mountains, “That’s how they do it in Mayberry”…..or as the natives call it, Luzerne County. 

MEDIA MATTERS 

PCN PCN TO PROVIDE LIVE COVERAGE OF FUNERAL FOR FORMER PA GOVERNOR GEORGE LEADER 

The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will air special LIVE coverage of the funeral service for former Pennsylvania Governor George Leader beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 16. Coverage will re-air on PCN later that day at 9:00 p.m. 
Following the LIVE coverage of the funeral service at Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, PCN will be joined in the Camp Hill studio by Ken Wolensky, author of “The Life of Governor George M. Leader: Challenging Complacency,” and Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and  Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College. Both Wolensky and Madonna will provide a retrospective discussion on Leader’s contributions and legacy. 
For those without access to cable or those unable to get to a TV, this special coverage will also be made available online as part of the network’s free streaming service, PCN Plus at pcntv.com. To view this special coverage online, visit http://pcntv.com/pcn-plus/ 
A York County native, Leader served in the state Senate before becoming the 36th Governor of Pennsylvania. Taking office at the age of 37 in 1955, Leader remains the second youngest governor is state history.