The LuLac Edition #2505, August 29th, 2013

County Council member Rick Williams. (Photo: LuLac archives)

WILLIAMS AGAIN

On September 3rd, Rick Williams will announce his candidacy for re-election to a second term on the Luzerne County Council. Williams is currently the only Independent council member, and is also the only candidate running as an Independent for Council in the November 5th general election.
Rick Williams' initial two-year term as a Luzerne County Council member is nearing completion. "Although Luzerne County's home rule government has been in place less than two years, I believe we’ve made real progress changing the way we govern ourselves," Williams states.
"Our work is not simple, nor can it be accomplished quickly. As an architect, I think of my role on Luzerne County Council as rebuilding a new, stronger foundation for a thriving Luzerne County of the future. I will be grateful for the opportunity to serve four more years."
During his first term, Rick Demonstrated an independent, positive voice in County Council deliberations. Rick is beholden to no political party. His votes are sometimes part of a majority, and sometimes in the minority.
Promoted sound fiscal and budget practices that put us on path to pay down our debt and obtain a favorable bond rating that will reduce long-term interest costs. He voted against a 2012 budget that relied on bond money for operating expenses. He voted for the 2013 balanced budget that did not raise taxes.
Voted to modernize, improve efficiencies and increase transparency in county government. Rick supported installing a new financial accounting system for better monitoring and reporting of county finances and upgrading computer systems to use virtual servers. He supports transparency in government, including posting on the county website the emails council members send to one another.
Supported measures to treat county employees fairly, while raising expectations of effective performance. Rick has advocated for simple, uniform and equitable benefits and work standards for county employees, while pushing for adoption of best practices to improve outcomes in all county operations and services.
Pushed to reverse decades of cronyism by insisting on merit selection for hiring and promoting employees,
and encouraging capable but previously "unconnected" citizens to serve on boards, authorities and commissions.
Promoted regionalism and represented Luzerne County on regional bodies. Rick serves on the Bi-County Board of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
During a second term, Rick's decisions will be based on his vision of a thriving Luzerne County of the future:
An ethical and fiscally responsible county government that pays down our debt, balances our annual budget, and improves performance without raising taxes.
A county workforce that has the tools, training opportunities, and accountability to succeed in the 21st century.
New economic development opportunities and improved quality of life issues tied to our physical environment, including cleaner waterways, passenger rail service, county parks, open space, bike paths and sidewalks.
Increasing municipal and regional collaboration while preserving what is wonderful about our county. (Rick Williams press release).

County Council candidate Mike Giamber and his signs. (Photo: LuLac archives) 

GIAMBER UP

County Council candidate on the Democratic side Mike Giamber is up with some signs all across the Valley. Giamber is a regular at County Council meetings and has been very active in the study, formation and implementation of the new form of government.

TALE OF TWO WALTERS

Walter Mitchell who ran for the office of Controller on the Republican side in 2009 replaced the man who prevailed over him in that year’s GOP primary. Wednesday, Mitchell the ultimate renaissance man of theatre, finance and politics was sworn in to be the interim County Controller. He was picked over 8 Luzerne County residents that applied for the job.
On that same day, around 5:15PM, the man he replaced, Walter Griffith was closing up shop at his auto repair facility in Nanticoke with coveralls and cap as his garb. Griffith who made the zealous mistake of trying to get to the bottom of the disgrace that is called CityVest did what regular folks do when they get kicked down. They dust themselves up and get back up again. Let’s hope Griffith will still keep an activist profile that got him elected in the first place. Let’s also hope Mitchell lends a deft hand with his governmental experience to the County Council in his new position. Both men always had the public good at heart.
We wish them both well.

SIMPSON’S DEBUT

Bruce Simpson made an auspicious debut for Mayor of Wilkes Barre. On this site, his announcement generated a lot of comments and reaction. His front page story in the Times Leader touched all the bases. His observation that the colleges were a growth industry was also on target as he was interviewed on the spot where a King’s student was beaten up for his IPhone. But if Simpson becomes Mayor, let’s hope that he recognizes that college students are not the pillars of the community they are portrayed to be. Just go through the Wilkes College area or the North End on the weekend when it seems like there is a full blown rock concert going on. School’s back in session so we’re treated to the young lads and lasses dropping their garbage in the streets (yeah the red cup industry is a big one here!!) wandering obliviously into the street trying to cross (King’s had to even hire a crossing guard on North Main so the kids can navigate their way to classes) and just raising hell at the top of their voices because mom and dad aren’t around to police them.
I’m all for education, and not all kids are like this, but there are enough to make mention of this. Don’t know if Simpson can put manners on these kids but it would be fun to see him try.
On a side note to King’s, who always did and still has a kick ass Accounting Major, it might be instructive to have some of your staff members who screwed the pooch on your finances to maybe take responsibility. At the very least, maybe they can monitor some classes to learn how to not screw up what was once a glorious well run fiscally sound institution.

Representative Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives)

REP. CARTWRIGHT MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Notes That Much Progress Has Been Made In Last 50 Years, But Says That More Progress Is Needed

Yesterday, Rep. Cartwright marked the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech that inspired a nation. More than 200,000 people – of all races and backgrounds – came from all over the country to participate in the March, calling for fundamental social and economic justice for all Americans, at a time when many public facilities in regions of the country were still segregated.
“This massive March helped to awaken the conscience of the country,” Rep. Cartwright pointed out. “Less than one year after the March, on July 2, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the most sweeping civil rights bill since Reconstruction, into law. Then, a year later, on August 6, 1965, President Johnson signed the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, which has helped secure the right to vote for millions of Americans, into law.”
“Over the last 50 years, key progress has been made in moving forward on the vision of America that Dr. King laid out in his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” Rep. Cartwright said. “And yet more progress needs to be made.”
“The first key step that Congress must take this year is to restore the power of the Voting Rights Act by enacting a legislative fix in response to the damaging 5-4 Supreme Court decision in June, which took a step backwards on the Voting Rights Act by declaring part of it unconstitutional,” Rep. Cartwright stated. “This legislative fix must be designed to ensure that the Voting Rights Act continues to fully protect the right to vote for years to come.”
“Further, to live up to Dr. King’s vision, we must all work together to significantly expand economic and educational opportunity to all Americans – no matter what their race or ethnic origin,” Rep. Cartwright concluded. “We must ensure that ladders of opportunity are available to every American. By taking such steps as expanding early childhood education, making college more affordable, investing in effective job training, and raising the minimum wage, we can do much more to expand opportunity. We must continue to strive until Dr. King’s vision is finally realized and America fully lives up to its true promise and ideals.”

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV

ECTV Live will take on some serious subject matter during it's screenings Labor Day week.Host Tom Munley and co-host David DeCosmo will welcome Kathy Wallace to the program to discuss details of the first annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Walk. The Walk, designed to call attention to the suicide problem in our area and to offer comfort tofamilies affected by this tragedy, will take place on Courthouse Square in Scranton on September 7th. Registration is scheduled for 9am. ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast Ch 19 each day at Noon and Midnight.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with State Representative Kevin Haggerty of the 112th Legislative District on his property tax legislation, the economy, jobs, his dispute with the White House, and abortion.
And Brian speaks with Roxanne Pauline about the 1st annual Northeast Pa Labor Day Festival, coming up on Monday at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre and benefiting the Keystone Wounded Warriors.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday mornings at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93, and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

This week on Special Edition, hear the story of friends and strangers who have banded together to hold a benefit for the family of Fred Kleman Jr. of Plymouth, who was killed on his street after telling a motorist to slow down. Also, details of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program of Luzerne County, a group dedicated to giving neglected and abused children volunteer support as they make their way through the court system and coverage of a taxpayers' meeting in Scranton designed to introduce residents to HB and SB 76, designed as a revenue-neutral way to eliminate property taxes. On Saturday morning at 10 and Sunday at 7 p.m. Different time on Saturday due to PSU football.

PCN

ENTER THE LADIES

How well do you know the first ladies from the past six gubernatorial administrations? Gain more insight about “Pennsylvania’s First Ladies” during PCN’s special presentation airing Thursday, September 5 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Each first lady will speak candidly about their personal experiences and contributions made to the Commonwealth during their time of service.
The tentative schedule is as follows. Check pcntv.com for any updates or additional airtime information.
7:30 p.m. – Ginny Thornburgh
8:00 p.m. – Ellen Casey
8:30 p.m. – Michele Ridge
9:00 p.m. – Kathy Schweiker
9:30 p.m. – Judge Marjorie Rendell
10:00 p.m. -Susan Corbett

Our 1976 logo.

1976

James Alexander George Smith "Jags" McCartney was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands…….President Ford and Bob Dole go straight to the heartland to kick off their Presidential run. Dole on a campaign stop in his hometown of Russell, Kansas breaks down and weeps over how far he came from his World War II injuries……The Ford campaign releases its first commercial. However, this vintage commercial was never released because of the reference to riding in an open car in Dallas (which Ford did during the campaign) as well as the cherry bomb that went off when Ford was speaking. The Ford people felt the references  to  Dallas were  still too raw…

In Pennsylvania, Congressman Bill Green barnstorms the state in hope to become the first Democratic Senator in the state since 1968……..in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, the Labor Councils tie in their celebration of the Bicentennial with duel events in both cities showcasing the labor movement through the years….and thirty seven years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan and John Ford Coley.