The LuLac Edition #3493, May 9th, 2017

HERE'S WHAT GOING ON IN “THE LAC”

This will be a pretty tame primary in Lackawanna County. There is virtually no opposition for the Judge of Common Pleas vacancy. So Julia Munley will win election to the seat come November.
Mark Powell of Moosic is chomping at the bit to try and become the first Democratic District Attorney in Lackawanna County in two generations. With the divisive primary battle between Gene Talerico and Sean Scanlon that might become more than wishful thinking.
Also virtually walking into another terms are the row office holders. 
Sheriff Mark P. McAndrew of Mayfield and Register of Wills Fran Kovaleski of Jessup have no opposition. While she has no opposition in the primary, Recorder of Deeds Evie Refalko McNulty will have opposition in the fall from Charles Kokinda. Kokinda is a young REpublican with a catchy poster ad that states "A Change Indeed" in a scroll like deed. Mrs. McNulty's late husband Jim would not have liked the opposition to his wife but I'm sure would have been a little impressed with the slogan.  (corrected from earlier edition).
The most hysterical thing to me about this is the fact that the Republican party was thumping their chest about how great Donald Trump was for their party. Well first off he and they didn’t carry the county for him in 2016.
Plus it seems to me that the Republicans are more talk than action when it comes to fielding candidates.
They are, on the local level, pretty much a joke.
On the other hand the hottest race on the GOP side is that of former Assistant DA and Prosecutor Gene Talerico. He is running against incumbent Sean Scanlon who was appointed by the Court enbanc when Andy Jarbola became a Judge. People are still scratching their heads over that deal.
Scanlon has to prove that he will be trusted to run the office for a full term. He’s off to a decent start but this is a divisive campaign and nothing here is guaranteed.
This will be one to keep an eye on.
For Mayor of Scranton, usually a hotbed of activity, Bill Courtright is unopposed as is his 2013 opponent Jim Mulligan. Courtright has keep the city finances stable, at least for Scranton. He might run into flack for the garbage fee and the Scranton Sewer Authority sale but he is the odds on favorite to win another term. Primarily because Mulligan may not be able to match the Courtright money and “Back On Track” message. Mulligan has the impotent GOP city infrastructure to deal with too as well as a checkered history with not paying his garbage fee. In Scranton, that’s a big deal.
Bill Fox is unopposed as Tax Collector and will waltz into office.
On Scranton Council Paul Duffy, Kyle Donahue, Pat Rogan, Cesar Reyes, Bill Gaughan and Joe Wechsler are running for three seats on the Democratic side.
Richard Johnson is the lone Republican opponent. 

WILKES BARRE SCHOOL BOARD FORUM FRIDAY NIGHT