The LuLac Edition #3636, November 4th, 2017

LACKAWANNA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S RACE

The last time there was a Democratic District Attorney in Lackawanna County Richard Nixon became President, Dwight Eisenhower died and Americans landed for the first time on the moon. Since then the Republican party has had that chair. Democratic challengers have come and gone. Mark Powell thinks he can be the guy to restore the Dems back to that office.
Powell is facing Gene Talerico, an Assistant DA who was the heir apparent to Andy Jarbola who became a Judge like a few DA office holders in the Lac have. However Talerico was denied the appointment when Shane Scanlon got the nod. The Judges who picked the DA were swayed according to some people by the fact that Scanlon was related to one of the Judges. No one can prove that but it has been rich political fodder since the appointment.
During the primary Talerico bested Scanlon when an issue was made of the fact that Scanlon was not going to debate his challenger in the primary. When Talerico won, Scanlon talked about his inexperience as a campaigner.
All the while Democrat Mark Powell was watching from the sidelines. With interest.
This year Powell and Talerico have had a large battle of the yard signs. Powell has the full backing of the Democratic party and has been coming after Talerico hard. But Talerico has fought back with ads painting Powell as a Defense Attorney who defended criminals. To me that’s faulty because unless you change the Constitution, that's what DEFENSE ATTORNEYS DO!
Talerico is a known quantity. Powell is getting there. Again, my estimation is this race will be close. Here’s why:
1. I believe there is a block of Scanlon voters who will not come out for Talerico. That can be a built in resource for Powell.
2. If the turnout is light, if Mayor Courtright gets a big vote in the city and the outlying Mid Valley comes through, Talerico just might have a long night.
When I posted in one of our 13 Questions Editions that it might be Talerico in a walk, I was advised to revise my reporting and dig deep. I’m not saying Powell can do it convincingly but this might be a case of  right stars aligning at the right time for the first time in 48 years.  The Democrats are making this the quest for that long sought after political Holy Grail in The Lac, the DA’s office.

DEMOCRAT

MARK POWELL

Fresh out of law school, Attorney Mark Powell joined his family’s firm in Scranton and immediately began trying cases.
“I was given a unique opportunity as a young lawyer to get into the courtroom. I had my first felony jury trial shortly after passing the bar,” he recalls. “From the beginning, I’ve always felt most comfortable in a courtroom. It’s where I’m happiest because it’s what I love to do. It has also given me a lot of insight because I’ve defended and prosecuted cases.”
The experience of working both sides has made Mark a better trial lawyer “because you know every vantage point.” In his current practice, he examines witnesses just about every day of the week in trials, hearings, expert depositions and discovery depositions. Mark is the only candidate for Lackawanna County District Attorney who has had jury trials in all six counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania. His qualifications combined with trying cases in both State and Federal Court is unmatched among the candidates for District Attorney.
Mark is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as both a Criminal Trial Specialist and Civil Trial Specialist. Only 3 percent of the lawyers in the country are board-certified by the NBTA in any one field. In addition, he earned his Master of Laws in Trial Advocacy (LLM), an advanced law degree that few lawyers in the country hold. Mark is the only candidate for DA who is board-certified or possesses an advanced law degree.

REPUBLICAN

GENE TALERICO

Here is a look at Republican Gene Talerico's record and experience.
•First Assistant District Attorney, Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office, 2000-2016
•Special Assistant United States Attorney, Middle District of PA, 2006-2016
•Chief Prosecutor, Child Abuse/Sexual Assault Unit, Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office, 1994-2000
•Special Deputy Attorney General, Office of Attorney Genera, 1993-1994 (Commonwealth v. Hasay; Commonwealth v. Truesdale).
•Assistant District Attorney, Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office, 1992-1994.
•Conflict Solicitor, Old Forge Zoning Board, 1998
•Conflict Solicitor, Old Forge
Homicide Prosecution Experience
•Commonwealth v. Neil Pal – 1st Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Jason Dominick – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Matthew Evans – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. T. Future – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. J. Future – 1st Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Christian Kenyon – 1st Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Darak Williams – 1st Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Kashema Reddish - Manslaughter
•Commonwealth v. Perez-Hood – 1st Degree Murder (Death Penalty Hearing)
•Commonwealth v. Campfield – 1st Degree Murder (Death Penalty Hearing)
•Commonwealth v. Kimbrough – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Martinez – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Goodine – 1st Degree Murder (Death Penalty Hearing)
•Commonwealth v. Barnes – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Kinne – 3rd Degree Murder
•Commonwealth v. Witcher – 3rd Degree Murder

(Times Tribune, LuLac, Powell and Talerico websites)