The LuLac Edition #5, 327, May 18th, 2025

 

ELECTION TAKEAWAYS 2025.

LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE

 One Democrat Mark Bufalino is running for the Democratic nomination. It’s very unusual that not many other Democrats jumped into this race so he has a field all to himself.

The same holds  true for Republican Tom Mosca. He’s running for the Republican nomination on the GOP side and the Luzerne County Republican Party is making it perfectly clear that he is the only Republican in the race. The reason for this strategy is because the judgeships for county Judge are cross filed. Sometimes a candidate will get lucky and win nominations on both tickets and then proceed to the judgeship without a primary. This one is going to be close because of the fact that the Republicans have a slight registration edge in Liuzerne  County.

 We shall see whether the GOP MAGAs  are going to come out to vote for a local candidate in this particular race. Mosca has walked a fine line with all wings of the party.

On other hand, Bufalino Has full support from the Democratic Party and from a number of Republicans, who will also cross over to vote for him.  Bufalino has raised more money than Mosca and he has an edge over the fact that he has been a 30 year trial lawyer while Mosca has not been that active in a courtroom. That may not be a deal breaker given the fact that the current President Judge Stefanie Salavantis had scant experience in that area when she was elected DA.

STAYING WITH THE LAW

There are two magisterial races on the west side of the Susquehanna that are worth noting in the Wyoming area judicial race. There are three candidates, Matt Carmody,  the son of outgoing magistrate Joe Carmody,  is facing off against Exeter attorney Laura, Dennis and also Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer Boyer is going to be the wildcard in this race mainly because of the fact that not many people are giving him a chance. But he’s doing a lot of heavy advertising with this race. All there are lawyers and this is going  come down to a three person race where everybody in their own home town is he going to get most likely a large percentage of the votes,.

 I think it’s going to be independent people who are not committed to a particular town that’s going  decide this particular race.

Down the road in the Kingston and Forty Fort  District, the only person that’s on the ballot is Joshua Moses, a young law  student who gained access to the ballot earlier in the year. His opponents Bill Hardwick and Anthony Maravich are running as write in candidates. There was an issue with both their petitions earlier in the year. Hardwick is out and about, has signs up and asking for support as an independent. This is the seat that will replace the late Jim Hagerty, who passed away couple years ago

Walter Griffith, a republican county controller and Tim McGinley a former three term county council member is running on unopposed so that race in November is going to be extremely interesting.

The sides are all lined up for the Luzerne County council primary .

On the Democratic side are the following candidates.

Tony Perzia

Denise WIlliams

Jonathan price

Chris Bellas

Steve Coslett

Emily Singh

Dawn Simmons

 

On the Republican side are the candidates

John lombardo

Greg wolovich

Brian Thornton

Kevin Lescavage

Tom Dombroski

Jackie Scarcell

Steve urban

Ron Knapp

Bob Viars

The main difference between the two slates  is that the Republican side has at least three MAGA people who were supporters and election deniers.  

The Democratic side seven candidates serving for five seats. The Democrats will only need one seat and the general election to take control the council. In the last race in ’23, the Dems did not run a united ticket and screwed themselves out of getting a majority.

LACKAWAMNA COUNTY

The biggest race in Lackwanna County the biggest race there is going to be  for Mayor of Scranton . On the Democratic side Mayor Paige Cognetti is running against neighborhood activist Bon heridan  Cognetti has been a progressive mayor and has been linked to the Democratic party on a statewide basis. Scranton though is a very unusual area where they don’t keep Mayors in power for very long .  The incumbent has to watch out for Sheridan‘s relationships with people in the neighborhoods because even though Jim McNulty when he was running for reelection, had great  support for his work in the city,  his campaign wasn’t centered on the neighborhoods. This might be an issue for Canetti along  the line.

The race for Lackawanna County judge is preordained because Mark Powell had been appointed and faces no opposition.  On the Republican Democratic side same thing for Brian Gallagher running for District

As always, local municipal elections are extremely important and we’re not quite sure how the turnout is going to be. I could tell you first hand that the Democrats have been holding a lot of rallies where people are showing up to lend their support. This will not necessarily be a referendum on what’s going on in Washington DC but I think it’s going to be more or less a demonstration of what people in their parties are doing to help organize to gain or retain power. We’ll all know on Wednesday morning.