The LuLac Edition #996, Nov. 4th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: THE WYLN TV 35 ELECTION NIGHT CREW, HOST DON PACHANCE, YOUR BLOG EDITOR, POLITICAL PUNDIT JOE ZOBA, KIM ZBORAY ANCHOR AND ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR AND L.A. TARONE, NEWS DIRECTOR. IN THE BOTTOM PICTURE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT THE GOP TAILGATE PARTY. I TOLD WALTER GRIFFITH IF HE WON I'D PUBLISH THIS PICTURE OF THE TWO OF US WITH ME WEARING MY HIDEOUS PLAID SHORTS.

SPLIT DECISION

If you had to categorize this election in a few words, I’d say “Split Decision." With a huge scandal surrounding Luzerne County, the Democratic party held its own winning two Judicial seats and two row offices. The GOP on the other hand made inroads by winning the Controller’s seat as well as the Prothonotary’s office.

ELECTION 2009

William Amesbury: Bill Amesbury had a sigh of relief in his voice. The South Wilkes Barre Magistrate won a convincing victory to become a Judge. To be sure the Amesbury camp was nervous and took nothing for granted. But the bottom line was people respected, liked and felt comfortable with Bill Amesbury to don the Judicial robes.
Tina Gartley: Finishing second, Gartley ran a smart efficient campaign reminiscent of her spring primary effort. She left no stone unturned and impressed many with her message. She becomes the second woman and first mom to serve on the bench.
Richard Hughes: Hughes was counting on a great deal of bi partisan support. He had some cross over Democrats but not enough. Decent, likable and very well grounded, Hughes, if he wants to endure another campaign will be back. His 30,000 plus showing was more than respectable given the registration disadvantages of his party.
On Judicial retention Luzerne County voters kept Tom Burke but said goodbye to Peter Paul Olszewski Junior. Olszewski was the victim of some pretty unfair characterizations with no basis of fact and a non attributable photo that showed him at Judge Conahan’s condo in Florida.
I see Olszewski ‘s loss as a knee jerk reaction of the public for wanting to punish someone for the sins of Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella. Olszewski unfortunately got hit in the cross fire.
Maragaret Bisignani Moyle: Margaret Bisignani Moyle won a hard fought victory over Frank Castellano in a race for the Lackawanna county's newest judge Moyle worked very hard and presented her credentials in a wide ranging campaign that gives Lackawanna County its second female judge.
Frank Castellano: The Assistant DA ran an aggressive campaign but fell short. Many criticized a few of his campaign commercials which attacked Moyle’s lack of experience in Juvenile cases. Castellano said he would remain as an Assistant DA.
In the Luzerne County row offices, the hottest race was the three way Controller’s contest.
Walter Griffith: Walter Griffith has finally made it to the top of the mountain. After two tries for Wilkes Barre City Council and a bruising primary with 4 other candidates, Griffith won the Controller’s seat in a three way race. The self proclaimed tax advocate and watchdog will close his gas station down and be a Full Time Controller.

Robert Morgan: Morgan made a great run for office and did everything right. The problem was this was the year of the Democratic judicial scandals and the presence of an Independent on the ballot.
Wil Toole: Toole polled more than 8,000 and made a very impressive showing as an Independent. He did things on a shoe string but was very credible. However his lack of money and alternative party status gave his candidacy this epitaph: He had a great message, most likely was the most qualified but not enough people heard what he was saying.
If you look at the total you can make the argument that Toole’s presence cost Morgan the race. My friend Gort 42 was saying all along that Toole’s presence guaranteed a Griffith win. But let’s not take anything away from Griffith. In the primary Morgan polled 21,000 votes. Griffith and his opponents polled a total of only 18,000. So Walter and his party (but I’m not convinced the entire GOP was behind Griffith) made up some serious votes since May.
The Prothonotary’s contest was made lopsided by an event that occurred in the immediate family of the Democratic nominee Nancy McGinley Bellas. The office was held by Jill Moran who resigned earlier this year and had connections with the Powell Law Firm. The winner was Carolee Medico Olinginski but you have to wonder if her lead would have been cut down if there was another candidate running against her.
There have only been two Register of Wills in the last 48 years. That trend was continued when Dottie Stankovic won still another term.
Dottie Stankovic: Criticized for not being at work all the time, Dottie worked very hard in this campaign. (She was unopposed in 2005). Her margin of victory should be viewed with concern by the Democrats. But a win is a win and I’m sure she’ll be paying more attention to her swipe cards from now on.
Gina Nevenglosky: Nevenglosky came very close and has earned her stripes as a viable county wide candidate. She is enthusiastic and strategically got her message out. In my opinion she might have pulled this off but made people uncomfortable with her “Rally for Prayer” on the lawn of the Courthouse earlier in the campaign.
The race for Jury Commissioner became interesting in the late summer when Jerry Bonner was charged with a federal crime. He has plead not guilty. Bonner won going away, there were about 335 write ins.

The city of Hazleton had a race for city council.
Democrats Tom Gabos , Jack Mundie D and Jean Mope faced off against GOPers Karen Cabell, Jim Perry. Perry led all candidates with 1,585 votes, followed closely by Mundie, who had 1,578 votes. Cabell wound up third with 1,397 votes, with Zunski Mope earning 1,134 votes and Gabos in last with 1,104 votes.
In the city of Scranton the incumbent Mayor Chris Doherty who was re-elected to a third term on dual nominations in the Spring faced a write in challenge from longtime nemesis Gary DeBilio. Debilio issued his challenge when Doherty began an exploratory committee to run for Governor. Although the write ins aren’t counted in full yet, Doherty won running away.
The Scranton Council races featured:
Janet Evans, Pat Rogan and Frank Joyce:. The team that had a slogan “Voting for one won’t get it done” won over Republican challengers Doug Miller, Lee Morgan and a write in effort by Council member Judy Gatelli.
In Lackawanna County many row officers went unopposed. They were Sheriff John Szymanski, District Attorney Andy Jarbola, Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty and Register of Wills Linda Munley have no opposition and are virtually assured of winning. Everyone mentioned is a Democrat except Jarbola.
In the Lackawanna County Judicial level Judges Mike Barrasse and Terrence Nealon ran for new ten year terms and won easily.
Statewide Judicial races usually seesaw with various leads because of the size of the state. The hottest Judicial race is for a seat on the Supreme Court between Republican Jane Orie Melvin and Democrat Jack Panella. However, Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin, an Allegheny County Republican, overcame large deficits in campaign cash and voter registration yesterday to win a pivotal seat on the state Supreme Court. Four Republican candidates for four open Pennsylvania Superior Court seats and two Republican candidates for two open Commonwealth Court seats were also leading their respective races at midnight, although final results were not in yet.