The LuLac Edition #5, 578, February 18th, 2026

 

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

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This week we  giVe you the editorial that appeared I the Tims Leader regarding the tenure of Edie Day Pashinski. Pashinski was considered a long shot when he ran in  2006 beating former Councilman Robert Reilly and Dr. Brian O’Donnell. After that, he was off and running.

His time in the Legislature was punctuated by a State House that had a Republican majority fot some of the time he was in. But he prevailed and served the district with distinction.

PASHINSKI SERVED NEPA WITH PRIDE AND MADE AN HONORABLE DECISION

Reporters who regularly covered state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski knew one thing was as certain as sunrise: If given a chance at an event — regardless of whether he was a scheduled speaker or an impromptu visitor — he would grab a few moments of attention and offer his two cents on, well, almost anything.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. With a long and diverse career from teacher to band member to politician, Pashinski had a lot of interesting experiences and observations to contribute to most topics. Perhaps just as importantly, he rarely bluffed his way through things he didn’t know. He’d just find a thread of his own life that tied into what an event was about, and make the connection.

Sure, sometimes he talked a bit longer than he probably should have — look around the crowd and you might catch a few folks familiar with him joking about his penchant to opine, or just rolling eyeballs. But say what you will about the man’s politics or about his speechifying, in many ways, he embodies the region he represents.

For starters, he was the son of a coal miner. The vast majority of folks here could say the same, or at least say they were the grandchildren of coal miners. And if not, they were children of people who ran corner shops, clerked in downtown department stores, worked in factories, toiled in construction or maintenance trades, or in general fulfilled blue-collar duties at modest pay with the goal of making life better for their children.

Then there were Pashinski’s years in public education, working as a music teacher and choral director for decades at Greater Nanticoke Area School District. While public education has been derided (sometimes rightly, more often not) for many years, it’s important to remember it was an absolutely essential part of creating a middle class in this (and other) countries, and in developing the nation’s early successes in business and industry (an educated workforce is more productive).

And there was the entrepreneurial streak that convinced Pashinksi to moonlight as a musician and band leader.

All of which happened before he won the first of 10 terms as state representative on the Democratic ticket, essentially starting an entirely new career at an age many opt to retire.

We won’t debate his political record here and now. That’s a pretty big topic, and it is still unfolding. Doubtless, over two decades, he built up detractors eager to point out perceived contradictions and shortcomings in his tenure. But he was a consistent champion of public education funding, unions, and, in later years, programs like Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

What we do think merits praise is his decision to step down. While initially announcing plans to run for an 11th term in the 121st Legislative District, Pashinski reversed course Tuesday and said he will not seek re-election.

Mind you, we had no problem with the initial decision to run again, and we have no problem with the change of mind. But we appreciate that, at age 80, Pashinski is stepping aside to let a newer generation enter the arena of state politics. Younger isn’t de facto better, but there are times when it seems long-term politicians start running for re-election not because they still have something to give, but because they have something they don’t want to lose. By deciding not to run again, Pashinksi is proving he is not in the latter group.