WB_VOICE/PAGES [A04] | 05/10/19
21:26 | BOONELAURA
ElEction 2019
A4 THE CITIZENS' VOICE
lUZERnE coUntY coUncil
Asking the candidates: What is the biggest issue facing Luzerne County? BY ERic MARK STAFF WRITER
Seven Democrats and four Republicans seek their party’s nomination for Luzerne County council in the May 21 primary. Six council seats will be on the ballot in the November election. The 11-member council is the legislative body of county government, according to the county charter. Council members serve four-year terms and are paid $8,000 per year except for the council chairperson, who is paid $10,500 per year. The Citizens’ Voice asked each candidate to answer the same three questions about issues facing county government. Question one appears today. Question two will run Sunday and question three runs Monday. Robert Schnee replied in a phone interview, while Martin Dartoe responded during an in-person interview. The others replied via email. Today’s question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing county residents and council members, and what would you do to address it?
Republicans ■ Walter Griffith, 64, of Kingston Twp., retired from the auto repair business and former county controller. GRiffith “The most important issue facing people of this county is ‘How do I keep my home with all the tax and fee increases?’ I feel the taxpayers have been taken advantage of by a county council and county manager that have no regard for the taxpayers and this is demonstrated time and again
by the constant tax increases, and exorbitant pay raises, excessive union contracts and LERTA’s and KOZ’s approvals by county council. I will work hard to be sure that any tax forgiveness is provided to the taxpayers first not corporations. I will never vote for a tax increase unless the county manager and council have trimmed all the fat from our own budget first.” ■ Kendra Radle, 25, of Exeter, graduate financial services counselor at Wilkes University. “I think the biggest RADlE issue facing our county is the opioid crisis. Luzerne County has been setting records in the amount of opioid-related deaths in the past several years. This is not something we should be setting records for. These people dying aren’t just statistics — they are our family, friends, or neighbors. I think council members need to strongly support the district attorney’s office and their task force. I also think we need to work to raise awareness, stress the importance of prevention, and make sure the people affected along with their families are getting the treatment and support they need.” ■ Stephen J. Urban, 45, of WilkesBar re, IT support coordinator and former council member. “The biggest issue at URBAn the moment is the stor mwater fee. Luzer ne County should address it by initiating or joining litigation against the WVSA and/or federal government. The county is not
coMinG SUnDAY We ask county council candidates if they think changes should be made following the controversy involving election director Marisa Crispell’s ties to a county vendor. See their answers in Sunday’s edition of The Citizens’ Voice. immune from having to pay the WVSA, nor has budgeted for this fee. Leaders in Luzerne County need to address this fee with continued dialogue with the federal legislators for a resolution. One possible solution is for federal legislators to join on to the president’s proposed infrastructure bill to assist with separating sewer water from stormwater. Overall, the stormwater fee is costly to commercial businesses and government entities, ultimately resulting in more taxpayer expense.” ■ Gregory Wolovich, 26, of Hanover Twp., quality assurance technician at We g m a n ’ s Service Center. “Right WoloVich now there is large concern over the influx of new fees across the board, ranging from the stormwater mandate to the vehicle registration fees. Many of our elderly residents, a large makeup of our county, are already being hit hard by property taxes. We need to find ways to alleviate the stress on our seniors, possibly by bringing back homestead exemptions or other form of relief to benefit our most vulnerable residents living on a fixed income. At the same time, we need to keep an open conversation with our state legislators in order to bring resources to
POLITICAL CANDIDATES Wilkes-Barre Scranton DMA
Newspapers are the Preferred Choice of Media for Voters DEMOCRATIC VOTERS Democratic voters in local elections (349,255)
77.0%
Newspapers – 269,075
(Read a daily, Sunday or non-daily, print or digital newspaper, or visited a newspaper website in the past week)
Television – 255,086
73.0%
(Watched morning or evening local news)
64.3%
(Listened to morning drive radio)
63.2%
(Used Internet for social networking)
33.3%
(Read local magazines)
20.9%
(Used Yellow Pages in the past week)
Radio – 224,710
Social Media – 220,777
Magazines – 116,165
Yellow Pages – 73,022
REPUBLICAN VOTERS Republican voters in local elections (360,281)
82.0%
Newspapers – 295,528
Democrats ■ Patrick Bilbow, (incumbent), 50, of Duryea, principal of Pittston Area M i d d l e School. “A s a BilBoW father of three young boys and a middle school principal with well over 1000 students on campus I see the upgrades to our 911 system as a vital and ultra important issue as we move Luzerne County forward. As a member of county council, the safety and security of our citizens will always be an issue that receives the highest priority for me. When a Luzerne County resident has an emergency, we as council members have to know that we have put all of our 911 employees and the brave first responders in the best possible position to keep our residents safe and secure. We must also be ready to respond to any/all situations no matter how unpredictable they may be.” ■ Martin Dartoe, 30, of Wilkes-Barre Dartoe said the biggest problem is ensuring public safety, especially in light of everDARtoE escalating problems with drugs and violence. Council members need to work with all other county, municipal and law enforcement officials to crack down on drug dealers and make the streets safer for residents and families, Dartoe said. ■ Tim McGinley, (incumbent), 72, of Kingston, retired educator and coach, current council chairman “The counMcGinlEY ty has two major issues in the upcoming year. The first is the state mandate to purchase voting machines that have a paper trail. The estimated cost for this mandate is $4 million. Currently, the county will receive about $360,000 from the federal government. The state government may provide an estimated $350,000. This estimate is based on the governor’s proposed 20192020 budget. Until a budget is passed, the county will not know the state’s commitment. The county will be responsible for the remaining funds to pay for the voting machines. The second issue is the 911 service. The current analog technology is scheduled for the end of life at the end of 2019. The estimated cost to move to the digital technology is $20 million. The 2019 county budget has a reserve account of $1 million for the purchase. This leaves a deficit of $19 million estimate.” Please see coUntY, Page A5
Television – 262,759
(Watched morning or evening local news)
69.5%
(Listened to morning drive radio)
50.7%
(Used Internet for social networking)
34.2%
(Used Yellow Pages in the past week)
31.1%
(Read local magazines)
WilKES-BARRE MAYoR’S RAcE
our communities in Luzerne County in order to alleviate our tax burden.”
(Read a daily, Sunday or non-daily, print or digital newspaper, or visited a newspaper website in the past week)
72.9%
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019
MARk MoRAn / STAFF phoTogRAphER
George Brown told The Citizens’ Voice’s Editorial Board members on Friday he thinks he is ‘the best candidate to be the next mayor of the City of Wilkes-Barre.’
Brown vows to be a ‘very public mayor’ if elected BY StEVE MocARSKY STAFF WRITER
WILKES-BARRE — George Brown on Friday vowed to be a “very public mayor” if elected, makinghimself regularlyavailable to constituents and the news media and working with citizens and his administration to solve the city’s problems. “That’s something that’s very important to me as mayor — to be available. This is a full-time job for me. … You’ll see me at city hall,” Brown said, noting that unlike the current mayor, he would attend council meetings to hear concerns and answer questions from the public. Brown, who touts a 38-year career working with large companies utilizing a bachelor’s in human resources management and a master’s in organizational management and serving a term on council, met with members of The Citizens’ Voice Editorial Board to explain his campaign platform and answer questions about his plans for the city. BrownischallengingincumbentTonyGeorge,aretiredcity police chief who served one term on council before becoming the city’s chief executive, in the May 21 primary election. George defeated Brown in a four-way Democratic primary in 2015 with 2,095 votes to Brown’s 1,944. “I’m running for mayor because … I believe there is a lack of competence and leadership in city hall at this time,” Brown said. “With the background, knowledge and skill that I bring, I believe I’m the best candidate to be the next mayor of the City of Wilkes-Barre.” Brown said his top priorities, based on feedback from residents while campaigning door-to-door, would be implementing initiatives to decrease crime, better address blighted properties and city infrastructure, and improve the city’s economic position. Brown said the city went from an A- bond rating his final year on council in 2015 to George asking the state for financially distressed status through Act 47 last year — a request Brown believes was unnecessary. While George has said funding isn’t available to do more to improve infrastructure, Brown said he wants to “evaluate how the city is run with the budget that (George) has proposed” because he doesn’t have “faith in the numbers that are in his budget.” He said he’d work with administration leadership to “put together … a strategic
MoRE onlinE Visit citizensvoice. com/1.2477770 to read about Mayor Tony george’s interview with members of The Citizens’ Voice Editorial Board, which was published May 3. PLUS: Watch video of george Brown’s meeting with the Editorial Board at citizensvoice.com.
Don’t MiSS ... More in-depth coverage of the issues in the WilkesBarre mayoral race will be published next week. plan,” search for available grants and begin “working closely with the (community development) director and making sure they have the appropriate skill and knowledge to apply for the grants.” Brown said he would try to more aggressively collect delinquent recycling fees, and he criticized the city’s efforts to increase participation in the commercial recycling program as a little “too late — it’s reactive instead of proactive.” Brown said George has appointed unqualified or inexperienced people to some key positions, referring to a former police chief and current economic and community development director. “You have to appoint people to positions that have the skill, knowledge and ability to do the jobs, not appoint them and hope they gain that knowledge on the job,” he said. Brown criticized George for postponing the replacement of retired firefighters and for not hiring seven police officers to open positions sooner than he announced he would earlier this month. Brown couldn’t provide what he felt would be appropriate and affordable numbers of police and fire staffing. If elected, he would “sit down with the police (and fire chiefs and their top staffers to learn) exactly what they feel is the appropriate number to provide our residents with a safe environment.” Brown also proposed to initiate a “neighborhood strike force” within the police department to address specific problems in targeted neighborhoods as well as “increase the police presence” downtown and in more residential neighborhoods. contact the writer: smocarsky@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV
Radio – 250,553
Social Media – 182,546
Yellow Pages – 123,210
Magazines – 111,968
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WB_VOICE/PAGES [A05] | 05/10/19
21:54 | BOONELAURA
LocaL
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019
THE CITIZENS' VOICE A5
coUNTY: Candidates discuss key issues From page a4
property taxes. Since home rule (2012), spending has increased by nearly $20 million. I will make it a priority to look at the budget line by line and eliminate any kind of wasteful spending. I will fight to end the stormwater fee and the $5 vehicle registration fee. Luzerne County is still hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. According to many estimates, it will take a decade or more to be debt free. Let’s continue to set aside enough money annually until the debt is paid off.” ■ Jane Walsh Waitkus, (incumbent), 71, of Dorrance Twp., retired educator and professor “Besides WaLSh the need to WaiTkUS keep paying on the large county debt, there is a need to spend millions of dollars on two projects. In the near term, the biggest issues right now have to do with money — how to pay for the two big ticket items that need to be addressed next year: The 911 communication system needs an upgrade. Parts are wearing out and becoming hard to find. It is time to upgrade to new modern equipment. This will cost millions of dollars. The county is also facing the unfunded mandate to p u r c h a s e n e w vo t i n g machines that provide a paper trail. This project will also cost millions of dollars. County administration is looking for grant funds to pay for all or part of these projects.”
■ Anup Patel, 47, of Rice Twp., owner o f s eve r a l businesses in the county. “Having a balanced budget but at PaTeL the same time finding ways to fund the crumbling infrastructure such as the roads and bridges. Also by bringing my successful business experience to the table finding ways to attract other businesses without the typical KOZ tax breaks. For example explaining to national companies our prime real estate within the I-80 and I-81 corridor.” ■ Robert Schnee, (incumbent), 60, of S u g a rl o a f Twp., works for the Hazleton City Authority. Schnee SchNee said the two b i g g e s t issues facing the county are the mandated multimilliondollar upgrades to voting machines and the county 911 communication system. He described the 911 system upgrade — from analog to digital communication equipment — as “a public safety issue.” ■ Joe Sebastianelli, 28, of Pittston Twp., teacher with Luzerne Intermediate Unit. “The biggest issue is SebaSTiaNeLLi finances. Proper ty owners have been used and abused for far too long; many are suffering under an ever- contact the writer: increasing tax burden. They emark@citizensvoice.com are long-overdue for lower 570-821-2117
NeWS iN brief PLaiNS TWP.
cops: Man left 2 young kids alone
If convicted, Redmond faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the drug offenses and 10 years imprisonment for the weapons charges.
DaVe SCHerBeNCo / STaFF pHoTograpHer
ginger Zielinskie delivers the keynote address at Penn state Wilkes-Barre’s graduation ceremony May 4.
Penn State W-B holds graduation Penn State Wilkes-Barre honored its 2019 graduating class during commencement ceremonies May 4 at the campus’s Athletic and Recreation Building. The following Luzerne County students earned degrees: ■ Corporate Communication Certificate: Jennifer Curry (Wilkes-Barre), Nina Curry (Wilkes-Barre), Cassandra Warner-Gulvas (Wilkes-Barre), Stephanie Allard (Ashley), Heather Wright (Nanticoke). ■ Introduction to Business Management Certificate: Heather Wright (Nanticoke). ■ Supply Chain Management Certificate: Dawn Booth (Mountain Top), Christopher Hulse (Swoyersville), Allison Kristofco (Kingston), Alison Lloyd (Dallas), Megan Lloyd (Dallas), Susan Mergo (Plymouth), Lisa Rowski (Plymouth). ■ Associate of Arts in Letters, Arts, Science:
Mortgages ■ Jacinta ann appel Carey et al. from mortgage electronic A township man is facing registration Systems Inc. et al., felony child endangerment $96,000; Susquehanna avenue, — James Halpin West pittston. charges after police said he ■ John p. Sikora from Wells left two young children WiLkeS-barre Fargo Bank, $100,000; Hunlock alone. Harveyville road, Union Twp. Woman admits to Muhammed Jah, 34, is ■ Carlos Nunez et al. from accused of leaving his chilrole in bath salts ring Landmark Community Bank, dren, ages 1 and 4, alone at 22 $144,900; West Broad Street, A Wilkes-Barre woman E. Bergh St. Hazleton. pleaded guilty this week to ■ mary F. Lansberry et al. Officers conducting a wel- her role in a conspiracy to fare check around 11:30 p.m. distribute bath salts, accord- from pS Bank, $120,000; Ide road, Lehman Twp. Thursday found the chiling to the U.S. Attorney’s ■ John J. pacyna III from dren inside the home withmortgage electronic registration Office. out an adult present, police Systems Inc. et al., $71,530; Kerry Wylie, 27, was said. Shickshinny Valley road, Salem involved in the conspiracy While on scene, police saw between March 2014 and Jan- Twp. ■ eric a. Kraklio from a vehicle parked nearby uary 2016, prosecutors said. mortgage electronic registration waiting with the headlights The conspiracy involved Systems Inc. et al., $178,520; turned off. Police Curtis Street, pittston. importing the drug from approached the driver, Jah, ■ mario Tommaselli et al. from China and then distributing who admitted he was the Community Bank, $112,000; it to dealers and customers manchester Drive, Laflin. children’s father. in Luzerne County, prosecu■ Joseph e. Heller et al. from The children were tors said. mortgage electronic registration released to their mother and According to prosecutors, Systems Inc. et al., $289,200; Jah was charged with two mossville road, Fairmount Twp. Wylie was responsible for felony counts of endanger■ amy L. Shimo et al. from distributing about 1½ kiloing the welfare of a child. He grams of bath salts. mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $160,000; was released on $10,000 unseShe is scheduled to be sen- grant Street, exeter. cured bail. tenced Aug. 9. ■ gary Fortuner Jr. et al. from — James Halpin — James Halpin mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $108,007; ScraNToN cV seeking input mcHale Street, Wilkes-Barre. Dallas man indicted from readers ■ Shmoopys rentals LLC from adam T. aloisi, $75,000; Brown on drug charges The Citizens’ Voice is Street, Wilkes-Barre. A Dallas man was indicted expanding its community ■ gary J. palmasani et al. Tuesday on federal charges outreach and is interested in from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., alleging he illegally posgaining feedback from our sessed firearms and was readers through a new read- $225,001; Westport Circle, Jenkins Twp. involved in drug trafficking er advisory panel. ■ Vincent J. Lasorsa et al. in Luzerne County, accordWe are looking for four or from mortgage electronic ing to the U.S. Attorney’s five people to participate in a registration Systems Inc. et al., Office. readership forum June 19 to $109,283; anthracite avenue, Kingston. Bruce Redmond, 30, is assess our online perfor■ Christina m. Hogrebe from accused of illegally possess- mance. mortgage electronic registration ing a shot-barrelled shotgun, If you are interested in Systems Inc. et al., $272,000; a stolen firearm, making being a part of this initiative, West 8th Street, Franklin Twp. false statements in connecplease email your name, con■ Jaymes Barreto from tion with firearm purchases, tact information and short mortgage electronic registration possessing methamphetbio to city editor Jim Reeser Systems Inc. et al., $93,279; Howard Street, Wilkes-Barre. amine with the intent to dis- at jreeser@citizensvoice. ■ Kathleen C. Kelly-ostrowski tribute and aiding the distri- com. et al. from Honesdale National bution of suboxone. — staff report Bank, $304,000; maple Tree road, Lake Twp. ■ Tadeo Business Services Inc. from Sheng Ding, $96,500; Ask the Voice maplewood avenue, Dallas. Send questions about the news or sports issues that ■ mark a. miraglia et al. from you want to know more about to reporters and editors Choice one Community Federal via citizensvoice.com/askthevoice Credit Union, $133,600; mill or citydesk@citizensvoice.com Street, plains Twp. or call 570-301-2180. We’ll take a ■ Jessica L. mashinski et al. look at the topics and issues that are from mortgage electronic important to you and report our registration Systems Inc. et al., $72,659; miller Street, Luzerne. findings in print and online. www.citizensvoice.com ■ Thomas J. Hanlon from
voice
the citizens ’
Vyron Barriera (Dallas), Paris Gavin (Avoca). ■ Associate of Engineering Technology in Surveying Engineering Technology: Joshua Harenza (Wapwallopen). ■ Associate of Science in Business Administration: Matthew Winters (Nanticoke). ■ Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice: Christina Perles (Kingston). ■ Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice: Kyle Krushinski (Kingston), Emily Lencoski (Shickshinny), Scott Roper (Kingston). ■ Bachelor of Science in Business: Gage Brown (Dallas), Elizabeth Chupka (Wilkes-Barre), Nicholas Conway (Shavertown), Daniel Costantino (Pittston), Cassidy Eckrote (Nanticoke), John Fagotti (Pittston Twp.), Alan Hilens k i ( M o u n t a i n To p ) , Alexander Klinger (Berwick), Daren Miller (WilkesBarre), Mark Oakley (Swoyersville), Landis Ostroski (Larksville), Barry Pawloski
(West Wyoming), Brandon Povilitus (Wilkes-Barre), Alexa Rash (West Pittston), Gordon Roberts (Larksville), Adam Valkos (Pittston Twp.), Jonathan Wilson (Dallas), Robert Wright (Swoyersville). ■ Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: Erik Nierwinski (Hanover Twp.). ■ Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication: Stephen Doroskewicz (Pringle), Vanessa Robbins (Wyoming), Amanda-Claudia Scott (Kingston), David Staskiel (Plains Twp.). ■ Bachelor of Arts in Criminology: James Donovan (Shavertown). ■ Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology: Allen Fell (Wyoming), Matthew Harding (West Pittston), Michael McGlynn (Duryea), Thomas Rose (Pittston), Edward Rudnesky (Wilkes-Barre Twp.), Andrew Wisniewski (Mountain Top). ■ Bachelor of Arts in English: Ashlee Harry
(Edwardsville), Justin Sciandra (Exeter). ■ Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology: Zachary Conway (Hughestown), Christopher Evans (Hanover Twp.), Mia Finan-Cain (Duryea), Jared Kepner (Sweet Valley), Michael Klimchok (Plymouth), Tyler Ko zlofski (Drums), Jonathan Meehan (Dallas), Nicole Missal (Mountain Top), Jacob Yaple (Harveys Lake). ■ Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Human Services: Keith Baxter (Dall a s ), M at t h ew C o rb e tt (Shavertown), Lauren Dragon (Inkerman) Emma Evans (Dallas), Nicole Hilstolsky (Wyoming), Erin Maloney (Falls), Jacqueline Rabender (Avoca), Shaina Shelton (Plymouth). ■ Bachelor of Science in Surveying Engineering: Matthew Boyes (Sweet Valley), Francis Brodi (Larksville), Tyler Kotch (Nanticoke), Eric Williams (WilkesBarre).
coUrT NoTeS Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank, $80,000; Tripp Street, Forty Fort. ■ Joshua e. Brobst from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $105,061; Staub road, Kingston Twp. ■ Leah L. gryboski et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $441,000; Ice House Drive, rice Twp. ■ george S. Benko from Live Well Financial Inc., $118,500; east Broad Street, Hazle Twp. ■ george S. Benko from Secretary of Housing and Urban Development et al., $118,500; east Broad Street, Hazle Twp. ■ Kevin 03943 properties Inc. from Luzerne Bank, $111,200; mountain road, Butler Twp. ■ John W. Falzone from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $402,677; Ian Drive, Lehman Twp. ■ Christopher paul anthony et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $196,377; avon Street, plains Twp. ■ ronald J. Hall et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $190,000; West Center Hill road, Dallas Twp. ■ Jose r. Ventura II et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $212,900; player Court, Butler Twp. ■ mark Demsko et al. from mid penn Bank, $70,000; Carleton avenue, Hazleton. ■ Joseph V. Zekas et al. from Honesdale National Bank, $90,000; pine Street, Larksville. ■ robert L. Stock et al. from pennsylvania State employees Credit Union, $240,000; alden mountain road, Newport Twp. ■ Jesus m. perez et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $132,554; Kiefer avenue, Hazleton. ■ michael a. Savokinas Jr. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $77,584; poole Street, pittston Twp. ■ michael William Heck Jr. et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $99,170; Horton Street, WilkesBarre. ■ Lauren Katharine Hess from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $220,000; east 16th Street, Salem Twp. ■ ruth Baker from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $82,417; atlantic avenue, West pittston. ■ Lauren K. Ursta et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $132,554; main Street, Conyngahm. ■ alejandro a. Fernandez Duran et al. from mortgage
electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $116,065; West 17th Street, Hazleton. ■ Kristian D. Hileman from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $132,300; Chapin Lane, Hollenback Twp. ■ James Walck et al. from mid penn Bank, $90,000; North Hunter Highway, Butler Twp. ■ matthew C. Williams et al. from Luzerne Bank, $282,400; Lake Louise road, Franklin Twp. ■ Soto realty Trusts LLC from Loan Funder LLc, Series 6683; Liberty Street, Fairmount Twp. ■ Devin Fine Holdings LLC from Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank, $127,000; state route 118, Fairmount Twp. ■ Key acquisitions LLC from Community Bank, $138,750; Larksville. ■ edward J. Wilson et al. from Luzerne Bank, $80,000; Sutton road, Jackson Twp. ■ Thomas J. Butch III et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $244,736; Catalpa avenue, rice Twp. ■ Christopher B. Kreller et al. from Luzerne Bank, $200,000; state route 118, ross Twp. ■ Nicco a. maddon from pNC Bank, $130,000; east Foothills Drive, Butler Twp. ■ renee Carino from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $142,373; Foster avenue, Foster Twp. ■ ann m. Vesek et al. from Citizens Bank of pennsylvania, $100,000; Slattery Drive, Wilkes-Barre. ■ anthony p. Durso et al. from Service 1st Federal Credit Union, $100,000; West 21st Street, Hazleton. ■ B&WH LLC from peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, $106,500; Union Street, pittston. ■ Donald J. Floyd from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $189,504; Birch road, Hazle Twp. ■ Jose rafael Castillo from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $97,500; West 10th Street, Hazleton.
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■ 2 Surfers LLC from Luzerne Bank, $460,000; Brown Street, pittston Twp. ■ anthony r. Favata from pNC Bank, $100,000; Hughes Street, Forty Fort. ■ James r. Verdekal III et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $206,705; prospect road, rice Twp. ■ David r. Daniszewski et al. from Luzerne Bank, $120,000; Surrey Lane, Conyngham. ■ anthony m. Bonomo et al. from Luzerne Bank, $85,000; North Broad Street, West Hazleton. ■ anthony Diaz Nicasio from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $134,518; South poplar Street, Hazleton. ■ Wendy Y. pichardo et al. from mortgage electronic registration Systems Inc. et al., $168,599; North Broad Street, West Hazleton. ■ patrick D. Bonner et al. from Luzerne Bank, $99,000; mount pleasant Lane, Hazle Twp. ■ New Day Storage LLC from Harvest Small business Finance LLC, $225,000; Hazle Twp. Boulevard, Hazle Twp. ■ misael martinez from Luzerne Bank, $120,000; elm avenue, Kingston. ■ Q. Thomas Novinger et al. from Third Federal Savings & Loan association of Cleveland, $273,000; mountainwood Drive, Wright Twp. ■ Jessica Zingaretti from Luzerne Bank, $95,250; Cobblestone Lane, Jackson Twp.
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WB_VOICE/PAGES [A04] | 08/15/19
22:37 | BOONELAURA
LocaL
A4 THE CITIZENS' VOICE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019
More controversy for county voting machine vendor By Eric Mark Staff Writer
should arise in Luzerne County, according to county council members, who will select one of the three voting system proposals later this year. According to Paulsen, ES&S did not work with a lobbyist or lobbying firm in Luzerne County and did not make campaign contributions to county officials. Council members Tim McGinley, Harry Haas and Linda McClosky Houck all said they received no donations from ES&S or any lobbyist working on its behalf. However, McGinley said he finds that ES&S operates at the edge of acceptable business practices, while Houck doubled down on her earlier criticism of the firm. Houck in June said she would not vote to purchase voting machines from ES&S because of the firm’s ties to county election director Marisa Crispell, who served on the ES&S advisory board and traveled to board meetings at company expense in 2017. “I don’t think ES&S is a company we should do business with,” Houck said Thursday. The donations to the Philadelphia commissioners through lobbyists, if true, “smack of bribery,” Houck said. A committee appointed by county Manager David Pedri is weighing the three proposa l s f o r s e c u r e vo t i n g machines. It is expected to recommend one of the proposals to county council in September or October. Council is not bound by the committee’s recommendation. The three prospective vendors are Dominion Voting Systems, Hart InterCivic and ES&S.
Election Systems & Software is still in the running to supply new voting machines to Luzerne County this year, even though the firm appears to be in danger of losing its contract to sell voting equipment to Philadelphia. The ethics and transparency issues involved in the Philadelphia case do not apply in Luzerne County, according to county officials. Election Systems & Software, or ES&S, supplied the voting machines Luzerne County has used for more than 10 years, as well as an electronic poll book system the county purchased last year. The firm is among three vendors who submitted proposals to the county for voting machines that provide a voter-verifiable paper trail, to comply with a state directive. Most counties throughout the state plan to purchase paper-trail voting systems before next year’s primary. According to a report published in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week, ES&S failed to disclose that it worked with lobbyists to obtain a contract to sell a secure voting system to Philadelphia, a deal city officials approved earlier this year. The lobbyists contributed money to the election campaigns of Philadelphia city commissioners who selected the ES&S system, according to the Inquirer report. ES&S spokeswoman Teresa Paulsen said the firm’s ties to the lobbyists are a matter of public record. Someone inadvertently failed to check a box on a disclosure form, Paulsen said Thursday. “It was a matter of missing a check mark in a bid document,” she said. contact the writer: No controversy over lobby- emark@citizensvoice.com ists or campaign donations 570-821-2117
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The Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market continued Thursday on Public Square. The market features produce stands along with a variety of other vendors, food options and live entertainment. The Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market runs every Thursday through Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Above: Shoppers check out the produce available at the Golumb Greenhouse stand. Below: Ocotlan Rojas, 79, of Wilkes-Barre listens to the live music Thursday.
SeaN MCKeaG / Staff PhotoGraPher
Greater Nanticoke Area won’t use ‘cyber snow days’ By MichaEL P. BuFFEr Staff Writer
NANTICOKE — The Greater Nanticoke Area School District will not use flexible instruction days this school year when bad weather prevents students from coming to school. NoTEs The school board tabled a vote at Thursday’s meeting on from Navy federal Credit Union, $197,125; Wyoming avenue, a motion submitting to the exeter. state the district’s intent to ■ Josmar Bonilla from Citizens use the new option. SuperinBank, $83,155; Custer Street, tendent Ronald Grevera said Wilkes-Barre. ■ Michael B. Phillips et al. from he had operational concerns about implementing flexible Mortgage electronic registration Systems inc. et al., $126,100; east Bennett Street, Kingston. ■ Brandon C. Conforti et al. from Citizens Savings Bank, $211,500; Yeager avenue, forty fort. ■ Jayanne Czerniakowski et al. from Mortgage electronic registration Systems inc. et al., $104,454; richard Street, Kingston.
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days, explaining the state wanted a response by Sept. 1. In July, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation allowing “cyber snow days,” and it required the state Department of Education “to determine specific protocols.” The legislation allows flexible instruction days that will count toward the state requirement of having at least 180 instruction days during the school year. That could help school districts avoid the task of adding school days to the school cal-
endar when snow days pile up during the school year. The legislation also requires school districts who use technology for flexible instruction days to accommodate students who don’t have internet access. School districts in the area typically expect a few snow days a year and schedule additional instruction days. But when the number of snow days exceeds the number of extra days, districts will have to reschedule school on holidays or off days or they’ll
extend the school calendar. Also at Thursday’s meeting, board President Tony Prushinski commended E.J. Gill for criticizing some aspects of the high school yearbook. Gill, who graduated high school in June, said the yearbooks were issued last week. The yearbook only used some submitted quotations from students and didn’t include a photo of student council members, Gill said. contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2073; @cvmikebuffer
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na blunt on a hotel bed with the door open tipped police cops: Pair faces off to drug-trafficking actividrug charges ty by two Plains Twp. resiA man smoking a marijua- dents, according to police. Brian Keith Jackson, 55, and Kasi Lynn Snee, 34, were arrested at the Travel Lodge at 497 Kidder St. around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to police, the anti-crime unit was conducting a foot patrol of the hotel when they observed the open door accompanied by the odor of marijuana. A look inside revealed Jackson sitting on the bed smoking a blunt, police said. Officers also recognized UNFURNISHED Snee, who was wanted in WILKES-BARRE another case. Well kept 2 bedroom. Walk-in Police observed heroin closet. Hardwood floors. Refrigerator, washer, dryer, packaging materials and dishwasher included. subsequently found two bags $625/month. Tenant pays utilities. of crack cocaine, pills, scales Background check & credit check required. 570-824-0571. and packaging materials, police said. Jackson and Snee were each charged with drug trafficking and related offenses CKC REGISTERED BLOODand jailed at the Luzerne HOUND PUPPIES: Wormed, 1st set
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County Correctional Facility haNovEr TwP. with bail set at $35,000. — James Halpin
Teen, 15, facing robbery charges A 15-year-old boy is facing robbery charges after pulling a pellet gun on two people Wednesday, according to police. The teen, who was not identified, was one of three people reported to have robbed the victims on Covell Street, police said. The victims told police the three robbers included a man in a black shirt who pulled a handgun and demanded they empty their pockets, police said. Officers searching the area encountered the teen, who matched the suspect’s description, in the area of 100 Poplar St., police said. The teen, who was found in possession of a pellet gun, was uncooperative and threatened to shoot the arresting officers, police said. The teen was taken to an area hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the robbery and was charged as an adult with robbery and related offenses, according to police. — James Halpin
hanover area approves loan
The Hanover Area School Board voted Thursday for a resolution to borrow at least $2.5 million in response to a delay in mailing school tax bills. The delay stems from computer problems following a cyber attack that targeted Luzerne County computers in late May. The county was unable to certify property tax information while fixing the computer system, and tax bills are now expected to be mailed next week. The school board on Tuesday approved a short-term loan known as a tax anticipation note from Fidelity Bank. The interest rate is fixed at 2.375%. The loan will provide revolving credit, and the district can start drawing down funds Thursday of next week, Business Manager Robert Kachurak said. A tax anticipation note is generally needed to pay bills and wages after a new budget year begins and sufficient tax revenue has not been collected. — micHael p. Buffer
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ty Councilman Rick Williams, who represents independent voters. Committee members have studied, compared and graded each proposed voting system, according to Williams. “Everybody responded with their ratings,” Williams said. “We did a formal matrix of the various attributes.” Each proposed system operates in similar fashion. They provide voters with a paper printout of the selections they make on a touch screen, according to Williams. The voter may check the printout for accuracy before it is placed in a “tabulator” that reads the selections. The three systems are close in cost as well as function, Williams said.
ODESSA, Texas — At least five people were dead in West Texas after a man who was stopped by state troopers when his vehicle failed to signal a left turn opened fire and fled, shooting more than 20 people before he was killed by officers outside a movie theater, authorities said Saturday. Three law enforcement officers were among the injured. The shooting began with an interstate traffic stop in the heart of Texas oil country where gunfire was exchanged with police, setting off a chaotic afternoon during which the suspect hijacked a U.S. Postal Service vehicle and began firing at random in the area of Odessa and Midland, hitting multiple people. Cell phone video showed people running out of a movie theater, and as Odessa television station KOSA aired breaking developments on live TV, their broadcast was interrupted by police telling them they had to clear the area. Police initially reported that there could be more than one shooter, but Odessa police Chief Michael Gerke later said there was only one. “Once this individual was taken out of the picture, there have been no more victims,” Gerke said. Gerke described the suspect as a white male in his 30s. He did not name him or a motive but said he has some idea who the gunman is. The terrifying chain of events began when Texas state troopers tried pulling over a gold car midSaturday afternoon on Interstate 20 for failing to signal a left turn, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Katherine Cesinger said.
Please see vOtiNg, Page A6
Please see SHOOtiNg, Page A6
the citizens’ Voice File
Luzerne County will be purchasing new voting machines to replace the current models as part of a state directive to have secure voting machines in place by the primary election in 2020. By Eric Mark stAFF Writer
This could be the month Luzerne County residents learn which voting machines the county will purchase later this year, and whether state funding will pay the majority of the cost. A committee appointed by county Manager David Pedri is scheduled to meet this week to compare notes on three proposed voting systems that provide a voter-verifiable paper trail for added security. The county plans to purchase one of the voting systems this fall to comply with a state directive that counties have secure voting machines in place by the primary election in 2020 — a presidential election year. The new machines will not arrive in time to be used in this November’s election. The committee has studied the
three proposals for months and received hands-on demonstrations from the prospective vendors: Dominion Voting Systems, Hart InterCivic, and Election Systems and Software, or ES&S. After this week’s meeting, the committee is expected to submit a report to Pedri, recommending one of the proposals. Pedri will review that report and submit it to county council, which will likely discuss it at a Sept. 24 work session, according to council Chairman Tim McGinley. Council members, who are not bound by the committee’s recommendation, could vote to purchase one of the voting systems in October, McGinley said. By then, it might be clear whether state funds will pay much of the estimated $3.5 million to $4 million price tag for the voting machines, or if the county
will need to find other funding sources such as borrowing. Gov. Tom Wolf in July vetoed an election reform bill that would have authorized $90 million in state borrowing to pay up to 60% of the cost counties incurred to purchase secure voting systems. Wolf said he did not like some provisions of the bill. Days later, Wolf said he planned to pursue state borrowing to pay for voting machines without legislative approval. Key to that plan is approval from the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority board of directors, which meets later this month, according to Wolf’s press secretary J.J. Abbott. The voting machine committee consists of county employees, county election board members, representatives of the major political parties and former coun-
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Benefitting from the kindness of strangers The 19th annual Valley with a Heart Benefit will be held today. By BOB kaLiNOWSki stAFF Writer
By age 2, little Brielle Boyle has already gotten two liver transplants and must regularly travel to a children’s hospital in Delaware. Just recently, a group of strangers started sending the Plains Twp. family gift cards to help pay for gas and other items on the frequent trips. “They have been excellent. From courtesy oF Kristen Boyle the time they have been assisting, Brielle Boyle, 2, suddenly fell ill when they have been phenomenal,” Brishe was 17 months old and has since elle’s mother, Kristen Boyle, 32, received two liver transplants. said.
Members from the Valley with a Heart Benefit are no strangers to such charity. That’s what they do. Their motto is “We do it for kids.” The group has chosen Brielle as one of the poster children for the 19th annual Valley with a Heart Benefit, a motorcycle ride and daylong festival slated for today at St. Faustina Grove in Newport Twp. Hundreds normally take part in the ride and thousands attend the outing. Registration and breakfast start at 8 a.m. and the ride begins at 11 a.m. A day-long festival follows the ride, usually beginning around noon. Please see BENEfit, Page A6
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Gun trafficking fight mired in politics in Pa. BY MARC LEVY aSSoCiaTed preSS
HARRISBURG — When Pennsylvania lawmakers were rushing to wrap up the session’s business in June, aides to state Attorney General Josh Shapiro came to them with a request: expand the office’s authority to pursue gun-trafficking crimes across the state. The idea was to insert the measure into a fast-tracked bill dealing with drug crimes. But the request — to give the office statewide jurisdiction to prosecute illegal gun possession, sales and transfers — got put aside for the summer amid objections, apparently revolving around lawdaVe SCHerBeNCo / STaFF pHoTograpHer enforcement turf and gun politics. “It didn’t take long to The Kunkle Fire Company hosted its annual chicken dinner Saturday. The event become apparent that the also featured a flea market. Above: Assistant Fire Chief Russ Coolbaugh statewide jurisdictional applies barbecue sauce to a rack of cooking chicken. change was going to cause far too many problems with legislation that had to get done,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rob Kauffman, who was in charge of From page a1 shepherding the bill. IF YOU GO Calls to respond to gun vioguardian elder Care cenWHAT: Valley with a Heart lence in Pennsylvania have Boyle said her family plans Benefit motorcycle ride and ter) only grown since then, comto attend this year. She said she COST: $15 for riders, $10 festival ing to a head in mid-August never heard about the organifor passengers, $5 for WHEN: Today (ride starts when a man with a long crimzation or its popular benefit admission to event at 11 a.m. with festival to inal record — which barred prior to their assistance. PROCEEDS: Funds raised follow around noon) him from legally possessing Now the family plans to be at the event are used to WHERE: St. Faustina’s firearms — allegedly shot supporters. Church grove, old Newport help sick children from the and wounded six PhiladelWhen Brielle was 17 Street, Newport Twp. (Near area phia police officers during a months old, she suddenly fell standoff. ill. ABOUT THE BENEFIT Still, it’s unclear whether “It was very sudden and at the St. Faustina grove in over the years, the Valley the provision has any chance we’ve been dealing with it ever Newport Twp.’s Sheatown with a Heart Benefit has of becoming law in the since. It came on out of grown to be a popular and section. The event includes Republican-controlled Legisnowhere.” Boyle said. successful fundraiser, with food stands, vendors, kids lature after lawmakers After falling ill, the girl was games, 15 bands on two hundreds of motorcyclists return to session in Septemairlifted to Alfred I. Dupont participating. Thousands of stages and a fireworks ber. others attend the gathering show. Children’s Hospital of WilmUnder current law, the ington, Delaware. several months off of work attorney general’s office canDoctors later determined 2 years old on Thursday. While the girl is doing bet- due to Brielle’s health issues. her liver was failing and she ter, her parents have to regu“It did set us back, but we’ve needed a transplant. The first transplant failed larly take her to the Delaware been fortunate about all the help we got,” Boyle said. and Brielle needed another. hospital for checkups. Boyle, who is a registered Contact the writer: The second one was successFrom page a1 ful and brought Brielle back to nurse, and her husband, who bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com good health so far. She turned is an electrician, had to take 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal Before the vehicle came to a complete stop, the driver “pointed a rifle toward the rear window of his car and fired several shots” toward From page a1 an said the lack of disclosure ysis is up to the public policy the patrol car stopping him. was an oversight, when some- makers.” The gunshots struck one of County Councilwoman Lin- two troopers inside the patrol One wild card in the selec- one inadvertently failed to tion of the new voting system check a box on a disclosure da McClosky Houck has said car, Cesinger said, after which she will not vote to purchase the gunman fled “and continis recent controversy sur- form. Peter Ouellette, a member the ES&S voting system even ued shooting innocent peorounding prospective vendor ES&S, which supplied the vot- of the county election board if the committee recommends ple,” including two police offiing machines the county has and the voting machine com- it. cers. McGinley last week said he used since 2006 as well as an mittee, said he would find it Gerke said that in addition electronic poll book system it troubling if ES&S worked would not go that far. However, to the injured officers, there with lobbyists who made cam- the close ties between election were at least 21 civilian shootpurchased last year. The company faced criti- paign contributions to election officials and ES&S are worthy ing victims. He said at least of scrutiny, McGinley said. cism when news reports pub- officials. five people died. He did not “If in fact the reports are “If they become the top- say whether the shooter was lished last year revealed it maintains a customer adviso- accurate it makes me think ranked vendor then I will included among those five ry board consisting of election twice about recommending investigate further,” he said. dead, and it was not clear All of the prospective voting whether he was including the officials from cities and coun- them,” Ouellette said. “On the ties which use ES&S voting other hand, the county’s expe- systems have been used suc- five dead among the at least 21 rience with ES&S over the past cessfully in other counties, civilian shooting victims. equipment. Marisa Crispell resigned as 13 years has been pretty good.” according to Williams. The shooting comes just Williams said he is aware of There will be “an education- four weeks after a gunman in county election director last week after months of contro- the controversy, but that he is al process” for voters and poll the Texas border city of El versy over her service on the focused on choosing the best workers leading up to the sys- Paso killed 22 people after and most secure voting system tem’s first use in the April 2020 opening fire at a Walmart. ES&S advisory board. primary, but each prospective Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this Also, Philadelphia fined possible. “As a committee, we are system is relatively user- week held two meetings with ES&S last month for not disclosing its use of lobbyists who really evaluating the merits of friendly, he said. lawmakers about how to premade donations to the election the equipment itself, we are Contact the writer: vent more mass shootings in campaigns of city commis- not analyzing the history,” Wil- emark@citizensvoice.com Texas. He said he would visit sioners. An ES&S spokeswom- liams said. “That kind of anal- 570-821-2117 the area today.
Kunkle Fire Company hosts chicken dinner
BENEFIT: Toddler doing better
not prosecute gun-trafficking cases without a referral from a district attorney. Shapiro’s aides point to the success of a joint gun-violence task force that, since 2006, has stationed state guntrafficking agents in Philadelphia and personnel in the Philadelphia district attorney’s office to prosecute those cases. The attorney general’s office could use the authority to offer similar help to police departments and district attorneys in other counties, Shapiro’s aides said, and track gun-trafficking pipelines across the state. It’s not necessarily novel: The attorney general’s office already has legal authority to prosecute various crimes without a district attorney’s referral, including human trafficking and narcotics. After receiving the request, House Judiciary Committee staff checked with a short list of law enforcement organizations and gun-rights groups to see if they would support the idea, said Kauffman, R-Franklin. Not all of them did. Kauffman would not say exactly who objected to it, or describe specific objections, although he acknowledged discomfort from gun-rights proponents. “I would say that generally our second amendment advocates do have concern with folks they perceive as antigun proposing or attempting to infringe on their rights through additional laws,” Kauffman said. Shapiro, a Democrat who is widely viewed as a future candidate for governor, backs various bills that gun-rights
groups have tended to oppose, such as an expansion of background checks to private sales of shotguns, sporting rifles and semi-automatic rifles. Re p. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia, a lead supporter of expanding the attorney general’s authority to enforce gun-trafficking laws, said Judiciary Committee staff told him that the NRA opposed the provision. “The NRA will tell you they want to enforce the laws on the books, so what did we do? We give them a vehicle to do just that, which is to enforce the laws on the books, which is to provide more resources to that end. And they said, ‘No,’” said Solomon. An NRA spokeswoman countered that the organization took no position on the bill, and said it routinely calls for the enforcement of existing gun laws. “Criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we take no position on who should do the prosecuting,” NRA spokeswoman Amy Hunter said in a statement. Kim Stolfer, chairman of the Pennsylvania-based gunrights group, Firearms Owners Against Crime, said he told Judiciary Committee staff that he had no problem with the idea. “If you commit a crime with a firearm, you should pay a price and we’re not doing that,” Stolfer said. The state Fraternal Order of Police lodge and the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association said they had not been asked for an official position.
SHOOTING: Police among injured
VOTING: Election director resigned
The West Texas shooting Saturday brings the number of mass killings in the U.S. so far this year to 25, matching the number in all of 2018, according to The AP/USATODAY/Northeastern University mass murder database. The number of victims also has reached the level reached in all of last year at either 139 or 140 depending on whether the West Texas suspect was one of the five police say are dead. Seven people remained in critical condition at one hospital hours after the West Texas shooting, said Russell Tippin, CEO of Medical Center Hospi-
tal in Odessa. He said a child under 2 years old was also transported to another hospital. He also said one person the hospital had received had died, although it was unclear if that victim was among the five dead that Gerke reported. Tippin said 13 shooting victims were being treated at the hospital Saturday evening but he did not give their conditions or other information about the victims. Social workers and professional counselors are at the hospital to provide support to the families of shooting victims, Tippin said.
Tim FiSCHer / midlaNd reporTer-Telegram Via ap
Odessa and Midland police and sheriff’s deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa, Texas, Saturday after reports of shootings.
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Wetzel under fire for remark
LUZERNE COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Comment from DOC chief suggests SCI-Retreat decision was already made. BY BOB KALINOWSKI Staff Writer
resident of the county. ■ Kendra Radle, Republican, 25, of Exeter, graduate financial services counselor at Wilkes University. Radle said she wants to change the perception that people — especially young people — n e e d t o l e av e Luzerne County to enjoy a successful life and career. She RADLE described herself as young and energized. Radle vowed to be fiscally responsible, noting that “everything comes down to the budget.” The county needs to do all it can to combat the opioid crisis, she said. ■ Robert Schnee, incumbent, Democrat/Republican, 60, of Sugarloaf Twp., works for the Hazleton City Authority. Schnee said his background as a child of two hardworking parents helps him understand the struggles of county residents who struggle to make ends meet. SCHNEE Home rule has brought great positive change to the county, Schnee said.
NEWPORT TWP. — The state’s prison system boss found himself under fire Thursday after an open mic video circulated online of him making a profane comment about the proposed closure of State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. He seemed to indicate a decision had already been made ahead of a mandated hearing. “This does suck. I wish I didn’t have to close this (expletive). It is what it is,” WETZEL Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel appears to say in the video, which was taken last week during a hearing in Nanticoke and later posted on the department’s YouTube page. In the video, Wetzel is seen whispering to one of his deputies during a break. The audio was captured by one of the microphones at his table on stage at Greater Nanticoke Area High School. Area lawmakers and prison union officials said the video proves Gov. Tom Wolf ’s administration had finalized the decision prior to the hearing, against state law about closing facilities. State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-119, Newport Twp., on Wednesday night used Wetzel’s words against him in a Facebook post. “You’re right John, this does suck. Do something about it! Tell Governor Wolf to keep SCI Retreat open!” Mullery wrote. Wetzel made the remarks prior to the public comment section of the hearing, a forum required under Act 133 of 2018 that mandates a public hearing prior to a final decision being made on the closure of a state facility.
Please see FORUM, Page A11
Please see PRISON, Page A5
SeaN McKeag / Staff photographer
Participating in Thursday night’s League of Women Voters county council forum were, from left, Jane Walsh Waitkus, LeeAnn McDermott, Gregory Wolovich, Tim McGinley, Walter Griffith, Anup Patel, Kendra Radle, Patrick Bilbow, Robert Schnee, Joe Sebastianelli and Stephen J. Urban.
County council candidates make their case at forum BY ERIC MARK Staff Writer
WILKES-BARRE — Eleven candidates for Luzerne County council took part in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters on Thursday night. The candidates answered audience questions and gave opening and closing statements. Excerpts from the statements follow: ■ Patrick Bilbow, incumbent, Democrat, 50, of Duryea, principal of Pittston Area Middle School. Bilbow vowed to “always put people before any type of politics.” He emphasized the importance of BILBOW creating family-sustaining jobs and said he wants to continue efforts to improve countyowned roads and bridges. He emphasized the importance of public safety, noting “no one should ever wake up and be in fear.” ■ Walter Griffith, Republican, 65, of Kingston Twp., retired from the auto repair business. “This county is run by home rule,” Griffith said. “This government was created so people can have a voice in their government. “We’ve seen violations of the county charter; that needs to stop.” Griffith said the county is mov-
ABOUT THE RACE eleven candidates seek six available four-year seats on luzerne county council in the Nov. 5 election. the top six vote-getters will win four-year terms on the 11-member council, which is the county’s legislative and policy-making body according to the county’s home rule charter. county council members are paid $8,000 per year. Voters may select up to six candidates from either party. incumbent robert Schnee will appear on the republican and democratic ballots, having won a gop nomination via write-in votes. ing toward a “dictator form of government,” with too much power allotted to the county manager. ■ Anup Patel, GRIFFITH Democrat, 47, of Rice Twp., owner of several businesses in the county. Patel said his experience as a successful businessman would help him make hard decisions as a council member, finding ways to slash expenses wherever possible. He said he would work with the county
road and bridge department in an effort to reduce the cost of repair projects. He would bring diversity to council as its first Indian-American member, Patel said. ■ LeeAnn McDermott, Republican, 50, of Kingston Twp., co-owner of McDermott Real Estate Appraisals. McDermott said she would bring 20 years of experience running a business to council. She described herself as fiscally conservative and said she would make sure every penny of public money was spent wisely. “I will be a voice of reason,” she said. McDer mott said she wants Luzerne County to be one of the best counties in the state. ■ Tim McGinley, incumbent, Democrat, 72, of Kingston, retired educator and coach, cur rent council chairman. McGinley said that since it was for med in 2012, county council has McGINLEY “done a great job to change the direction of the county.” He vowed to work together with other council members to improve the county economy. McGinley said Luzerne County is “the best place in the commonwealth to reside,” noting he is a life
Trump hits limits of defense strategy President, his aides have largely ignored details of Ukraine allegations. BY ZEKE MILLER, JILL COLVIN AND JONATHAN LEMIRE aSSociated preSS
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is confronting the limits of his main impeachment defense. As the probe hits the onemonth mark, Trump and his aides have largely ignored the details of the Ukraine allegations against him. Instead, they’re loudly objecting to the House Democrats’ investigation process, using that as justification for order-
alex BraNdoN / aSSociated preSS
President Donald Trump speaks about attending the World Series as he departs a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. ing administration officials not to cooperate and complaining about what they deem prejudicial, even unconstitutional, secrecy. But as a near-daily drip of derogatory evidence emerges from closed-door testimony
on Capitol Hill, the White House assertion that the proceedings are unfair is proving to be a less-than-compelling counter to the mounting threat to Trump’s presidency. Some senior officials have complied with congressional
subpoenas to assist House Democratic investigators, defying White House orders. Asked about criticism that the White House lacks a coordinated pushback effort and could do a better job delivering its message, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said, “It’s hard to message anything that’s going on behind closed doors and in secret.” “It’s like you’re fighting a ghost, you’re fighting against the air. So we’re doing the best we can,” she said on Fox News. It was a rare public admission from the White House that despite the president’s bravado, real risks remain. Please see TRUMP, Page A6
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Representative Cartwright returns to the Volpe Report on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. On FOX56 to discuss his accomplishments and talk about his agenda. Despite being in office for a relatively short time, Congressman Cartwright has already been elected to leadership in the Democratic Caucus and has also positioned himself nicely with a seat on the House Appropriations Committee – a key Congressional seat from which to steer money back to the 8th District. Most recently, Representative Cartwright secured $1 million for the Wright Center for Community Health and money for a badly needed milk processing plant in Wayne County, where a landscape once dotted with family-owned farms is disappearing at an alarming rate. Tune in Sunday as the Congressman discusses these grants and offers his insights on the recent China trade war.
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OBITUARIES / NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
Joseph R. Guiliano
James C. Thomas Jr.
Joseph R. Guiliano, 93, of Kingston, passed away Wednesday evening, Oct. 23, 2019, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Funeral arrangements are private from Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains Twp.
James C. Thomas Jr. of Dallas passed away Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at home, surrounded by his family. Funeral arrangements are pending from Mamary-Durkin Funeral Service, 59 Par rish St., Wilkes-Barre.
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Mary V. Perfetto, 73, of South Prospect Street, Nanticoke, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 23, 2019, in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Davis-Dinelli Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad St., Nanticoke.
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Post-withrawal, Trump shifts focus to oil fields in Syria BY AAMER MADHANI AND SARAH EL DEEB ASSOCiATeD PreSS
THe CiTizenS’ VOiCe File
Eleven candidates are seeking six four-year seats on Luzerne County Council. Election Day is Nov. 5.
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“A lot of stuff has been accomplished,” Schnee said. He said county Manager David Pedri “has completely changed the perception of the county.” ■ Joe Sebastianelli, Democrat, 28, of Pittston Twp., works for ESS as a teacher in Luzerne County. “We must lower property t a x e s , ” Sebastianelli said. “Some say it cannot be done; I disagree.” SebasSEBASTIANELLI tianelli said it is vital to eliminate wasteful spending and to fix county bridges and roads. Addressing the audience directly, Sebastianelli said that as a council members he
would “only answer to you, the residents of Luzerne County.” ■ Ste phen J. Urban, Republican, 45, of WilkesBarre, IT support coordinator and former council member. Urban said it is important to “bring different ideas back to county council.” He said his background in technical URBAN suppor t in the private sector gives him a different outlook on some issues than the council majority, several of whom are career public school educators. “You need a very diverse council,” Urban said. “I look at details and analyze.” ■ Jane Walsh Waitkus,
incumbent, Democrat, 71, of Dorrance Twp., retired educator and professor. Waitkus described herself as a hard worker who once owned her own real estate business. She said she “learned to really lisWAITKUS ten to people” when she served as president of Laflin borough council, many years ago. Council has done a good job of making difficult decisions to eliminate proposed tax increases in the county budget the past two years, Waitkus said. She said the county needs to focus on job creation. ■ Gre gory Wolovich, Republican, 27, of Hanover Twp., manager at Wegmans
in Wilkes-Barre Twp. Wolovich said he would focus on “team-building” a n d wo rk ing together with other council members. Council needs to WOLOVICH “stop kicki n g t h e c a n d ow n t h e road” when it comes to tough financial choices, he said. Wolovich said the public should hold council members accountable for everything they say and do. “The charter was written with you in mind,” he told the audience. “You are the most important.” Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117
WASHINGTON — As Russian and Turkish leaders divvy up security roles in northeast Syria following an abrupt U.S. troop withdrawal, President Donald Trump is focused on oil fields elsewhere in the war-torn country. Trump spurred a fresh wave of criticism Thursday with a tweet noting that he had spoken with Syrian Kurdish military chief Mazloum Abdi and observing that perhaps “it is time for Kurds to start heading to the Oil Region,” an apparent reference to oil fields in Deir el-Zour province of Syria. That’s an area that U.S. military commanders see as critical to holding off an Islamic State resurgence in the region. But even as Trump heralded his push to pull nearly all U.S. troops out of what he derided as the “blood-stained sands” of Syria, he’s repeatedly referred to the country’s oil fields as prized land that he’s intent on protecting. “We’ve secured the oil, and, therefore, a small number of U.S. troops will remain in the area where they have the oil,” Trump said Wednesday while discussing the pullout of all but 200 to 300 U.S. troops in Syria. “And we’re going to be protecting it, and we’ll be deciding what we’re going to do with it in the future.” White House officials did not respond to requests for greater clarity about Trump’s tweet suggesting Kurds head to the oil region. The Pentagon released a statement Thursday saying it is committed to sending additional military forces to eastern Syria to “reinforce” control of the oil fields and prevent them from “falling back to into the hands of ISIS or other destabilizing actors.”
No details were provided on how many or what kind of forces would be sent, or whether decisions on those details have been made. Trump’s decision to withdraw the bulk of roughly 1,000 American troops from Syria drew bipartisan condemnation. The decision came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Trump earlier this month that he intended to carry out an operation to clear the Turkey-Syria border of Kurdish fighters who fought side-byside with U.S. troops in beating back IS fighters in northeast Syria. The president’s comments this week raised fresh concerns that he has an incomplete understanding, or is indifferent to, the fragile dynamics of the region, his critics say. “The President of the United States of America appears to be calling for a mass migration of Kurds to the desert where they can resettle atop a tiny oil field,” Brett McGurk, Trump’s for mer special envoy to the global coalition to defeat IS, wrote on Twitter. But the idea of keeping troops in eastern Syria to guard the oil fields resonated with Trump and presented military commanders with a way to keep at least a residual force inside the country. In addition to a presence near the oil fields in eastern Syria, some U.S. forces will remain in southern Syria. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the main goal of the American troop presence is to make sure the Islamic State is contained and unable to gain control of the oil fields and the revenue they generate. The administration also sees some benefit to Kurds being in control of the oil, according to a senior administration official, who briefed reporters on the administration’s deliberations on the Syria withdrawal.
Meuser joined GOP pack looking to interrupt testimony BY LAURA OLSON THe mOrning CAll PATriCk SemAnSky / ASSOCiATeD PreSS
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Heritage Foundation’s annual President’s Club Meeting on Tuesday in Washington.
Is Pompeo eyeing Senate seat? BY JOHN HANNA ASSOCiATeD PreSS
TOPEKA, Kan. — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to visit Wichita later this week for an event about workforce development with Ivanka Trump, an appearance that could raise fellow Republicans’ hopes that he’ll run for the Senate next year. It’s Pompeo’s fourth visit to Kansas this year and it comes less than seven weeks after gave a lecture at Kansas State University last month that intensified speculation about his plans, though he didn’t directly address it in his remarks and has remained coy for months. Pompeo plans to participate in an American Workforce Policy Advisory Board round-
table discussion Thursday at Wichita State University Tech about workforce development with Republican Rep. Ron Estes, the congressman’s office confirmed. The board is co-chaired by Ivanka Trump. Estes said in a statement that the event will highlight the university’s status as a national leader in workforce development and further a “focus on growing our economy.” Kelly Arnold, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman, said the visit puts the university’s work in the spotlight for the Trump administration, but it also is a good event for a potential Senate candidate. “There’s still a lot of availability for Secretary Pompeo to make a decision on wheth-
er he wanted to come back here and run for Senate, and I think Republicans would welcome him into this race,” Arnold said. Pompeo previously held Estes’ Wichita-area seat in Congress, and many Republicans view him as the ideal candidate to replace Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who is not seeking a fifth term. Republicans have not lost a U.S. Senate race in Kansas since 1932, but some party leaders fear that Kris Kobach will emerge from the crowded primary field after losing last year’s race for governor to Democrat Laura Kelly. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, has built a national profile by advocating tough immigration policies
and has alienated GOP moderates. Besides Kobach, other Re publican candidates include western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, and Kansas City-area businessman Dave Lindstrom, a former Kansas City Chiefs player. The Democrats who are running include state Sen. Barbara Bollier, a retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist, and Usha Reddi, the mayor pro tem of the northeast Kansas city of Manhattan. Bollier has received the endorsement of former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat who also served two terms as Kansas’ governor.
Hours before he hopped Air Force One to fly with President Donald Trump to Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser was among some two-dozen Republican lawmakers who stormed into a closed-door deposition, temporarily halting the House Democrats’ impeachment investigation. The move prompted chaos on Capitol Hill, as Republicans frustrated with the impeachment probe sought to draw attention to what they say is a lack of transparency in that investigation. Democrats criticized the action as a stunt that compromised a room used for classified briefings; some lawmakers brought cellphones into the secure space. Meuser’s staffers said he was unavailable for an interview Wednesday afternoon because he was traveling with Trump, who was set to address a natural gas industry conference.
The Pennsylvania lawm a ke r, wh o s e d i s t r i c t includes Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill counties, has been part of the escalating series of actions by GOP legislators. Republicans have been present during the closed-door investigation, but those sessions have been limited only to lawmakers on the H o us e p a ne l s d i re c t ly involved in the probe. Meuser and others not on the key committees have publicized their unsuccessful efforts seeking access to the testimony sessions. Meuser posted on Twitter last week that he was “kicked out” of one unclassified session. The GOP move came one day after testimony from the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, whose opening statement described Trump holding back military aid for Ukraine unless the country agreed to investigate Democrats and the Ukrainian gas company where Joe Biden’s son served as a board member.
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Four new council members in 2020 will be Republicans, giving the party a 6-5 majority. BY ERIC MARK Staff Writer
MarK MoraN / Staff photographer
A worker from Modern Nursery Tree Services cuts a branch from an old willow tree at the corner of Pierce Street and Wyoming Avenue in Kingston on Wednesday.
Officials: Iconic tree removed due to safety concerns in Kingston. BY BOB KALINOWSKI Staff Writer
KINGSTON — Officials in Kingston and a local arborist are asking people not to weep for the willow. The iconic weeping willow tree at the intersection of Wyoming Avenue and Pierce Street needed to be cut down Wednesday amid concerns for public safety, they say. In recent years, the tree, which had thick branches that hung over Pierce Street, had severely decayed and the property owner did everything possible to try to save it from rotting further, Kingston Administrator Paul Keating said. “She was worried about public outcry. She tried to do everything to preserve this historical icon of
our community. I don’t know of any other tree like it in our area,” Keating said. “Although it will be missed, the owner did the right thing.” Keating said the municipality had fielded many complaints from residents in the spring about the deteriorating condition of the tree. “We had quite a few people walk by the tree and complain,” Keating said. After Kingston’s code enforcement inspected the tree, the municipality sent the owner, Barbara Musnuff, a letter notifying her the tree was a potential hazard. Since the tree sits on private property, Kingston couldn’t force her to trim or cut it down, Keating said. Kingston also had regional
urban forester Vincent Cotrone of the Penn State Extension examine the tree and issue a report. In his report, Cotrone noted the tree was filled with dead branches and the root system was decayed to the point the entire tree could topple over at any time. “It should be removed before it falls in part or completely over a highly traveled intersection,” Cotrone said. Cotrone said about two years ago during a snowstor m a large branch, which measured 40-plus inches in diameter, fell in the yard of the former mansion that used to be located on the property. “Had that large limb fell across Pierce Street, it would have destroyed an automobile and
‘I don’t know of any other tree like it in our area. Although it will be missed, the owner did the right thing.’ PAUL KEATING
Kingston administrator
injured or killed the occupants,” Cotrone wrote. Keating said Kingston could have trimmed the limbs that hung over sidewalks and roads, but then the municipality would have assumed partial liability going forward. Please see TREE, Page A11
Voting Republican again preferred choice in county BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER Staff Writer
Democrats continue to hold the voter registration advantage in Luzerne County, but voting Republican was again the preferred countywide choice in Tuesday’s elections. Republicans won four of six Luzerne County Council seats up for election, and Republicans will have a majority on the county’s governing board for the first time since 1989. The county-
wide Republican preference started to solidify in 2016 when President Donald Trump won 58% of the county vote. The two Republican candidates on Tuesday’s ballot for state Superior Court combined for more 54% of the county vote, with Megan McCarthy King receiving 28% and Christylee Peck receiving 26%. State judicial elections are a good indication of generic party preference, said G. Ter-
ry Madonna, a professor of public affairs and a polling expert at Pennsylvania’s Franklin & Marshall College. “Voters know very little about the candidates. So they don’t vote, or they vote party,” Madonna said. The statewide results in the Superior Court election were extremely close. The apparent winners are Democrat Daniel D. McCaffrey with 25.7% and King with 25.6%. Please see GOP, Page A11
MarK MoraN / Staff photographer
Voters come and go at the polling place at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Soon after Luzerne County council was seated in 2018, it became clear there was a seven-vote majority of five Democrats and two Republicans, and a four-vote minority of three Democrats and one Republican. The majority elected Tim McGinley as council chairman and supported county Manager David Pedri on most votes, such as a controversial $5 vehicle registration fee and tax abatements for developers of commercial properties. As of Jan. 6, things will be different. “There’s going to be a big change,” Councilwoman Sheila Saidman said Wednesday. The change stems from the results of Tuesday’s election. Four Republicans — Stephen J. Urban, Walter Griffith, Kendra Radle and LeeAnn McDermott — won council seats, as did incumbent Democrats Tim McGinley and Robert Schnee. Incumbent Democrats Jane Walsh Waitkus and Patrick Bilbow did not win reelection. So the four new council members in 2020 will be Republicans, giving that party a 6-5 majority on the 11-member council. Council members interviewed Wednesday said the shake-up will impact multiple areas of county governance.
Party or not For the past few years, party affiliation has not played a large role in forming alliances among council members. Harry Haas, a Republican, usually voted with Democrats Linda McClosky Houck, Stephen A. Urban and Edward Brominski last year. When Brominski resigned in January, council appointed Bilbow to fill out the remainder of his term. Please see COUNCIL, Page A11
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Trump plows ahead despite signs of trouble BY JONATHAN LEMIRE AND ALAN FRAM aSSoCiated preSS
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and his suppor ters insisted on Wednesday that no course correction is needed despite stinging Republican defeats in battleground suburbs and a Democrat on the verge of victory in the governor’s race in deep-red Kentucky. But the blue wave that swept through the suburbs in 2018 and gave Democrats control of the U.S. House barreled through communities outside Philadelphia, Washington and Cincinnati on Tuesday, sending a clear signal that Trump faces
potential t ro u bl e i n a re a s t h at have generally sided with Republicans for decades. TRUMP Vo t e r s — many of them Democrats — participated at levels rarely seen in years when control of Congress or the White House isn’t at stake. In Kentucky, turnout was up by nearly 50% from 2015, when the state last held a governor’s race. Turnout was higher for both parties, but the increases were much more dramatic for Democratic challenger Andy Beshear. Some of the biggest
increases were in the counties where Beshear fared best, particularly in Jefferson County, home to Louisville, and Fayette County, which encompasses Lexington. Meanwhile, the counties where incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin did best underperformed compared with Democratic counties. More than twice as many people in Virginia voted in state legislative races than in the last similar election four years ago. With nearly a year until the presidential election, there is a risk of drawing firm conclusions about the meaning of Tuesday’s
results. But coming amid an intensifying impeachment inquiry, they raise questions about Trump’s ability to help other Republicans across the finish line. At a minimum, some GOP strategists say the party needs to confront its eroding support in the suburbs. “There are some troubling signs amongst some of the areas that are going to matter most in 2020: suburban areas in major metro areas in battleground states,” said Kevin Madden, a Republican strategist who was a senior adviser on Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. Please see TRUMP, Page A11
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COunCil: Pedri may get more feedback from members in 2020 FROM PAGE A1
Bilbow often voted with t h e c o u n c i l m a j o r i t y, wh i ch i n cl u d ed D e m ocrats McGinley, Schnee, Waitkus, Saidman and Matthew Vough, as well as Republicans Chris Perry and Eugene Kelleher, prior to Kelleher’s resigna-
tion in July. “I have never felt in c o u n c i l t h at i t ’s b e e n important what party you are,” Saidman said. “Everyone is trying to make Luzerne County the best they can.” “My fondest wish for the new council is they get along with each other and
do not vote along partisan l i n e s , ” s a i d Wa i t k u s . “When I look at Chris Perry or Harry Haas I don’t see an R in front of their names. I see them as council people. I hope that continues.” McDermott is secretary of The Republican Women of Luzerne County. Radle
is vice chair of the county Young Republicans. “It’s going to be interesting to see how the party alliances play out,” Houck said.
numerous “insults” the past few years, Saidman said. Pedri said he looks forward to working with the new council. “I don’t see a reason why we can’t work together and County manager move the county forward,” Pedri might get more feed- he said. back from council members Council chair starting next year, according McGinley will probably to Houck. “I think he’s going to have not remain council chair a lot more questions than next year, according to other he’s had,” Houck said. council members. However, five council “There are enough people who want more discussion. members who voted for If he’s doing what’s right for McGinley as chairman two the county I think reason- years ago, including himself, able people are going to sup- remain on council, and it is not clear who might replace port him.” Saidman praised Pedri’s him. “That is the question of performance but said she expects him to receive more the hour,” Waitkus said. “I criticism from council mem- can’t wait to see how that bers, especially Griffith and plays out.” Saidman called McGinley Urban. However, Pedri has shown a “very, very good” chaira thick skin in response to man and said she would like
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to see him continue in the position, but does not expect that to happen. Houck, who served as council chair from 2015 to 2017, declined to speculate on who will be elected chairperson next year.
Budget All of the new council members describe themselves as fiscal conservatives. Griffith and Urban have blasted Pedri and the current council majority for wasteful spending and have vowed to re-open the 2020 county budget if it includes a property tax increase. That will not impact the current council’s work over the next month to reduce a proposed 5% tax increase in the budget Pedri proposed in October, according to Saidman, Waitkus and Houck. “I’m going to do my due diligence, give the taxpayers a fair shake and vote my conscience,” Waitkus said. “I will do whatever I can to not have a tax increase.”
A balanced council The new council will include two members, Radle and Vough, who are in their 20s. It will also include three members — McGinley, Perry and Saidman — who are in their early 70s. Some had criticized previous councils for having too many current or former educators and not enough members with private sector business experience. Starting next year, a majority of council members will have no professional background in education, and the four new members have experience in business or finance. “I think the best thing we can have is a cross section of people from all types of employment,” Houck said. “It’s good to have people from additional walks of life.” Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019
YOUR HEALTH
■ Sleeping too much may raise your risk of stroke. Page B7 ■ Four things you should do for your health before 2019 is over. Page B7
Wyoming Area football honored for state title. B1
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM
TRUMP IMPEACHMENT
RALLYING CRY
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Pedri: County had a good year overall
County Manager David Pedri outlined accomplishments at the annual forum. BY ERIC MARK STAFF WRITeR
DAVe SCHeRBeNCo / STAFF PHoTogRAPHeR
Protesters hold up signs Tuesday night on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre during the ‘Nobody is Above The Law Rally.’
Protests held across US ahead of House vote today BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITeR
WILKES-BARRE — A crowd of people holding signs and chanting in support of President Donald Trump’s impeachment rallied on Public Square late Tuesday afternoon. It was one of hundreds of pro-impeachment rallies planned across the country on the eve of what is expected to be a historic day in the United States, with the House of Representatives set to vote on two articles of impeachment against the president late this afternoon. Billed as a “Nobody Is Above the Law Rally,” the purpose of the event was “to let the legislators know … that people do care,” said organizer Joe Czarnecki, a volunteer with MoveOn, a progressive public policy advocacy group and political action committee. “A lot of times you hear on the news Republicans say, ‘People don’t care about this, they just want us to pass laws and do things for the people.’ No, we do care, because if nothing is done, we’re setting a precedent that future presidents could abuse their powers and obstruct justice,” said Czarnecki, 75, of Dallas. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by
What’s next? The House is expected to vote on the impeachment of President Donald Trump today after the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Lawmakers were scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. with final votes anticipated by early evening. WILFReDo Lee / ASSoCIATeD PReSS
Demonstrators hold signs in favor of the impeachment of President Donald Trump in downtown Miami on Tuesday. the president. The crowd of about 50 to 60 rally attendees shouted “Yeah!” when Czarnecki asked if Trump abused his powers by using “military aid for the Ukraine as a bribe to get them to announce an investigation of (former Vice President Joe) Biden’s son” and if Trump obstructed justice “by withholding documents and witnesses from Congress.” Close to a dozen people spoke at the 45-minute rally, including a man who claimed that other speakers were misrepresenting facts and was DAVe SCHeRBeNCo / STAFF PHoTogRAPHeR eventually booed down. A protester holds up an Please see IMPEACH, Page A10
‘impeach Trump’ sign Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre.
Historical perspective This is only the third time in U.S. history the House will be voting to impeach a president.
Senate trial If the House approves the charges, impeachment would then move to a weekslong Senate trial, where senators are jurors and the impeachment managers act as prosecutors. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts presides over the trial. If the Senate approves an article of impeachment with a two-thirds vote of “guilty,” the president is convicted and removed from office. If all the articles are rejected — as expected — the president is acquitted.
WILKES-BARRE — Luzerne County Manager David Pedri spent most of his annual manager’s forum Tuesday answering questions about county policy and finances. Speaking near the holiday tree in the rotunda of the county courthouse, Pedri outlined the county’s accomplishments this year. They included: ■ An upgrade to the county’s credit rating, which is now rated A-, the highest it has ever been. The improved rating will help the county achieve favorable terms on any borrowing it pursues, though Pedri said he does not foresee the need for any major borrowings in the next couple of years. ■ The Rockin’ the River series of free concerts at the River Common in Wilkes-Barre last summer. More than 6,000 people attended the three concerts, far exceeding expectations, according to Pedri. Next summer’s Rockin’ the River series will feature four concerts, Pedri said. ■ The purchase of new voting machines that provide a voter-verifiable paper trail for added security. The new voting system will be used for the first time in the April 28, 2020 primary. ■ The purchase of a new digital 911 communication system, which will replace the current analog system that will no longer be supported after the end of next year. ■ The implementation of a short-term investment policy that earned $124,000 in interest, which added to the county’s revenue this year.
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Pedri described the 911 communication upgrade as “a true g a m e changer.” PEDRI He said the county bureau of elections plans community outreach to familiarize voters with the new voting system before next year’s presidential election, when he expects national media to visit Luzerne County. Looking to the future, Pedri said that once the county’s debt is paid off in about 10 years, the next major project county officials should consider is the construction of a new prison. Then came questions from the three members of the audience — Jason Carr, Brian Shiner and Sam Troy. Carr asked Pedri what he would say to people who think he is “not the right person for the job.” “I think my record speaks for itself,” Pedri said. He noted that when he became manager in 2016, the county had a budget deficit of more than $16 million, while every budget he has been in charge of included a surplus. Carr asked Pedri if he considered asking the heads of county divisions and departments to reduce their budget requests by 5%, instead of submitting a proposed 2020 budget with a 5% property tax increase. (The final budget county council adopted last week includes a 3.25% tax increase.) Please see COUNTY, Page A10
ADVE RTISE M E NT
Days until
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Trump decries ‘vicious crusade’ as vote looms Trump sent a furious letter to Pelosi on Tuesday ahead of today’s vote.
BY LISA MASCARO AND MARY CLARE JALONICK ASSoCIATeD PReSS
WASHINGTON — On the eve o f a l m o s t - c e r t a i n impeachment, President Donald Trump fired off a furious letter Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denouncing the “vicious crusade” against him, while Democrats amassed the
votes they needed and Republicans looked ahead, vowing to defend Trump at next month’s Senate trial. Trump, who would be just the third U.S. president to be impeached, acknowledged he was powerless to s t o p t o d ay ’s vo t e. H e appeared to intend his lengthy, accusatory message less for Pelosi than for the broad audience of citizens — including 2020 voters — eVAN VUCCI / ASSoCIATeD PReSS watching history unfolding on Capitol Hill. President Donald Trump meets with Guatemalan Please see VOTE, Page A10
President Jimmy Morales in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday in Washington.
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OBITUARIES / NEWS
A10 THE CITIZENS' VOICE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019
Marjorie Dawkins Garinger December 11, 2019
Marjorie Dawkins Garinger, formerly of Harveys Lake, entered peacefully into eternity Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, to join her beloved husband, Arnie Gari n g e r , whom she missed and had been s e p a r at e d from for far too long. Marge was a local field hockey, lacrosse and basketball official. She loved her life of sports and while she
was often heard saying “I get paid to exercise,” she held most dearly her family. Surviving are her daughter, Tracy Magda and husband, David, Wernersville; daughter, Wendy Kellam and her husband, Dan, and grandsons, Jack and Steven, Bradford; daughter, Amy Brozena and husband, Fran, Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., and grandchildren, Ryan and Ursula Hockman Brozena, Luzerne, and Alex Brozena, Nashville; son, Robert Garinger and wife, Grace, and granddaughter, Erin, and grandson, Ian, Montville,
N.J.; sister Phyllis Schwartz, Superior, Colo.; and brother, Ed, Winters, Calif. Preceding her in death were her husband, Arnie Garinger; her brother, George Dawkins; and her parents, the Rev. Carl and Marion Dawkins. Marge had a wonderful and magical life. She graduated with a degree in physical education from Ursinus College in 1957, where she was a standout in field hockey, basketball and softball, lettering in all three sports. In 1956, Marge was select-
e d a s a p l aye r o n t h e National Field Hockey team that competed in Australia, which required a 44 hour flight to get to at that time. The team also competed in N ew Z ea l a nd , t h e F i j i Islands and Hawaii. She continued her travels and visited many countries throughout her life as a national and international umpire, teacher, mentor and United States delegate in both field hockey and lacrosse. She was the team manager for the very first Women’s Olympic Field Hockey team,
which won a bronze medal during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She also served as Vice President of the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse. She was celebrated with inductions into both state and national halls of fame. Back at home, she and Arnie owned and operated Onawandah Family Campground with Rose and Bob Cumens and Marge spent many summers helping girls and aspiring officials hone their skills at Ruby Car men’s summer field
hockey camps. Everyone who knew Marge loved her. Marge chose to live life as she chose to die; in control, peacefully, with little fanfare and on her own terms. Her four children and her little dog, Betsy, were at her side at her home in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. The celebration of Marjorie’s life will take place in late May 2020 near Harveys Lake. The family will announce the time and place at a later date. If you would like to be notified of this event, please send an email to margegaringer@ gmail.com.
Foul-mouthed Christy sentenced to state prison By PETER E. BORTNER STAFF WRITER
BEBETO MATTHEWS / ASSOCIATED PRESS
An anti-President Trump crowd gather at a rally to protest and call for his impeachment Tuesday in New York.
Margaret Anna ‘Peggy’ Hannon Bush December 16, 2019
Margaret Anna “Peggy” Hannon Bush, 86, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at home surrounded by loved ones. Born Nov. 30, 1933, Peggy was one of ten children to Walter and Anna Hannon. As the backbone of her family, her strength never wavered. Peg always had a “matter of fact” attitude and while smiling she told you how it was whether you wanted to hear it or not. Peg loved spending time with her loved ones, especially when it involved shopping for shoes and purses or just sitting at the dinner table chatting it up over a piece of cake. In an addition to her parents, Margaret was predeceased by her nine siblings. Surviving are her children, Roberta and her husband, Thomas Major, Wilkes-Barre; Roxanne Bush, Wi l k e s - B a r r e ; S a n d r a Evans, Benton; Sam and his w i f e, N a n cy B u s h J r. , Hanover Twp.; nine grandchildren and 13 g reatgrandchildren. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at MamaryDurkin Funeral Service, 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre. Those who desire may give memorial contributions to Sacred Heart Hospice, 600 Baltimore Drive, 7, Wilkes-Barre.
Holiday deadline The deadline for obituaries on Tuesday, Dec. 24, will be 11 a.m. due to an early press time for the Christmas edition.
VOTE: Lawmakers to meet at 9 a.m. FROM PAGE A1
He accused the Democrats of acting out of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” still smarting from their 2016 election losses. “You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our Republic for your own selfish, personal political and partisan gain.” Portraying himself as a blameless victim, as he often does, Trump compared the
impeachment inquiry to the “Salem Witch Trials.” Asked later if he bore any responsibility for the proceedings, he said, “No, I don’t think any. Zero, to put it mildly.” Pelosi, who warned earlier this year against pursuing a strictly partisan impeachment, nonetheless has the numbers to approve it. According to a tally compiled by The Associated Press, Trump is on track to be for-
mally charged by a House majority today. Lawmakers were scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. EST with final votes anticipated by early evening. “Very sadly, the facts have made clear that the President abused his power for his own personal, political benefit and that he obstructed Congress,” Pelosi wrote to colleagues. “In America, no one is above the law.”
IMPEACH: Residents speak out FROM PAGE A1
He declined to give his name and said he was “just passing by” and felt he had to speak out. Susan Heckman, 65, of Shavertown, said she attended the rally because she’s worried for her children and grandchildren. “This authoritarian dictator is a danger to the democracy. … He needs to be impeached and removed.” Pittston resident Peter Ouellette, 65, said Trump and his supporters “call this impeachment a hoax, a coup and the undoing of an election. The only coup is the hijacking of the Constitution by this administration and willful and public lawbreaking by this president and his crew of sycophants.”
Online extra Watch video from the rally at citizensvoice.com.
“I hear the way he talks about women, I hear the way he talks about people of color, I hear the way he talks about trans(gender) people. He thinks he’s above the law, he thinks he’s better than anybody else. The people who follow him are hypnotized by the words that he says. I know people who voted for Trump, I ask them why, they can’t even tell me why,” Gillis said. Gillis said she was “kind of ashamed that I don’t see more young faces here. I have lots of friends and they get online and they talk about … how much they hate Trump, but where are they? Your words mean nothing if you’re not out here doing something.”
Ouellette led the crowd in chants of “Save the republic” and “Country over party.” Tony Thomas, vice president of the Luzerne County Young Democrats, said the battle wouldn’t end if Trump is impeached and removed from office because Democrats still had to deal with judges that he appointed and “with every single Republican that has touted his line and betrayed their country and their values.” Ashleigh Gillis, 24, of Kingston, said she attended Contact the writer: the rally because she was smocarsky@citizensvoice.com, angry. 570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV
POTTSVILLE — Spewing obscenities and claiming there is a conspiracy against him, Shawn R. Christy was sentenced to state prison Tuesday, as a Schuylkill County judge ordered him to serve at least a year behind bars for assaulting the mayor of his hometown in March 2017. “The defendant clearly disrupted these proceedings,” Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin said before sentencing Christy, 28, of McAdoo, to serve 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution. Before imposing the sentence, Dolbin had ejected Christy from the courtroom after the defendant tried to read a 10-page statement spouting his grievances against society as a whole but containing few relevant references to the incident and trial before the court. “It’s not relevant to the sentencing,” Dolbin told Christy about his statement, which he would not let him read but agreed to place into evidence. However, that was not good enough for Christy, who almost immediately started to unleash a string of curses at Schuylkill County in general — and Dolbin in particular. He shouted a common obscenity at least a dozen times before three deputy sheriffs bodily hauled him out of the courtroom at Dolbin’s request. Dolbin also sentenced Christy to pay costs and $50 to t h e C r i m i n a l Ju s t i c e Enhancement Account. In a one-day trial over which Dolbin presided, a jury
of six men and six women found Christy guilty Oct. 28 of one of two charges of simple assault, while finding him not guilty of aggravated assault and the second simple assault charge. Dolbin found him guilty of a summary harassment charge. McAdoo police charged Christy with assaulting thenMayor Stephan Holly on March 15, 2017, near borough hall. Police said Christy was angry about the lack of snow plowing in his area and swung his wooden walking stick at Holly. In sentencing Christy, Dolbin ruled that a walking stick constituted a deadly weapon and justified a higher sentence. Wearing a prison jumpsuit and leg shackles during the 30-minute hearing, Christy had said, without detailing any supporting evidence, that Dolbin should vacate his conviction and dismiss the case because he was denied due process. “The tape has been altered. A key witness who was on the scene did not testify,” he said. Christy then started claiming several members of law enforcement were involved in the conspiracy against him, and tried to read the entire statement into the record. Dolbin, however, declined to allow that, noting that he has the right to control how evidence is presented. Assistant Public Defender Ashley M. Yagielniskie, standby counsel for Christy, who represented himself, declined to comment on the case after the hearing.
COUNTy: Negotiating agreement with sanitary authority FROM PAGE A1
“The toughest decision we have to make is the tax increase,” Pedri said. “It comes down to customer service. ... How much are we willing to provide?” Pedri said his long-term goal is to develop a smaller county workforce “that is wellpaid and highly trained.” Shiner asked Pedri if the county could eliminate paying benefits to its part-time employees as a cost-savings measure.
Pedri said he would review that idea but noted the county has at most two dozen parttime workers. Troy asked if the savings the county hopes to realize by avoiding the payment of a stormwater fee to Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority through a mutual aid agreement could be passed on to taxpayers. Pedri said the 2020 budget does not include any projected expenditures for a stormwater fee, so there are no savings to pass along. He said the county
is negotiating an agreement with the sanitary authority to provide services in lieu of paying stormwater fees on countyowned properties. When asked about his longterm career plans, Pedri said “I don’t think this is a job I will retire from. I am 40 years old.” However, Pedri said he plans to stay on as county manager at least through the end of his contract, which runs through 2022. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117
DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
County Manager David Pedri takes a question during Tuesday night’s forum in Wilkes-Barre.
Bill placing a moratorium on closing state centers passes in House By KENT JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Closing the White Haven and Polk centers creates risk for the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live there, especially older residents, members of a board of trustees at White Haven said in a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf. The letter said Wolf ’s plan to close two centers at once is unprecedented and careless. “Residents of these two centers represent the most medically fragile, clinically and behaviorally complex citizens of our Commonwealth. As we have seen with other closures, moving people with these vulnerable conditions, at their age will result in unexpected deaths,” the letter said. On Tuesday, a bill placing a moratorium on closing the centers narrowly passed the House Health Committee
13-12. No Democrats supported the bill to the displeasure of prime sponsor, state Rep. Gerald Mullery, a Democrat from the 119th District that includes the White Haven Center. If the bill passes the Republican-controlled Legislature, the governor, a Democrat, plans to veto it.
After the veto The governor’s deputy secretary of Human Services, Kristin Ahrens, said her department can manage two closings at once by taking up to three years to find new homes for residents. Residents will have choices. They can move to other state centers in Selinsgrove, Snyder County, and Ebensburg, Cambria County. Alternately, they can enter the private system of family residences, group homes and private centers that currently serves 14,000
showing the average age of White Haven’s residents is 58.5 years. Two-thirds use a wheelchair, walker or other mobility device. Approximately one-fourth take liquids through feeding tubes. Ahrens responded that perhaps one-fifth of residents in private settings need the same level of care as people in centers. Private facilities also can care for people who use ventilators, but state centers do not take people on ventilators. Most research, Ahrens said, is inconclusive about whether people with intellectual and developmental disabilities suffer transfer traumas and deaths that the letter warns about. But common sense tells her that the people in the centers have complex needs, serious mental illnesses and Making their cases health problems. He supplied statistics So the department will
people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. “We’re talking roughly 300 (residents) over 36 months across the commonwealth in a system that already services 14,000 on any given day. This is quite manageable in size and scope,” Ahrens said Tuesday. Gregory Smith, chairman of the White Haven Board of Trustees and primary author of the letter, said Tuesday that residents and workers threatened suicide during the closing of Harrisburg State Hospital, where he was the last chief executive officer. “It’s a scary time,” said Smith, who wants to warn Ahrens and other leaders at the Department of Human Services. “Make sure you’re watching out not just for residents but for each other.”
form a plan with caregivers and relatives for each resident. After residents move, state workers will check on them after one, two, three and six months and again after their first year in new homes. When the Hamburg State Center closed two years ago, some workers followed residents to the new homes and continued to care for them, Ahrens said.
Harm beyond walls The letter, also signed by trustees Ken Kashatus, Richard Cortese, Gayle Lukas, Debra Reznick and Georgiann Eckrote-Jones, said closing the centers will harm the economies of White Haven and Polk. A survey by the White Haven Chamber of Commerce in September found businesses expect to lose 15% to 65% of sales if
employees and visitors stop coming to town. A h r e n s , h o w e v e r, described economic effects of leaving centers open. Caring for residents for a year costs approximately $440,000 at White Haven and $410,000 at Polk. Those costs will increase as censuses decrease. Caring for people in the community costs less, which would make money available for some of the 13,000 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are waiting for services in the community. The bill setting a moratorium requires the state to serve all 13,000 people on the waiting list before “we could begin a conversation about closure.” That could result in Polk, which has 2,000 acres and its own water and sewer system, staying open for two dozen residents, Ahrens said.