Bobbouine
Kokura
Kulick
Lehman
Mecadon
O’Brien
Sanguedolce
Singer
Eight seeking Pierantoni’s former seat By JOE HEALEY jhealey@psdispatch.com The race for Democratic and Republican ballot slots for the Pittston magisterial district judge seat is coming down the home stretch. Eight candidates are running and all but two are cross-filed on both tickets. Candidates who cross-filed are Arthur Bobbouine of Pittston, Alexandra “Sciandra” Kokura of Dupont, Girard “Jerry” Mecadon of Jenkins Township, Len Sanguedolce of Pittston, Mark Singer of Pittston and James O’Brien of Pittston. Jeffrey C. Kulick of Hughestown and Quiana Murphy Lehman of Dupont will only appear on the Democratic ballot. The candidate who receives the most votes in each party will square off in the Nov. 5 general election. The state Supreme Court recently approved vast Pittston and Jenkins townships and small borough of Yatesville being added to the magisterial district that currently represents Pittston City, Dupont, Duryea and Hughestown. Realignment of the district takes effect on June 1. The Pittston seat is currently occupied on an interim basis by Senior Magisterial Judge Andrew Barilla Jr., formerly the longtime Swoyersville judge. He was appointed to the seat after Fred Pierantoni became a county judge. One early favorite for the district magistrate’s seat was former Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll of Yatesville, but she has decided not to run. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Luzerne County Election Office for the latest reporting period ending on May 6, Kokura was the biggest moneymaker and the biggest spender,
DUCHESS OUTLET
Madame Alexander Dolls
654-3851
JERRY STOFKO
WEST WYOMING
SCHOOL BOARD
PAID FOR BY THE CANDIDATE
under Sheriff Barry Stankus. He then worked as a criminal justice instructor at the Municipal Police Officer’ Education and Training Commission at Luzerne County Community College and Fortis Institute in Forty Fort. He is currently the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts for Luzerne County appointed by the Luzerne County Manager. He was elected to the Pittston City Home Rule Study Commission, serving as the treasurer and as a current member of the Transition Committee for the new form of government. He is also a certified notary public Bobbouine is married to the former Trish Sgarlat and they have two children, a son, Arthur Primo, 6, and daughter, Giovanna, 2. Alexandra “Sciandra” Kokura, 30, of Dupont, said that as a
special court master, she’s currently doing many of the duties a district judge performs. “I’m currently presiding over cases, weighing evidence, making decisions, just like a magisterial district judge.” She said now that the district is expanded, it is important a have a full-time magisterial judge. “I don’t operate a private law practice and it’s important I’m not trying to balance both,” she said. “The community will be better served by having an accessible magistrate 24 hours a day. The taxpayers deserve a full time magistrate. I’m willing and dedicated and excited to do it.” She said she hopes work with local groups to help identify repeat See JUDGE, Page 18
From Our Family To Yours
ELECT
JERRY STOFKO Wyoming Area School Director paid for by the candidate
ELECT COUNCIL
CONFLETTI DOLAN
Ralph Mike
Paid for by friend of candidates
from Barbara and Kimberly Attardo
YOUR VOTE COUNTS ELECT BARBARA ATTARDO
PITTSTON TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR Paid for by the candidate
5
William St. • Pittston Duchessoutlet.com
perience.” He said drugs are a big problem in the district and he would participate in public awareness programs to curb crime and drug use in the district. “I’m willing to work with police and community members in crime prevention program,” he said. “We need to get the residents more involved.” He said he’d be understanding and fair when dealing with the public. “At magistrate court, you’re the people’s judge,” he said. “If the people don’t understand what’s going on, it’s my job as a magisterial judge to help them understand.” Bobbouine said he is unsure if he has to be certified by the Minor Judiciary Education Board because he as a law degree, but is not a member of the state bar. The board’s website says training is necessary if an elected judge is not a member of the state bar. Bobbouine is a 1994 graduate of Pittston Area High School and earned a bachelors’ degree in history and political science from the University of Scranton. He graduated from Dickinson Law School in 2001. He then spent 8 years in the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office, rising to the post of chief deputy
PAGE
Men’s/Ladies’ Coats from $39.99
followed by Mecadon and Singer. Money collected come from candidates themselves, their families and personal campaign donations. Kokura collected $61,940 and spent $34,719, leaving a balance of $27,200. The campaign listed $33,900 in unpaid debt. Mecadon has collected $35,261 and spent $31,583, leaving a balance of $4,677. The campaign has $15,000 in unpaid debt. Singer’s committee collected $26,045 in donations and spent $25,862 leaving a balance of $242. The unpaid debt is listed as $25,075. O’Brien’s committee collected $6,985 and spent $5,901, leaving a balance of $1,083. The campaign has no debt. Bobbouine collected $5,755 and spent $2,412, leaving a balance of $3,342. The campaign has no unpaid debt. Lehman collected $2,375 and spent $1,888, leaving a balance of $486. The campaign has no unpaid debt. Sanguedolce’s committee collected $1,700 and spent $2,782. The committee still has $1,883 in the account and has $770 in debt. Kulick collected $1,514 and spent $1,255, leaving a balance of $258. The campaign has $200 in unpaid debt. Magisterial district judges are elected to six-year terms and are paid $86,639 a year. The following are based on interviews with all of the candidates. Candidates are listed alphabetically. Art Bobbouine, 37, of Pittston, said his law degree and his background as a criminal justice instructor makes him a good fit for the job. “I’m able to make intelligent, common-sense decisions,” he said. “I have the background and the ex-
SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013
magisterial district judge race