Many candidates in Lackawanna County waiting until last minute to file nominating petitions

Borys Krawczeniuk, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·6 min read

Mar. 3—If the deadline for filing nominating petitions was Friday, Republicans could cheer.

They would be on their way to taking control of the three-member Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners.

By the close of business Friday, only Commissioner Chris Chermak and Mayfield Council President Diana Campbell, running as a Republican ticket, and former Scranton City Council President Bill Gaughan, a Democrat, had filed petitions to get on the ballot for the May 16 primary election.

Of course, Friday wasn't the deadline. Tuesday is. So other announced candidates still have time to file — people like Commissioner Jerry Notarianni and former professional football quarterback Matt McGloin, both Democrats, and former Commissioner Laureen Cummings and former Scranton City Councilman Brian Reap, both Republicans.

By 4 p.m. Tuesday, candidates must file petitions, candidate affidavits and financial interest statements with the county election office and with the city, borough, township or school district they would represent if elected.

County elections director Beth Hopkins has seen it before. Candidates wait until almost the last day to file, which she can't explain, and a long line forms on the last filing day. Tuesday won't be different, she said.

"I wish I could answer that. I don't know why," Hopkins said Friday. "But we encourage everyone to always file early. Because if there's an issue with their petition or with a notary (public), we want them to have time. If they have to recirculate (petitions) or correct something, they have time to do it so they can file. It's much easier to be on the ballot than to wage a write-in campaign."

Challengers can question flawed petitions, and the county Board of Elections can remove a candidate from the ballot if a flaw is serious enough.

County Democratic Party chairman Chris Patrick understands some candidates being cautious, gathering 500 signatures if they need 250 as countywide candidates do, just in case some signatures are challenged. But candidates could begin gathering signatures on Feb. 14.

"I have no idea why everybody waits until the last minute," Patrick said. "I tell everybody, get the ... things in."

Notarianni, McGloin, Reap and Cummings are expected to file, which will make the commissioners race the hottest on the primary ballot for both parties.

At least two Democrats have already announced for county treasurer, though neither Angela Rempe Jones nor J.R. Refice has filed.

Attorney Frank Ruggiero, the county solicitor, has filed for the Republican and Democratic nominations for common pleas court judge, but so far he's the only one, and no one else has announced plans to run.

Only one mayoral race will highlight the ballot. In Carbondale, where Mayor Justin Taylor is not expected to seek another term, City Clerk Michele Bannon and Maria Lawler, both Democrats, have announced they will run.

Below is a list of the towns and candidates with petitions filed so far:

Lackawanna County

COMMISSIONER: Diana Campbell (R), Chris Chermak (R), Bill Gaughan (D)

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS JUDGE: Frank Ruggiero (D/R)

CLERK OF JUDICIAL RECORDS: Mauri Kelly (D), Spring Brook Twp.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE: 45-1-01 (Downvalley) George Seig (D/R); 45-1-03 (South Scranton): Joanne Price Corbett (D/R); 45-1-08 (Lower Midvalley): Christopher Szewczyk (D/R); and 45-3-02 (North Pocono): Kipp E. Adcock (D/R).

Cities, boroughs and townships

ARCHBALD: Council: Richard Guman (D), Steven Krahl (D), David Moran (D) and Erin Owen (D).

BLAKELY: Council: Edward Alco (D), Kyle Burak (D), Kevin M. Swift (D), Patrick S. Zwanch (D); Controller: Carlo Celli (D).

CARBONDALE CITY: Mayor: Michele M. Bannon (D), Maria A. Lawler (D); Council (4-year): Joseph P. Connor (D), Joseph "Doc" Marzzacco (D), Gerald J. Arnese (D); Council (2-year): Walter Martzen (D), Tom Voglino (D).

CLARKS SUMMIT: Council: Robert P. Sheils III (R).

CLIFTON: Supervisor: Jill Zindle (R)

COVINGTON: Supervisor: Wanda Andreoli (R), Bill Willson (R).

DALTON: Council (4-year): Bill Brandt (R) and Brian Malamud (R).

DUNMORE: Council: Vincent Amico (D), Janet Brier (D), Michael Hayes (D), Michael A. Dempsey (D), Patrick "Nibs" Loughney (D) and Beth McDonald Zangardi (D).

FELL: Supervisor: Vince "Sonny" Barrese (D); Tax Collector (2-year unexpired): Jeremy Fedorchak (R).

GREENFIELD: Supervisor: Nicholas Bonczkiewicz (D).

JEFFERSON: Supervisor: Jason B. Hollister (R).

JESSUP: Council: Jerry Crinella, (D), Rella Scassellati (D) and Francis Craig Shander (D).

MADISON: Supervisor: Rodney Quinn (D), Phil Setzer (R); Auditor: Eloise "Lois" Fischer (R).

MAYFIELD: Council: Wendy Bochnovich (R), Bridget Boettcher (R) and Mary McDermott Rosler (R).

NORTH ABINGTON: Supervisor (6-year): Gary Wilding (R); Supervisor (4-year unexpired): George Wolter (R); Tax Collector (2-year unexpired): Laura A. Mennig.

OLD FORGE: Council (4-year): Michael Komensky (R).

OLYPHANT: Council: Mike Abda (D), Beth Frushon (D), Dina Harrington (D) and Eric Hartshorn (D).

RANSOM: Supervisor: Jerry Scott (R).

ROARING BROOK: Supervisor: Tony Jordan (D).

SCOTT: Supervisor: Michael Giannetta (R), Naomi Johnson (D) and Logan Clauss-Walton (R); Auditor: Deborah Healey-Sawicki (D).

SCRANTON: Controller: John J. Murray (D); Council (4-year): Tyler Day (R), Mark McAndrew (D) and Jessica Rothchild (D).

SOUTH ABINGTON: Supervisor: Mark T. Dougherty (R).

SPRING BROOK: Supervisor: Jason McLain (R), Mary Nicosia (D).

TAYLOR: Council: Leslie Sweet Derenick (R), Bill Englehardt (R) and Edward J. Fortuna (R).

THROOP: Council (4-year): Charlene Tomasovitch (D).

School districts

ABINGTON HEIGHTS: Region 1: Warren T. Acker (D/R); Region 2: Rod Azar (D/R); At large: Rod Azar (D/R), Greg Moran (D/R), Philip Edward Robeson (D/R).

CARBONDALE AREA: Region 1: Nathan Masco (D/R), John Revak (D/R); Region 2: Gary Smedley (D/R); Region 3: David J. Osborne (D/R), Joseph F. Caviston (D/R).

DUNMORE: Gregory Hunt (D/R), Joe Muracco (D/R) and Dean Tallo (D/R).

FOREST CITY: Region 4: Bernice Lukus (D/R).

LAKELAND: Region 1: Angela Giglia-Morrison (D/R).

MIDVALLEY: Region 2: Gerald Luchansky (D/R), Donna Dixon (D/R) and Glenn M. Cashuric (D/R).

NORTH POCONO: Region 2: Bill Burke (D/R); Region 3: Christopher Bassi (D/R), Diane Croom (D/R), Sean Jennings (D/R) and John Martinelli (D/R).

RIVERSIDE: William J. Borent (D/R), Leigh Ann Bieber Gasper (D/R), Linda Smerdon Joyce (D/R), Joseph Labrosky Jr. (D/R) and Mary Antoniacci McHugh (D/R).

SCRANTON: Carol Cleary (D/R), Sarah E. Cruz (D/R), Ro Hume (D/R) and Marie Merkel (D/R).

VALLEY VIEW: Region 1: James M. Addley (D/R); Region 2: John M. Evans (D/R); Region 3: Joseph Caprari (D/R), Sarah May Helcoski (D), Laurie Marino (D/R) and David R. Valvano (D/R).

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.