Only one Democrat applies for Flynn's House seat
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Jun. 26—Only one Democrat applied for the party nomination to seek a vacant state House seat and he's a familiar name.
Thom Welby, 70, the chief of staff to former state Rep. Marty Flynn, wants to replace his ex-boss as 113th state House District representative until the end of his unexpired term.
Many more Democrats wanted a shot at the seat but refrained from applying because top local Democratic Party officials said they would only consider someone pledging not to run for re-election next year. The special election for the House seat coincides with the Nov. 2 general municipal election.
Welby has pledged he will only serve until the term expires Nov. 30, 2022.
Flynn resigned the seat earlier this month after winning a special election for the state Senate.
County Democratic chairman Chris Patrick and city chairman Bob Sheridan limited applications to a "placeholder" to avoid a divisive selection process and because the district's boundaries will likely change by the 2022 election. The job pays $90,335 a year. In a special election, party committees choose nominees rather than voters.
Patrick said the Democratic 113th Legislative District committee will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the United Association Local 524 offices, 711 E. Corey St., Scranton, to vote on recommending Welby as the nominee. The county executive committee will meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the same place to ratify the recommendation.
On the Republican side, the party's 113th Legislative District committee has set a July 14 deadline for applying for the nomination. Applicants should mail a letter of intent, a resume and a copy of their voter registration card to Republican Party of Lackawanna County, P.O. Box 362, Moscow, Pa. 18444 or by email to LackawannaGOP@gmail.com.
The 113th district includes Green Ridge, North Scranton, West Scranton, Minooka, the Plot and part of center city in Scranton, South Abington Twp. and Clarks Green Borough.
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.
