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May 17th, 2013, 01:19 PM #1Member
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(Lackawanna County) - Posts
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May 21, 2013 LC Primary Election Referenda
In addition to the usual party primary ballots, the May 21 primary election in Lackawanna County will also include five questions which will be put to all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation or independent status.
Four of the questions propose to amend the County Home Rule Charter, replacing four elected “row offices” (sheriff, clerk of judicial records, register of wills, and recorder of deeds) with commissoner-appointed positions. These four questions were originally proposed by the existing County Commissioners as a single question but were forced into separate questions by the courts.
IMO and setting aside the issue of the three “back office” positions (clerk of judicial records, register of wills, recorder of deeds), the notion of appointing the sheriff should be troubling, particularly to gun owners. The sheriff is the constitutional law enforcement official in the county, issues carry licenses, and is responsible for any court-ordered temporary surrender of weapons. Being elected, the sheriff is currently in a position to directly represent the will of the voters. An appointed sheriff would more likely represent the will of the county administration first, subordinating the will of the voter.
[See position of PA Sheriffs’ Association regarding gun control (Jan, 2013)]:
http://www.pasheriffs.org/news/from-...s-association/
The fifth ballot question is more complicated and was put on the ballot by Scranton insurance man, Chuck Volpe. It proposes a seven-person Study Commission to recommend options to the present county structure, which combines both the legislative and executive functions in an elected three-commissioner body. If approved, the top seven vote-getters would form a Study Commission to review options, issue recommendations, and let voters decide on a possible new form of government – a process that could take 18 to 24 months.
Obviously, the individual Study Commission candidates (if elected) will bring different points of view to the Commission but because the positions are non-partisan, for the most part it’s difficult to determine what biases each will bring to the study. Volpe’s group of six candidates calls themselves the “Fix It Ticket” http://fixlackawanna.com/ and appear to be inclined towards an elected part time commission, an elected full time county executive, and the elimination of all four row offices. Other candidates appear to favor retaining the sheriff as an elected office and/or making the county executive a full time professional administrator.
[See ballot question and biographies of thirty-eight Study Commission candidates (as of 05/13/2013)]:
http://news.scrantonchamber.com/wp-c...CANDIDATES.pdf
Being an off-year primary election, voter participation would normally be low with the outcome determined by the relatively few party insiders who vote in primaries. The uncertainties regarding the sheriff’s office and the future county political structure should give Lackawanna County gun owners a greater-than-normal interest in this primary election.Last edited by nepa_go; May 20th, 2013 at 08:23 AM. Reason: primary date correction in text
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May 17th, 2013, 02:10 PM #2
Re: May 23, 2013 LC Primary Election Referenda
Thanks for the summary and reminder.
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May 20th, 2013, 08:29 PM #3
Re: May 21, 2013 LC Primary Election Referenda
I am registered Independent, but this time i can vote on a few of the issues, i will be voting to keep the row offices and the sheriffs office as elected offices, it may be more government, but at least i get a say in who runs that office.
Government 99 and 44/100 % pure bullshit.
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May 20th, 2013, 10:03 PM #4
Re: May 21, 2013 LC Primary Election Referenda
In regards to the study commission, Charlie Spano is the only one that was part of our second amendment rally a few weeks ago in Dickson City. He was in fact one of the organizers and was responsible for getting Rep. Metcalf to appear.
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May 20th, 2013, 11:55 PM #5Member
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Re: May 21, 2013 LC Primary Election Referenda
"In regards to the study commission, Charlie Spano is the only one that was part of our second amendment rally a few weeks ago in Dickson City. He was in fact one of the organizers and was responsible for getting Rep. Metcalf to appear. "
I believe that he also organized the (Feb?) rally in Scranton.
Fwiw, Charlie's wife, Mary Rose McAndrew Spano is also a Study Commission candidate.
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May 22nd, 2013, 10:46 AM #6Member
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Re: May 21, 2013 LC Primary Results
With all districts reporting, results unofficial as of May 22:
Lackawanna County voters rejected the elimination of four elected row offices but decided to form a commission to study and possibly recommend a broad reorganization of county government.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/lac...ions-1.1493428
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Two Lackawanna County deputy sheriffs will compete for the post in November. Chief Deputy Dominick Manetti won the Republican nomination for sheriff, and deputy Mark McAndrew prevailed in a close Democratic contest.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/two...fall-1.1493521
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Seven winning Government Study Commission candidates:
Chuck Volpe 16,086
Mary Jo Sheridan 9,863
David Wenzel 9,042
Marilyn Ruane 7,711
Jerry Notarianni 7,365
Robert P. Weber 6,998
Michael Giannetta 6,668
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/lac...sion-1.1493117
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