Luzerne County Council

Luzerne County Council
Type
Type
Term limits
3 consecutive terms, resets after leaving office
History
Founded2012 (2012)
Preceded byBoard of County Commissioners
Leadership
John Lombardo, Republican
Brian Thornton, Republican
Structure
Seats11
Political groups
  • Majority Party
  Republican: 7 seats
  • Minority Party
  Democratic: 4 seats
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Plurality-at-large voting
Last election
November 7, 2023 (6 seats)
Next election
Primary: TBD
General: November 4, 2025
(5 seats)
Meeting place
Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Website
[1]
Inside the county courthouse

The Luzerne County Council is the governing body of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The council meets at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. There are eleven members on the assembly (seven Republicans and four Democrats). The chair is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes.[1] When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chair is John Lombardo.

History

[edit]

Luzerne County voters rejected home rule proposals in the past (once in 1974 and again in 2003). However, from 2008 to 2010, corruption plagued county government. Three county judges, a county commissioner, a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, and a director of human resources faced criminal charges. These events persuaded the voters of Luzerne County to adopt a new form of government. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, a home rule charter was adopted by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.[2][3]

The following year (in 2011), the first election for the new government was held. On Monday, January 2, 2012, the previous government (the board of county commissioners) was abolished and replaced with the new form of government (council–manager government). The first members of the Luzerne County Council were sworn in that same day. The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.[4]

Election process

[edit]
Main article: Luzerne County Council elections

The Luzerne County Council is elected by the voters of the county. Nearly half the council is up for election every two years. It rotates between five and six seats. Each council member is elected at-large (to a four-year term). They are limited to three consecutive terms.[5][6] In the May primary, the major political parties (Democratic and Republican) select their top candidates for the general election. For example, those who place in the top five or six become the nominees of their party. Third party (or independent) candidates may also join the race. In the November general election, all political parties/candidates square off on the same ballot. Those who place in the top five or six will be elected or re-elected to council.

Current council members

[edit]

The following members have been duly elected to county council by the voters of Luzerne County:[7]

Council member Tenure Party Position
John Lombardo 2022–present Republican Chair
Brian Thornton 2022–present Republican Vice Chair
Patty Krushnowski 2024–present Democratic
Kevin Lescavage 2022–present Republican
Lee Ann McDermott 2020–present Republican
Joanna Bryn Smith 2024–present Democratic
Jimmy Sabatino 2024–present Democratic
Chris R. Perry 2018–present Republican
Brittany Stephenson 2024–present Democratic
Harry Haas 2012–2022,[8] 2024–present Republican
Gregory S. Wolovich 2022–present Republican

List of council chairs

[edit]

The following chairs were elected by council:

List of council chairs Tenure Party Notes
1 Jim Bobeck 2012 Democratic [9]
2 Tim McGinley 2012–2014 Democratic [10][11]
3 Rick Morelli 2014–2015 Republican [12][13]
4 Linda McClosky Houck 2015–2018 Democratic First female chair[14]
5 Tim McGinley 2018–2022 Democratic [15]
6 Kendra Vough 2022–2024 Republican [16]
7 John Lombardo 2024–present Republican [17]

Former council members

[edit]
Name Tenure Party Notes
Elaine Maddon Curry 2012–2014 Democratic She did not seek re-election in 2013.[18]
James Bobeck 2012–2016 Democratic Bobeck served as the first council chair in 2012. He did not seek re-election in 2015.[19]
Kathleen M. Dobash 2014–2018 Republican She did not seek re-election in 2017.[20]
Eileen M. Sorokas 2014–2018 Democratic She did not seek re-election in 2017.[20]
Rick Williams 2012–2018 Independent Williams did not seek re-election in 2017. He remains the only independent councilor.[21]
Edward A. Brominski 2012–2019 Democratic He resigned in January 2019 due to health issues.[22] Council appointed Patrick Bilbow to serve out the remainder of his term.[23]
Eugene L. Kelleher 2012–2014, 2016–2019 Republican Kelleher lost re-election in 2013. He won a second non-consecutive term in 2015. Kelleher resigned in July 2019 due to relocating to Lancaster County.[24][25] Former Councilman Rick Morelli was appointed by council to serve out the remainder of Kelleher's term.[26]
Patrick M. Bilbow 2019–2020 Democratic In February 2019, council appointed Bilbow to serve out the remainder of Edward Brominski’s term.[23] He lost re-election in 2019.
Rick Morelli 2012–2016, 2019–2020 Republican Morelli served as the third council chair from 2014 to 2015. He did not seek re-election in 2015.[19] In August 2019, council appointed Morelli to serve out the remainder of Eugene Kelleher’s term.[26]
Stephen A. Urban 2012–2020 Democratic He did not seek re-election in 2019.[27]
Jane Walsh-Waitkus 2016–2020 Democratic She lost re-election in 2019.[28]
Walter L. Griffith, Jr. 2020–2022 Republican Griffith vacated his seat after becoming Luzerne County Controller in 2022.[29]
Linda McClosky Houck 2012–2022 Democratic Houck served as the fourth council chair from 2015 to 2018. She was ineligible to pursue a fourth consecutive term due to term limits.[30]
Sheila Saidman 2018–2022 Democratic She lost re-election in 2021.[31]
Robert Schnee 2016–2022 Republican Schnee vacated his seat after winning a special election for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022.[32]
Matthew Vough 2018–2022 Democratic He lost re-election in 2021.[33]
Carl Bienias 2022–2024 Republican Bienias was appointed by council in 2022 to serve the remainder of Walter Griffith's term. He lost his party's nomination in May 2023.[34]
Tim McGinley 2012–2024 Democratic McGinley twice served as council chair from 2012 to 2014, and again from 2018 to 2022. He was ineligible to pursue a fourth consecutive term due to term limits.[35]
Matthew Mitchell 2022–2024 Republican Mitchell was appointed by council in 2022 to serve the remainder of Robert Schnee's term, who vacated his seat after winning a special election for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Mitchell lost re-election in 2023.[36]
Stephen J. Urban 2012–2016, 2020–2024 Republican Urban served two non-consecutive terms. He lost re-election in 2015 and again in 2023.[37]
Kendra M. Vough 2020–2024 Republican She served as the sixth council chair from 2022 to 2024. Kendra Vough did not seek re-election in 2023.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Luzerne County : Home Rule Charter". Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  2. ^ Voters say 'yes' to home rule - News. Standard Speaker (2010-11-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2017-09-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Luzerne County Council members sworn in - The Times Leader reports" – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ "Five of 11 Luzerne County Council seats up for grabs Tuesday". 2017-11-05.
  6. ^ The Editorial Board. "Our choices for Luzerne County Council". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice.
  7. ^ "Luzerne County Council | Luzerne County, PA".
  8. ^ "Harry Haas running for Luzerne County Council | Luzerne County, PA".
  9. ^ Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "Bobeck to step down as county council chairman". www.citizensvoice.com.
  10. ^ Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "New chairman takes over at County Council". www.standardspeaker.com.
  11. ^ Administrator, System. "County Council elects new chair". www.standardspeaker.com.
  12. ^ Writer), By Matt Bufano (Staff. "Morelli named chairman of Luzerne County council". www.standardspeaker.com.
  13. ^ "Morelli Steps Down as President of Luzerne County Council". 7 January 2015.
  14. ^ By Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writer) (2012-07-31). "Luzerne County Council divided over next chairperson – News". Standard Speaker. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  15. ^ "Tim McGinley appointed new Luzerne County Council chair". 2018-01-03.
  16. ^ "Kendra Radle is new Luzerne County Council chair". 3 January 2022.
  17. ^ https://www.timesleader.com/news/1641456/john-lombardo-is-new-luzerne-county-council-chair
  18. ^ Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "Haas will seek re-election; Maddon Curry will bow out to focus on Hazleton projects". www.citizensvoice.com.
  19. ^ a b "Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton's job status up in the air". 2015-11-23.
  20. ^ a b Wellock, Bill. "Luzerne council seats will be open". www.standardspeaker.com.
  21. ^ "Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams won't run again". 2017-08-17.
  22. ^ "Luzerne County Councilman Brominski resigning". January 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Pittston Area principal appointed to vacant Luzerne County Council seat". 20 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Eugene Kelleher to resign from Luzerne County Council". 13 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Luzerne County Councilman Eugene Kelleher offers parting words". 10 July 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Rick Morelli appointed to vacant Luzerne County Council seat". 13 August 2019.
  27. ^ "Urban won't seek re-election this year".
  28. ^ "2 incumbents, 4 others win county council seats". 6 November 2019.
  29. ^ "Application deadline nearing for Republican Luzerne County Council seat". 31 January 2022.
  30. ^ "McGinley will be lone Democrat on Luzerne County Council". 4 November 2021.
  31. ^ "McGinley will be lone Democrat on Luzerne County Council". 4 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Schnee wins 116th District special election". April 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "McGinley will be lone Democrat on Luzerne County Council". 4 November 2021.
  34. ^ https://www.timesleader.com/news/1601784/carl-bienias-iii-announces-run-for-luzerne-county-council
  35. ^ https://www.timesleader.com/news/1639653/luzerne-county-officials-honor-mcginley-in-special-ceremony
  36. ^ https://www.timesleader.com/news/1561091/kingston-resident-appointed-to-luzerne-county-council
  37. ^ https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=74702
  38. ^ https://www.timesleader.com/news/1618568/luzerne-county-democrats-announce-general-election-endorsements
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