Election gripe’s handling rebuked

Walter Griffith objected to Luzerne County’s handling of a campaign finance complaint during Tuesday’s Election Board meeting.

Griffith said he found several missing expenditures and receipts in campaign finance reports filed by Rick Cronauer and his campaign committee. Griffith is running against Cronauer for a Wilkes-Barre council seat in the city’s District A.

When he filed a complaint with the county district attorney’s office, Griffith said the district attorney’s office informed him that it would not be pursuing the matter because county solicitor Neil O’Donnell said there was not a valid complaint.

Griffith said he has a valid complaint and believes the election board has a legal obligation to ask the district attorney to investigate it.

He also said Tuesday that he objects to the county’s willingness to allow Cronauer to amend his reports.

County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said in May that Cronauer, after learning of Griffith’s complaint, filed an amended report and paid a $250 late fee. Cronauer portrayed the lack of disclosure as an unintentional mistake, Piazza said.

Griffith said all candidates should be forced to adhere to reporting requirements because reports are the official documents telling the public how campaign funds are received and spent.

“If the board doesn’t act, you’re going to have a Pandora’s Box in elections from now on. Every candidate will file a two-page report, and if they’re challenged, they can simply say, ‘I’m going to amend my report,’” he said.

County Commissioner Rose Tucker, who was named chairwoman of the board Tuesday, said the board will review the matter.

Board member Joe Cosgrove said people have to realize that the board is not an investigative body. He said the district attorney may investigate something regardless of what is recommended by the board.

City resident Tim Grier, who attended the meeting, said he disagrees with that statement because past board members asked the district attorney to investigate him 18 months ago.

“This campaign finance report is a mess. It’s an absolute mess,” said Grier, referring to Cronauer’s filing. Grier had run against Cronauer in May and lost.