News

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

The Luzerne County controller is supposed to be the taxpayers’ independent watchdog, and the six contenders for the seat went out of their way to distinguish how they would fill that role during Tuesday’s League of Women Voters forum at Wilkes University.

click image to enlarge

Luzerne County controller candidates fielded questions from an audience of 30 during Tuesday’s League of Women Voters forum at Wilkes University.

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

click image to enlarge

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

Fairview Township resident Bob Morgan, who is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination on May 19, said the office needs leadership and reorganization. He said his 20 years of experience in the financial services field qualify him for the job.

“We use 1970s techniques to pay the bills in that office,” Morgan said.

Five candidates are competing for the Republican nomination.

Edward Brominski, a former teacher and Luzerne County commissioner from Swoyersville, said he discovered and pointed out “invoice splitting,” questionable expenses and “falsified property cards” when he worked in the county assessor’s office. He said would expose corruption as controller.

“I have nothing to lose, and the only thing to gain is the respect of the public,” Brominski said.

Conyngham resident Alice Coffman said she can hit the ground running because she is a certified public accountant with extensive experience in audits. She said she will write Internet blogs to keep the public informed of her work and whether she’s hitting any roadblocks accessing data.

“I don’t back down easy,” Coffman said.

Walter Griffith, an auto repair business owner from Wilkes-Barre, said he’s the only candidate who has been actively speaking out at county government meetings for years. He said he’s studied the state County Code cover-to-cover and has publicly challenged county officials on several occasions.

“I will be in the office all the time and will lead by example,” Griffith said.

Dallas resident Nanda Palissery said his 15 years of experience as an attorney will allow him to detect and challenge problems with contracts and other county spending. He said he would like to institute evening and weekend hours so working residents could access records.

“We must address corruption,” Palissery said.

Robert Sypniewski, a business owner from Dallas, said he saw problems when he served on the county assessment appeals board during reassessment and said the county needs to “clean house.” He stepped away from the table of candidates to speak to the audience.

“I like standing up because that’s what I’m going to do for you,” Sypniewski said.

At one point in the forum, Sypniewski challenged Palissery, saying there are too many attorneys and “good old boys” in running the courthouse.

Palissery said Sypniewski and others are unfairly linking all attorneys to courthouse corruption.

“It’s nice to be attacked as a lawyer because it tells me who the front runner is,” Palissery said.

Palissery generated laughter from the audience of about 30 when he got up, arms outstretched, and asked, “Do I look anything like one of the good old boys?”

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.