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

The Luzerne Home Rule organization has scrapped plans to endorse 11 study commission candidates.

Read more Luzerne County Government articles

Read more Luzerne County Government articles

County minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban and others had criticized the endorsement plan, saying the group would exclude viable candidates by backing a slate. Organization Chairman P.J. Best said Wednesday the group has decided to focus on educating the public about all candidates.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that 11 quality candidates are selected, and we’re just looking for the best way to achieve that goal,” Best said. For example, the organization will videotape speeches of all interested candidates and post the videos on the Internet, Best said. Questions from the public will also be requested.

The organization will request responses from all candidates and then post the questions and answers on the group’s Web site at luzernehomerule.org.

“It’s going to be like an online debate. We’re essentially changing the way campaigns work in Luzerne County,” Best said.

Also, the group plans to pose its own questionnaire and post responses. A separate section of the site will be dedicated to public information about the candidates.

Assistance will be provided for candidates who are not computer literate, he said.

“We are attacking it from a much more objective, educational standpoint. We’re brainstorming and throwing out ways to approach this,” Best said.

Luzerne Home Rule committee member Thom Shubilla, of Plains Township, supports the cancellation of endorsements. “I think the decision to not run the slate gives us an ability to really look at all the candidates in a fair manner, instead of just looking at 11,” he said.

Best said about 30 people have expressed interest in running for the commission. Shubilla said the group encourages all candidates to hold public-information meetings, small or large, to present their credentials and educate the public about home rule.

Discussing home rule will be tricky because candidates in theory are supposed to examine the possible switch to a new form of government with an open mind, he said.

May 19 primary election voters will decide whether to study home rule and also select the 11 study commission candidates. The candidates would not take office if the study question is defeated.

Home rule would create a customized plan to run county government, rather than relying on the three-commissioner structure established by the state. Once the plan is drafted by an elected study commission, voters decide whether to accept it.

Voters interested in serving on the study commission have until March 10 to obtain the 200 signatures from registered voters that they need to get on the ballot.

Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said he has determined, in conjunction with the state and county election solicitor, that study commission candidates may team up and obtain signatures on the same nomination paper, rather than circulating individual ones.

What’s next

Home rule study commission candidates are invited to attend a meeting at 7 tonight at the NEPA Organizing Center, 198 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. Interested candidates may present speeches to be videotaped by volunteers.