Mellow, Musto seats see scramble

For decades, whenever the state Senate seats held by Robert Mellow and Raphael Musto were up for election, the only speculation was whether the Republican Party would make it a contested race. The two veteran lawmakers’ recent retirement announcements mean that for the first time in 28 years, other Democrats will not only join the fray, they’ll come in droves.

Within hours of Mellow, the longest-serving senator in Pennsylvania, announcing he will not seek an 11th term, speculation shifted from lauding the 66-year-old’s accomplishments to speculating on potential successors.

“It’s been a crazy 48 hours,” said state Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Old Forge, on Thursday. He was one of the first people the spotlight focused on following Mellow’s announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

He said he would make a decision this weekend. He said he needs time to consider what could be the difference between being employed or not. Unlike other potential candidates, Wansacz is in elected office and his term is up this year.

He will have to decide whether to forego another shot at his state House seat for a chance at the Senate. If he lost the Senate race, he could be out of work in December.

And while the state election code allows him to run for both seats, it’s not something he’s interested in doing.

“I would not do that,” he said. “I would concentrate my efforts on one thing only.”

While the pros and cons of leaving his House career will factor into his decision, he said who else declares their intent to seek the seat will not.

Joseph Albert, an insurance executive with the Eli Albert Agency in Scranton, said he’s still “looking into” running.

“I’m discussing it with people I respect,” he said, noting that he was considering a run against Mellow in the Democratic primary before Mellow bowed out.

He said two factors will play in to his decision: “money and who else is running.”

“Someone may come out of the woodwork who would make a great senator for this region,” Albert said. If that were to happen, “I would back them.”

He said the list of potential candidates he’s aware of, including Wansacz and Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, do not fit the bill to make him “drop out.” That also goes for a fellow insurance man who’s mulling a run.

Gary DiBileo, a former Scranton City Council member who owns his own insurance company in Blakely, said he’s considering entering the race but won’t decide until next week.

“Further thought and discussion with family, friends and supporters” will take place over the next few days and will shape his decision. He said “it’s a position I would do great at. I have a sincere desire to serve and to help people. And that’s what this position requires.”

“You have to be mindful of who else is running, but I’ll get in the race if I feel it’s the position for me,” DiBileo, a Democrat, said.

DiBileo ran unsuccessfully against Chris Doherty last year for the Scranton mayor race as a write-in candidate after he learned that Doherty was also planning a run for governor.

Doherty is still a declared gubernatorial candidate and Mark Nevins, his campaign spokesman, said Doherty is considering the state Senate seat, so there may be another go around with Doherty.

Nevins said Doherty received “a lot of phone calls” from supporters and friends encouraging him to run for Mellow’s seat but that no decision has been reached. He declined to give a deadline for when a decision would be made.

Republican Frank Scavo, a former Old Forge School Board member who owns a car parts supply business, was the first to confirm he was in the race. He said he would likely have run whether Mellow was on the ballot or not. He is the only Republican to announce his candidacy.

Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty, who’s in her fourth term in that row office, said she’s “98 percent in.” She said she’s already picked up petitions that will be circulated on Tuesday – the first day state law allows candidates to start getting signatures to appear on the ballot.

She said one thing that won’t stop her from running is who else enters the fray.

I’m not intimidated by those candidates or anybody at all,” she said when asked about potential runs by Wansacz, Doherty and DiBileo.

While she had praise for everything Mellow has done for the district, which includes all of Lackawanna County and portions of Luzerne and Monroe, she said sometimes getting new blood in Harrisburg is a positive.

“I think the people would be encouraged by a new face and some fresh ideas,” said the Democrat from Scranton, though she lamented the loss of the seniority and leadership Mellow had that helped the projects in the Scranton area.

“Along with the retirement of Sen. Raphael Musto, Sen. Mellow’s departure will leave an incredible void in terms of seniority and leadership in the Pennsylvania state Senate. Leadership that has ensured the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania received their share of funding and appropriations and have their collective voices heard on issues ranging from property taxes to health care,” Wansacz said.

Whoever wins the seats will become a freshman senator, just one of 50. And they won’t have a veteran lawmaker to help them find their way like Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, had when she entered office four years ago.

Wansacz, if he entered the race and won, would have some know-how of Harrisburg and its inner workings.

That’s something state Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, would bring to the table if he’s successful in winning the 14th Senatorial District seat being left by the retiring Musto.

Yudichak is one of two heavyweight Democrats who could be facing off for the position. Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton is also considering a run, though he said a decision won’t come until next week.

Betsy Summers, a Libertarian Party candidate from Wilkes-Barre, will also be vying for the seat. She made her announcement on Wednesday. Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen Urban is also on the short list of perspective candidates, and the only Republican so far, for the 14th District seat. He’s also been mentioned for a lieutenant governor run.

Efforts to reach other potential candidates for the 22nd Senatorial District, including Democrats Chris Phillips, a Scranton School Board member, John Blake, an Archbald resident who’s the deputy secretary with the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development; and former Lackawanna County commissioner Joseph Corcoran, of Scranton, were unsuccessful.