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By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau
Sunday, September 25, 1994 Page: 7B
KLINE TWP. — He’s not running for office. He can’t even vote. But Frank
Sacco is still the most well known name involved in the Kline Township special
election Monday.
“No one is focusing on issues. Everything is geared toward Frank Sacco,”
said Schuylkill County Republican party chairman Tony Morelli.
Sacco, 72, was found guilty of voter fraud in the November 1993 general
election after prosecutors charged he changed votes in favor of Republican
candidates on several ballots. At the time, Sacco was director of the
Schuylkill County Election/Registration Bureau.
In July, he was sentenced to six months’ house arrest, three years
probation, $1,000 fine, 120 hours community service and his voting privileges
were revoked for four years.
On Monday, Kline’s 1,162 registered voters will elect new municipal
leaders, after last year’s election was declared void.
Five township offices are up for grabs at Monday’s special election.
Democratic candidates for the election are Michael Sobolewski, supervisor;
Justine Biskupics, tax collector; Marie Norris, assessor; Rose Marie Bien,
auditor (six-year term); and Mary Beth Lyons, auditor (two-year term).
Republican candidates are George Stefanisko, supervisor; Michael Notaro,
tax collector; Janice Haslam, assessor; Jacob Bender, auditor (six-year term);
and Nilsa Novic, auditor (two-year term).
But Sacco, no longer a cog in the election wheel, recently re-entered the
political spotlight when he began campaigning for Republican candidates on the
phone while under house arrest.
“I’ve called 30 or 40 people. They’ve all been real nice, whether they’re
Republicans or Democrats,” Sacco said.
The calls stopped Tuesday after Sacco received complaints from several
people who thought he should stay out of the election.
“I don’t know why people should be concerned. I’ve done it for years and
years,” Sacco said.
Party chairman Morelli hopes Sacco and his ballot-tampering history won’t
have a negative effect on the election.
“What Sacco does shouldn’t matter. He acted on his own and is paying for
his sins. We have to worry about our town,” Morelli said.
Candidate Bien hopes Sacco and his guilt will influence balloters to vote
Democratic.
“He took away peoples’ voices and none of the Republican candidates stepped
forward to denounce what he did. If they were against, it why didn’t they
something?”
Then there are others in the election who believe “This may be the first
fair election in years,” said Biskupics.
Morelli said the Republicans’ priority is purchasing the Honey Brook Water
Co. and building a sewage treatment plant.
Democratic candidate Michael G. Sobolewski and Democratic party chairman
Andy McAloose could not be reached for comment on their party’s priorities.
Biskupics, however, did have some ideas if elected as tax collector.
“I want to give one-half a percent of the scheduled tax collector raise to
improvements at the children’s playground in Kelayres,” said Bis