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By MELISSA DONOVAN; Times Leader Staff Writer
Thursday, May 22, 1997 Page: 3A
DURYEA — Mayor Larry Guitson has a simple explanation for what happened in
Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
“I lost.”
Pressed for a more in-depth analysis Wednesday, Guitson would only say,
“Each person that went into the voting booth voted their conscience and they
voted for the other candidate.”
Unofficial results show Duryea Borough Council member Mark C. Rostkowski
defeated Guitson 750 to 601. There was no Republican candidate for the
$3,000-per-year post.
Guitson said he plans to run for council in two years. Rostkowski could not
be reached for comment.
Council President Keith Moss, a Guitson backer, said he was puzzled by the
incumbent’s loss. “I have no idea. I’m trying to figure it out myself,” Moss
said. “We tried to do our best for him.”
Moss, who received the most votes of all council candidates Tuesday, said
the mayor’s loss didn’t seem to indicate disapproval of the council majority,
which Guitson backs.
Moss said he doesn’t think Guitson was hurt by a scandal about use by
private individuals of cellular phones that were listed on the borough’s phone
plan. Guitson and his family used four of the phones and said they reimbursed
the borough for the cost. Guitson called the plan “legitimate.”
Although the state auditor general’s office investigated the plan — as
requested by Rostkowski — no criminal activity was found.
Moss declined to comment on a lawsuit that accuses Guitson and his wife of
failing to pay $8,652 in sewer fees.