Luzerne County Government

January 6, 2010

Bonner officially resigns

After pleading guilty to accepting a bribe, he quits housing authority, jury commissioner posts Monday.

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

Jerry Bonner has resigned as Luzerne County jury commissioner and from his seat on the county Housing Authority board.

County President Judge Thomas Burke announced the jury commissioner resignation in a release Tuesday, saying that Bonner’s attorney, Mike Butera, informed the court that Bonner’s resignation took effect on Monday.

Bonner pleaded guilty in federal court last month to passing a bribe. Voters reelected Bonner while he was under federal indictment for the charges in November.

Burke said the court will not take any steps to fill the jury commissioner vacancy until all judges meet. The next regularly scheduled meeting of judges is Jan. 20.

The county’s two jury commissioners – one Democrat and one Republican – are paid about $10,000 per year plus benefits.

Their work has essentially decreased to attending one meeting per year because juror lists are compiled by computers using a driver’s license database.

Republican jury commissioner Frank Semanski was sworn into office on Monday.

Semanski and Bonner’s Democratic replacement would serve through 2013.

The state Senate is considering a bill that would allow county commissioners to eliminate the position by majority vote. If the bill is enacted, Luzerne County commissioners could get rid of the position in 2014.

County commissioners will decide who replaces Bonner on the five-person Housing Authority board.

Commissioners had voted in September to appoint Michael Rozitski, of Mountain Top, to the authority board seat vacated by William Maguire, who pleaded guilty to accepting $1,400 from a contractor in connection with supporting an authority contract.

The authority oversees much of the county’s low-income housing.

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

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