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By Ed Ackerman eackerman@psdispatch.com
Pittston Sunday Dispatch Editor

Geographically, Greater Pittston lies in the northern portion of Luzerne County. But at election time, it is usually right smack in the middle.

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Judicial candidate CJ Bufalino lived the first 31 years of his life in West Pittston. His grandmother was born on the corner of Main Street and now Columbus Avenue in Pittston.

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Judicial candidate Gene Sperazza with his mom Rose and other family members and supporters as he opened his Pittston campaign headquarters not far from where his dad ran Twinny’s Restaurant.

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Especially this year.

Of the 17 judges vying for nomination in Luzerne County in Tuesday’s primary election, four have deep Pittston City roots with large Greater Pittston family ties.

And all four agree that: one, the vote they receive in Greater Pittston is integral to their success on Tuesday; and, two, but perhaps even more important, the values instilled in them growing up in Greater Pittston are central to the character they will bring to the bench.

The four Greater Pittston candidates are: Atty. Joe Terrana and Atty. Gene Sperazza, both of whom grew up in Pittston; Judge Joe Musto, who grew up in Pittston Township; and Atty. CJ Bufalino, who grew up in West Pittston.

Of the Pittston influence, Sperazza, who resides in Mountaintop and maintains law offices in Kingston, said, “When people tell me I never forgot where I came from, I tell them the truth is I never left.”

Terrana agreed saying growing up in a neighborhood where everyone knew everyone helped prepare him for a career in law. “When you steal a tomato from a garden two blocks away and by the time you get home your father already knows about it, well,” he said, “there’s no better way to learn accountability.”

Bufalino says it was the family values he learned growing up in a large family in West Pittston that define him. “Family is my number one priority,” he said. “That’s how I was raised. But I was also taught that family values begin at home but you can’t leave them at home. You take them everywhere, even to the bench if it turns out that way.”

Musto said his Greater Pittston values go right to his dad, the late James Musto who served in the Pennsylvania legislature until his death in 1971. “My Dad was born in 1899 and became a breaker boy in second grade. While he was still a boy he took up the cause of miners and fought the coal companies. So, my family’s history of service goes back almost 100 years.”

All four candidates speak reverently of their fathers.

“When I first contemplated running,” Sperazza said, “I went to my older brother Joe to talk about it. ‘What do you think Dad would say?’ I asked him and he said, ‘I think Dad would be very proud.’ That’s when I decided to run.”

Sperazza said he was at an event in Pittston Township and introduced himself to a perfect stranger saying, “I’m Twinny Sperazza’s son. That’s all he had to hear. ‘You have my vote,’ he said.”

Michael Angelo "Twinny" Sperazza, who ran a restaurant in Pittston, died in 2006.

Bufalino, son of Charles Bufalino Jr., better known as “Buddy,” talked about his grandmother who was born on the corner of Main Street and Columbus Ave. (then Railroad St.) in Pittston and lived to be more than 100 years old. “I was there to celebrate her 100th birthday with her in a nursing home at College Misericordia,” he said.

“I’m always asking myself how my father would make this decision,” Terrana said of his dad, the late Angelo Terrana. “He taught me that what I do has a greater impact than on me alone, that whatever I do does not only reflect on me but also on my family.”

While all four are well known throughout Luzerne County, each agrees that a strong turnout in their hometown is important in an election with so many candidates.

Each says he has been told it will take 7,500 to 10,000 votes to gain nomination and Terrana said he thinks it might take as many as 12,500, depending upon the turnout.

Sperazza said he believes 10,000 votes might be enough to garner a Democratic nomination while 4,500 may result in a Republican bid. All four are cross-filed as are most of the other 13.

All four said that no matter what the outcome, the campaign has been a good experience.

“Everybody’s been wonderful,” Terrana said, including his opponents. “I would serve with or in front of any of these candidates,” he added.

Bufalino said, “The nicest thing has been getting out to meet and talk with people, and to renew old friendships. Spending time with people has been worth it. It’s a good feeling.”

“Being with people I’ve known for 30, 40 years and more is the neatest, most wonderful part of this,” Sperazza said. “I feel I’ve been rewarded already.”

Sperazza said he got into the race as an opportunity to serve. “I’ve enjoyed a good deal of success and along the way I’ve learned many things that I’d like to pass on. I believe this may provide the venue to do that.”

Musto said his “unparalleled 40 years of litigation experience along with his reputation for honesty” makes him to right choice. “Since being appointed a new judge in October I have been working to restore confidence and trust in the bench,” he added.

Terrana said he will be “the kind of judge you would want to go before if your family member was a victim of a crime and the kind of judge you’d want to go before if your family member was accused of a crime.”

“Even if I do not emerge victorious on Tuesday, and I certainly hope I do,” Bufalino said, “I believe that not getting involved would have been even worse.”

He said that’s one of the many lessons his family taught him.