TimesLeader.com

municipal mayors’ races

Municipal Mayors’ Races

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer

Small borough mayors don’t get paid much, don’t have many responsibilities and don’t get a vote, unless they’re breaking a tie vote of council. But there must be something to the position since there are 10 contested mayoral races across the county.

“It’s time for a change,” was the response given by the challengers time after time when asked why they’re running.

Many of the incumbents countered by touting their experience.

In most boroughs in Pennsylvania, mayors are relegated to overseeing police departments, breaking tie council votes and marrying people. Some handle complaints by directing residents to the appropriate departments but they do not have much, if any, power.

Here’s a look at nine of the contested races. A mayor’s race in Kingston is also lined up and that can be found in a separate story in today’s paper. There are also races in Dupont and Sugar Notch, but none of the candidates returned calls seeking comment.

Courtdale

James Gaughan has been mayor of the borough for a dozen years and says he’d like to remain in office to continue to see progress made with street paving and a bustling police force.

“For a small town, we’ve done a lot,” said Gaughan, 58. While small borough mayors are entitled to a small stipend, usually between $1,000 and $2,000 a year, Gaughan has declined to accept his pay, instead keeping it in the general fund.

A retired teacher, Gaughan has a long history of public service, including three terms on Courtdale Borough Council and two more terms on Forty Fort Borough Council.

Dorothy Duesler, 68, served with Gaughan during an 18-year stint on borough council. She said her experience can be tapped to help the borough progress, something she said has been lacking the past eight years.

She’s also running for borough council but said if she wins both races she’d choose mayor. Her reason for running for both races, she said, is that she doesn’t like to see candidates run unopposed.

“People should have a choice,” the Democrat said.

Freeland

George Barna is challenging incumbent Tim Martin for the post that Barna calls “a figurehead.” He declined to say a bad word about Martin but said he believes it’s just time for a change and a chance for someone else to hold office. Barna, 81, was mayor in the town from 1978-82 and said he “enjoys working with people and working for people.” The Republican said rather than sitting on the sidelines and watching meetings play out, “I’d much rather take a chance on being elected and see what I can do.”

Martin, a Democrat, did not return a message seeking comment.

Harveys Lake

Richard Boice has held elected office here since Ronald Reagan’s first term as president. For 10 years he served on borough council and the past 16 years he’s been mayor. The 63-year-old said in his time in office, “I’ve seen just about everything.”

He said borough taxes have not been increased in more than two decades and he’s proud of his record of getting things done and having a round-the-clock police force in town.

“We’re one of the few small communities with a 24/7 police department,” Boice, a Democrat, said.

His challenger, Clarence Hogan, 63, said the time has come for a change. The retiree said he wants to devote more time to the borough, where he already serves as councilman. The Republican’s been on council for six years and said he’s decided he could do a good job as mayor, too.

Swoyersville

Vincent Dennis, the 24-year incumbent, faces a challenge from Richard Kamus. Dennis, 78, and a Democrat, said he wants to continue doing what he can to help the town. He said the borough has a new public safety building and the police department is a strong one.

His opponent, Kamus, a Republican, said he’s tired of those in office being unchallenged year after year, so he did something about it. In addition to mayor, Kamus is also running for borough council, constable and inspector of elections.

“The only way things are going to change is if someone new runs,” Kamus said. “I’m running because I’m just exhausted over the fact every year races are uncontested and they walk right in.”

West Hazleton

In the only mayor’s race where the incumbent is not seeking another term, Frank Schmidt and Robert “Ski” Bugaiski are vying to succeed Mark Rockovich.

Schmidt, 69, said he’s never held elected public office but has been urged to run for mayor by members of two local organizations he’s involved with. The Democrat said he wants to do what he can to get involved in helping the “financially strapped” borough. He tried, unsuccessfully four years ago, to get on council but lost by 13 votes. He said he’d bring concerns he’s seen from his time on crime watch to council and work with law enforcement and council to change things. He cited noise and deplorable properties among the things he’d address.

Bugaiski, a Republican, did not return a message seeking comment.

West Pittston

Republican Bill Goldsworthy, the incumbent, faces a challenge from Democrat Brian Vandermark.

Goldsworthy, 55, has served as mayor for 12 years and served on borough council for a dozen years prior. A resident of the borough for over 50 years, he said he is well aware of its people and businesses and enjoys working with council on bettering the town.

“The people know me,” he said, citing his involvement in several community organizations, including the fire department and Masonic Lodge.

A message left with Vandermark was not immediately returned.

Wyoming

Bob Boyer is finishing out his first term as mayor and said he’s looking forward to the chance to continue to improve the place he calls home. A new public safety building, new police patrol cars, work along Abraham’s Creek and the hiring of a grant writer to find funding sources for these and other projects are among the accomplishments the past four years.

Boyer, a Democrat, is quick to point out that the progress is a result of the good working relationship he has with the borough’s council and police department.

“We have a really good team in place right now,” said Boyer, 43.

The former police officer, who holds a master’s degree in public administration and now teaches criminal justice at Luzerne County Community College, said “the mayor’s office is no place for on the job training.”

His opponent, Republican Jeremy Nelson, is willing to prove Boyer wrong.

Currently on the borough’s zoning hearing board, the 37-year-old licensed engineer said his knowledge of engineering and zoning issues will come in handy in the borough but calls his goal of controlling spending in the borough of the utmost importance. He said spending needs to be reined in.