Senatorial smackdown

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.comLaw & Order Reporter

JENKINS TWP. – The three candidates for the 14th Senatorial District sparred over the economy, natural gas drilling and wasteful spending at a debate Monday night, but it was the Luzerne County corruption scandal that evoked the most spirited exchanges.

Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers stood by as Democratic state Rep. John Yudichak and Republican Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen A. Urban repeatedly traded jabs, each accusing the other of failing to do enough to prevent the scandal.

The hostility between the two candidates prompted Summers, who stood between Urban and Yudichak, to at one point quip, “I understand now why they put me in the middle. I’m the buffer zone.”

It was one of the few lighthearted moments of the hour-long debate that was televised live on WVIA TV.

Urban, 57, of Wilkes-Barre, blasted Yudichak for writing letters of support for the election of Democrats Todd Vonderheid and Greg Skrepenak, the former county commissioners who approved a controversial $58 million lease of the juvenile detention center that is the focus of the judicial corruption probe.

Yudichak, Urban said, was “too involved in party politics and supporting Democrats rather than doing what was right.”

“I voted no to the detention center. Never once did he step forward and say something is wrong here,” Urban said. “He kept quiet because he did not want to hurt his friends.”

Yudichak, 40, of Plymouth Township, shot back, accusing Urban, who has campaigned for several other offices while a county commissioner, of being a “perennial campaigner” who has failed to do the job he was elected to do.

“I know he was running for many offices. All the while he was supposed to be watching the store in Luzerne County. Perhaps that’s why Luzerne County was not run that well in the past years,” Yudichak said.

Summers, 53, of Wilkes-Barre, also took a shot at Urban, criticizing him for withdrawing his support of the previous home rule charter that she, as a member of the charter commission, helped write in 2001. The charter was rejected by voters in the 2003 general election – a decision she believes helped ensure the culture of corruption continued to flourish in the county.

The candidates tackled other issues as well. All three agreed that ensuring the environment is protected from the perils of Marcellus Shale gas drilling is key issue the legislature must address.

Each candidate said they also believe corporate taxes need to be revamped to make Pennsylvania more attractive to businesses. And all vowed to cut wasteful spending.

Yudichak, who has represented the 119th District in the House of Representatives for 12 years, and Urban, a county commissioner for 11 years, each touted their experience in government, saying it makes them the best qualified for the Senate seat.

“I believe in the future of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Yudichak said. “In recent years we’ve been knocked down and beaten up. That’s not the future I want my daughters to inherit.”

Urban, a U.S. Army veteran, spoke of returning to the area after graduating from college and serving several tours of duty in Korea and the Gulf War.

“I came back to Luzerne County and found it to be ripe with nepotism, corruption and cronyism. I’ve tried my best of the past years to clean it up,” Urban said.

Summers, a sales representative for veterinary pharmaceuticals, said it’s her lack of political experience is precisely why voters should choose her.

“Do you feel your government leaders have disregarded your concerns? Do you feel overtaxed and overregulated? You are not alone,” Summers said. “By voting for me you are saying enough is enough. Our pockets are empty.”