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By MICHAEL McNARNEY mmcnarney@leader.net
Saturday, March 08, 2003 Page: 2A
WILKES-BARRE – Mayor Tom McGroarty, who said Thursday he had not circulated
any election petitions, will announce Monday if he will run for a third term.
“I appreciate the opportunity that the residents of Wilkes-Barre have
given me,” McGroarty wrote in a news release faxed to newspapers Friday
evening. “It has been both exciting and rewarding.”
McGroarty, who was accused of defamation in a lawsuit filed Monday by
hotelier Tom Torbik, has been working late hours cleaning out his office this
week. Among the discards Friday was the coffee mug from his desk.
Thursday, McGroarty said: “As of today, I have not circulated any
petitions for any elected office. That’s not saying that I might.”
Friday night, the mayor did not return pages and telephone calls.
McGroarty, or anyone else running for mayor, needs to file a petition with
100 signatures on it in the Luzerne County Voter Services Department by 4:30
p.m. Tuesday. Democrats Tom Leighton and James Verdekal Jr. and Republican
Christine Katsock are running.
Greg Fellerman, chairman of the Sixth District Democratic Committee, said
he has not talked to McGroarty and has no idea what his plans are. Fellerman
has talked with Leighton: “He’s out there working hard. There’s no doubt
about it.
“There’s nothing concrete here,” Fellerman said after reading McGroarty’s
written statement. “I’d just like to see what he is going to do on Monday.”
Fellerman, who used to be McGroarty’s city attorney, said McGroarty and
Leighton have served the city well.
McGroarty’s fax recounts his two terms, listing improvements and bragging
about low taxes and budget surpluses.
Joe Mazur, the county’s Democratic Party chairman, said: “I don’t want to
get involved with him. What can I say? I have more important things to do.”
McGroarty attacked Mazur in January when Mazur said McGroarty told him he
planned to run for a third term.
“Don’t underestimate him, I’ll tell you right now,” Mazur said. “You
know what they say about politics: As long as you get your name in the paper
every day, it doesn’t make any difference” if the publicity is good or bad.
Michael McNarney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7305.