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By KASIA KOPEC kkopec@leader.net
Monday, March 10, 2003 Page: 1A
WILKES-BARRE – On the eve of a much-anticipated announcement about whether
he will seek the Democratic nomination for mayor, Tom McGroarty said he’s
leaning strongly toward seeking a third term.
“I’m not married to the idea yet, but I’m definitely leaning toward
mayor,” said McGroarty, who is in the last year of his second term. “If I
don’t run for mayor, I’ll run for council, but I’ll make my official
announcement tomorrow (today).”
Democratic Councilman Tom Leighton, who has the flu and could not be
reached for comment Sunday night, said last month he is seeking the party’s
mayoral nomination. Republicans James Verdekal Jr. and Christine Katsock also
are running.
McGroarty chose today, recycling day, to make his announcement because he
said the city’s aggressive program saves $1 million a year in landfill fees
and puts more money in the pockets of taxpayers.
“In 1995, we paid $1.5 million in garbage fees, and last year we paid
$500,000. That’s about $33 a year we’ve been able to pass on to city residents
in the way of lower taxes.
“Some people might say, $33 isn’t a lot of money, but it’s better than
seeing your taxes go up by $33.”
In addition to touting the recycling program and lower property taxes,
McGroarty criticized his political rivals, who he said like to sit on the
sidelines and wait for him to stumble.
“Those people who like to hide in the corner and never take chances, never
make mistakes, but they never accomplish anything either,” said McGroarty, a
former councilman. “They like to criticize a lot of the programs and
initiatives I’ve proposed, and then when they see these things are working,
they try to take all the credit and pretend it was their idea all along.”
McGroarty said though politicians and pundits might discount his efforts,
he is confident most voters appreciate his 24-hour-a-day work ethic.
“I think the majority, the vast majority, of people who live in this city
know I always do my best. We’re not perfect, there’s still a lot to do.”
Among McGroarty’s goals are upgrading the city’s emergency services,
remodeling its playgrounds and completing road-improvement projects already in
the works.
No mention was made of the long-stalled theater project or the much-touted
intermodal transportation center or other downtown revitalization efforts
except to say center city is just one neighborhood of 12 or 13 in the city
needing attention.
“Pretending that downtown is Wilkes-Barre is like pretending Washington,
D.C., is the United States,” McGroarty said. “You can’t just focus on one
area, you have to always be thinking in terms of the whole city, but that’s
something people who don’t live here don’t understand.”
McGroarty, who lives with his wife, Joanne, and daughter Jordan in South
Wilkes-Barre, said he will easily have the 100 signatures needed to submit his
petition to be included on the ballot in the May primary by tomorrow’s 4:30
p.m. deadline. He would not speculate on his chances of being elected.
“That’s not for me to decide – it’s for the voters to decide. We’ll all
just have to wait and see.”
Kasia Kopec, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436.