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By KASIA KOPEC kkopec@leader.net
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – Hundreds of candidates filed their petitions with Voter
Services on Monday, a day before the deadline to get their names placed on the
ballot for the May primary election.
“It’s just another day before the last day to file in the department of
voter services,” Director Kevin Jordan said of the crush of candidates
rushing to drop off petitions.
Jordan, who used a ruler as a guide to meticulously scrutinize each
signature on the petitions, maintained his humor through the rush.
On several occasions Jordan was heard cracking jokes, including a
lighthearted response to a candidate who complained about the lack of parking
places at Penn Place.
“Our parking situation was laid out by the county’s department of rocket
science,” he said.
Parking aside, candidates encountered few problems once inside voter
services’ new digs, which moved to Penn Place last year when the county closed
the courthouse annex.
For the first time, a representative of the Treasurer’s Office was on hand
to collect filing fees, saving candidates a trip across town to pay them.
Candidates seemed quite pleased with the arrangement.
County commissioner candidates Steve Urban and Steve Flood were among those
who dropped off their paperwork.
As of 4 p.m., three other Republicans also had filed petitions required to
run for county commissioner: Ben Tielle of Pittston, Bill James of Harding and
Randy Tomasacci of Shickshinny will face off against Urban and each other in
May.
Three Democrats in addition to Flood have filed so far to seek their
party’s nomination for county commissioner: Former county commissioner Frank
Trinisewski Jr. of Wilkes-Barre, David Wehrer of Wilkes-Barre and Maryanne
Petrilla of Sugarloaf Township.
Four candidates, three Democrats and a Republican, have filed paperwork for
their run for sheriff. Incumbent Barry Stankus is the lone Republican. The
Democrats are George Nowakowski of Duryea, Michael Savokinas of Exeter
Township and former Wilkes-Barre police captain Tom Merlie of Avoca. They will
face off on the Democratic ballot.
Treasurer candidates include Democratic incumbent Michael Morreale, who
will oppose Edward Benkoski of Bear Creek Township in the primary election.
Pete Grella of Shickshinny will seek the Republican Party’s nomination.
Incumbent George Hudock Jr. and John Corcoran of Plains Township will vie
for the position of county coroner on the Democratic ballot.
Among the most widely sought-after seats are those on Wilkes-Barre City
Council, where 13 candidates had filed petitions by 4 p.m. Monday. Among those
running are Democratic incumbents Shirley Morio Vitanovec, Michael McGinley,
Phil Latinsky, Kathy Kane, Tony Thomas and Jim McCarthy.
They will be joined by Democrats William Barrett (a former Wilkes-Barre
police chief), J. Shelly Soltis, Rick Gazenski, Eric Redick, Joe Daniel, Frank
Hine and Virgil Argenta Jr.
Two Wilkes-Barre mayoral candidates, Republican Christine Katsock and
Democratic councilman Tom Leighton, had filed petitions as of 4 p.m. Monday.
Incumbent Mayor Tom McGroarty announced on Monday afternoon his intention
to seek a third term, but he had yet to file his petition with voter services.
Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta also will wait until the final day to submit
his paperwork. The Republican said he has been busy working on several
projects in the city and just hasn’t had a chance to drop off his petitions,
which he said he’ll do today.
John F. Craig, a Democrat, is seeking his party’s bid for Hazleton mayor.
Kasia Kopec, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7436.