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By STEPHEN R. LEVINE slevine@leader.net
Tuesday, January 25, 2000 Page: 1A
As a parting gesture, convicted House Republican Frank Serafini gave his
constituents one last gift: non-representation in Harrisburg for the remainder
of his term.< Serafini, a 21-year Lackawanna County lawmaker from Old
Forge, was convicted of perjury in August but managed to hold onto his House
seat pending appeals. He submitted his resignation Monday.
But because Serafini made his resignation effective Feb. 7, a special
election may not be held during the April 4 primary to fill his seat through
the end of the year.
Pennsylvania election law requires special elections be held on a regularly
scheduled election day no sooner than 60 days from the date a legislator’s
seat is vacated. Since the election to replace Serafini must be held more than
60 days from Feb. 7, the election cannot be held April 4. Voters now must wait
until November to pick a successor to Serafini.
House Democratic Whip Mike Veon of Beaver Falls said in a press release
Monday that the timing of Serafini’s resignation was “a cynical move by House
Republicans to prevent a special election on Primary Day.”
The majority of House Democrats had called for Serafini’s resignation for
months, citing the state Constitution’s forbiddance of convicted felons
serving in the legislature.
State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, called the timing of his resignation
“unfortunate.”
“The people who will pay the penalty will be the people of Mr. Serafini’s
district, who will go unrepresented,” she said. “Why not resign today? He
wasn’t (even) here today.”
Serafini was convicted in August of lying to a federal grand jury
investigating campaign contributions. He was sentenced in November to five
months in prison, five months’ house arrest, two years’ probation and fined
$30,000.
State Rep. George C. Hasay Jr., R-Shickshinny, who sat next to Serafini on
the House floor, painted his fellow Republican as a victim.
Hasay said the government’s key witness initially supported Serafini but
turned against him in exchange for immunity on federal drug charges.
“He said one thing in the beginning of the trial and turned it around at
the end,” Hasay said.
Sounding hurt, Hasay said he continues to support Serafini.
“I was a friend of Mr. Serafini. I am a friend of Mr. Serafini.”
Call Levine at 831-7305.