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By JENNIFER LEARN jlearn@leader.net
Monday, January 31, 2000 Page: 3A
HANOVER TWP. – Eager to regain his seat on the Hanover Township Board of
Commissioners, Sam Sorber plans to fight Ralph Fino’s commissioner appointment
in court.
Sorber said he plans to hire attorney John Moses to appeal the appointment.
Sorber said he will only back off if the legal battle is too costly or lengthy
to resolve.
Sorber said he wants to take action because he is frustrated that state
and county officials won’t investigate Fino’s appointment.
“I feel the government should look into something like this,” Sorber
said. “I don’t like to see people getting away with things that aren’t on the
up and up.”
A new Republican majority sought an investigation, claiming the previous
Democratic majority illegally rushed Fino’s appointment so newcomers wouldn’t
get to vote on it.
Fino, who lost an election bid in November, was appointed to the seat Dec.
30, eight days after Frank Alexis resigned because he owned a bar and oversaw
police, a combination disallowed by the state Liquor Control Board.
Although he is convinced he would have won, Sorber decided against running
for commissioner last year for health reasons. MD112But Sorber said he has
more energy and is interested in representing the township. A Republican,
Sorber believes the new Republican majority commissioners would have chosen
him to fill the seat if they had the opportunity to vote.
Sorber also would like to get back on the commissioner’s health plan.
Sorber has paid $423 a month for insurance since he left office.
“As commissioner, I’ve always done what I think is proper. I’ve been in
the political game 31 years, and it’s in my blood,” Sorber said.
Township Solicitor William Amesbury said Fino’s appointment appears to be a
violation because commissioners did not wait 30 days to call in the township’s
vacancy board to break a 3-3 tie for Fino.
Commissioners who supported Fino said state law does not explicitly
prohibit an appointment before 30 days.
Luzerne County District Attorney Dave Lupas declined to investigate the
appointment, saying it was not a criminal matter. The Republicans have the
option of suing, Lupas said.
Attorney Moses said it is premature for him to offer a legal
interpretation.
Call Learn at 831-7333.