Luzerne County deciding primary election candidate ballot positions this week

Luzerne County’s election bureau will be busy Wednesday determining the order candidates will appear on the May 18 primary election ballot in contested races, said bureau Deputy Director Eryn Harvey.

Known as the “casting of lots,” this process requires the bureau to place numbered balls in a container, with the total balls based on the number who filed petitions in each race, Harvey said.

Candidates are permitted to appear in person or send a representative to select a ball during the scheduled time for their race. The bureau selects a ball on behalf of those absent.

The casting starts at 9:30 a.m. for the county council race and ends with municipalities starting with the letter W at 5:05 p.m.

In addition to sending letters last week to all impacted candidates as required by election law, the bureau personally contacted the candidates in case they don’t receive the letters in time, Harvey said.

Primary candidates

The election bureau has posted an updated, eight-page list of all candidates who filed petitions to appear on the primary ballot, Harvey said.

This list is posted on the election department link at luzernecounty.org.

Tuesday is the deadline for filings challenging candidates’ nominating petitions.

Candidates also have until March 24 to withdraw their petitions.

Election board

All three new county election board members have taken their oath of office required to serve, county Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo said.

County council voted last week to appoint Democrat Kathryn Roth and Republicans Richard Nardone and Missy Thomas to the five-person board.

The three new members join Democratic member Audrey Serniak.

These four council-appointed members must now publicly vote on selecting a new fifth board member/chair.

The board is scheduled to meet March 31, although it’s possible a special meeting will be called before then.

Code review

Council’s Code Review Committee will meet virtually at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, with attendance instructions posted under council’s public meetings online link at luzernecounty.org.

Zoning ordinance

The county officially has an updated zoning ordinance.

County council unanimously voted last week to approved the ordinance following months of sporadic review and discussion.

The new version deletes outdated provisions, clarifies definitions and establishes a more flexible mixed use residential/business zone option along some roadways.

Adopted by the county planning commission in September, this ordinance applies to 21 municipalities that chose county zoning oversight: Avoca, Courtdale, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown, Jeddo, Laflin, New Columbus, Pringle, Warrior Run, West Wyoming, Wyoming and Yatesville boroughs and the townships of Conyngham, Fairmount, Hunlock, Huntington, Lake, Newport, Ross and Union.