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Walter Griffith is calling for more timely Luzerne County government response to election inquiries, saying he learned too late that he must comply with a different calendar to circulate petitions needed to place a county home rule study question on the May 15 primary ballot.

Based on election law wording, Griffith initially believed petitions had to be circulated between Jan. 2 and Feb. 20.

To be sure, he sent an email to the election bureau at 10:39 p.m. Dec. 27 seeking clarification. A bureau representative replied shortly before 5 p.m. Dec. 28, indicating that a response had been requested from bureau solicitor Michael Butera and would be furnished as soon as he replied.

Griffith, who raised the issue at Wednesday’s county election board meeting, said he did not receive a response from Butera until Jan. 2, and he was informed the circulation period was Dec. 26 to Feb. 13. Despite losing time, Griffith said he is still proceeding as planned in the effort to gather 5,000 signatures.

County Manager C. David Pedri said Wednesday night he will review the matter with the bureau and county law office and address the situation if response time is an issue.

– Jennifer Learn-Andes

Luzerne County controller Walter Griffith speaks to the agenda item up for discussion during Monday’s county council meeting on whether the controller’s office gets a raise in salary in the next county budget. Griffith says he would appreciate a raise but what he really wishes for is the county hire more staff for his department. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Walter.Griffith.jpgLuzerne County controller Walter Griffith speaks to the agenda item up for discussion during Monday’s county council meeting on whether the controller’s office gets a raise in salary in the next county budget. Griffith says he would appreciate a raise but what he really wishes for is the county hire more staff for his department. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)