en.wikipedia.org

Luzerne County Council elections - Wikipedia

  • ️Wed Nov 03 2010

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A map of municipalities in Luzerne County. Each council member represents the entire county.

The Luzerne County Council is elected by the voters of the county. The governing body consists of eleven members. Nearly half the council is up for election every two years. It rotates between five and six seats. Each council member is elected at-large (to a four-year term). Councilors may serve no more than three consecutive terms.[1]

In the May primary, the major political parties (Democratic and Republican) select their top candidates for the general election. For example, those who place in the top five or six become the nominees of their party. Third party (or independent) candidates may also join the race. In the November general election, all political parties/candidates square off on the same ballot. Those who place in the top five or six will be elected or re-elected to council.

On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, Luzerne County adopted a home rule charter by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.[2][3] The following year (in 2011), the first election for the new government was held. On Monday, January 2, 2012, the previous government (the board of county commissioners) was abolished and replaced with the new form of government (council–manager government). The first members of the Luzerne County Council were sworn in that same day. The council chair, who is appointed by his or her fellow council members, is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes.[4] The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.[5]

2011 county council election

[edit]

The first primary elections for Luzerne County Council were held on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Eleven Democratic nominees and eleven Republican nominees were selected in the primary elections.

2011 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephen A. Urban 12,170 5.24
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck 11,019 4.74
Democratic Jim Bobeck 10,548 4.54
Democratic Edward A. Brominski 10,325 4.44
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus 9,507 4.09
Democratic Eileen M. Sorokas 9,377 4.04
Democratic Salvatore Licata 8,992 3.87
Democratic Tim McGinley 8,975 3.86
Democratic Michelle Bednar 8,840 3.81
Democratic M. Theresa Morcavage 8,130 3.50
Democratic Elaine Maddon Curry 7,884 3.39
Democratic John Adonizio 7,608 3.27
Democratic Michael G. Collins 7,532 3.24
Democratic Brian K. Overman 7,192 3.10
Democratic Frank Sorokach 6,957 2.99
Democratic John Livingston 6,879 2.96
Democratic Joseph M. Padavan 6,835 2.94
Democratic John T. Nadolny 6,743 2.90
Democratic Michael A. Chrobak 6,445 2.77
Democratic Wil Toole 6,164 2.65
Democratic Michael McGlynn 5,765 2.48
Democratic Bruce J. Simpson 5,581 2.40
Democratic Fred Stuccio 5,550 2.39
Democratic Wayne Wolfe 5,278 2.27
Democratic Harry W. Skene 5,257 2.26
Democratic Stanley Knick Jr. 5,083 2.19
Democratic Thomas F. Rovinski 4,986 2.15
Democratic Thomas Mark Rome 4,885 2.10
Democratic Casey Evans 4,679 2.01
Democratic Mario J. Fiorucci Jr. 4,571 1.97
Democratic Michael S. Giamber 4,190 1.80
Democratic Thomas W. Ksiezopolski Sr. 4,174 1.80
Democratic Robert G. Webb 3,259 1.40
Write-in 944 0.41
Total votes 232,324 100.00
2011 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen J. Urban 8,877 8.02
Republican Rick Morelli 8,774 7.93
Republican Kathleen M. Dobash 8,089 7.31
Republican John Ruckno 7,886 7.13
Republican Harry Haas 7,760 7.02
Republican Blythe H. Evans III 7.089 6.41
Republican William Bell James 6,757 6.11
Republican Eugene L. Kelleher 6,677 6.04
Republican Gina Nevenglosky 6,610 5.98
Republican Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt 6,594 5.96
Republican Michael Cabell 6,591 5.96
Republican Linda J. Urban 6,356 5.75
Republican William McIntosh 6,195 5.60
Republican Moderno Butch Rossi 5,947 5.38
Republican Edward Warkevicz 5,753 5.20
Republican Joseph A. Gorko 3,675 3.32
Write-in 988 0.89
Total votes 110,618 100.00

The first general election for Luzerne County Council was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The first eleven members were elected, consisting of six Democrats, four Republicans, and one independent. The first councilmen were Rick Morelli, Stephen A. Urban, Jim Bobeck, Stephen J. Urban, Tim McGinley, Edward Brominski, Harry Haas, Rick Williams, Elaine Maddon Curry, Linda McClosky Houck, and Eugene Kelleher. The top six vote getters in the general election were given four-year terms. The rest were given two-year terms.[8] The newly elected government was sworn in on January 2, 2012.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 6
Republican 4
Independent 1

2013 county council election

[edit]

The second set of primary elections were held on Tuesday, May, 21, 2013. Five Democrats and five Republicans were nominated. Democrat Elaine Maddon Curry did not seek re-election.

2013 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eileen M. Sorokas 13,360 23.02
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck (incumbent) 12,214 21.05
Democratic Renee Ciaruffoli Taffera 11,094 19.12
Democratic Richard "Kick" Heffron 10,920 18.92
Democratic Michael Giamber 9,924 17.10
Write-in 520 0.90
Total votes 58,032 100.00
2013 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry Haas (incumbent) 6,555 18.79
Republican Sue Rossi 6,511 18.66
Republican Eugene Kelleher (incumbent) 6,413 18.38
Republican Kathy Dobash 6,295 18.04
Republican Paul F. Defabo 4,405 12.63
Republican Alex Milanes 4,382 12.56
Write-in 327 0.94
Total votes 34,888 100.00

The second general election was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Five seats were up for election. Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck was the top vote-getter (with 18,980 votes). Eileen Sorokas and Kathy Dobash were both newly elected to council. Eugene Kelleher was the only incumbent to lose his seat in the general election. In the end, the number of seats per political party remained the same—six Democrats, four Republicans, and one independent.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 6
Republican 4
Independent 1

2015 county council election

[edit]

The third round of primary election were held on May 19, 2015. Six Democrats and six Republicans were nominated. Democrat Jim Bobeck and Republican Rick Morelli did not seek re-election.Democrat Robert Schnee lost the Democratic nomination, but won the Republican nomination with 384 write-in votes. Former councilman Eugene Kelleher also won a Republican nomination via write-in votes.[13]

2015 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim McGinley (incumbent) 13,385 14.50
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus 10,864 11.77
Democratic John Gadomski 10,599 11.48
Democratic Edward A. Brominski (incumbent) 10,509 11.39
Democratic Stephen A. Urban (incumbent) 10,166 11.01
Democratic Anthony J. Rostock 9,678 10.49
Democratic Robert J. Altavilla 9,476 10.27
Democratic Robert Schnee 8,189 8.87
Write-in 744 0.81
Total votes 92,303 100.00
2015 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen J. Urban (incumbent) 7,366 25.56
Republican Marc Dixon 7,077 24.56
Republican Mark A. Rabo 6,245 21.67
Republican Ray Gustave 6,189 21.48
Write-in Gene Kelleher 448 1.55
Write-in Robert Schnee 384 1.33
Write-in Other write-in candidates 1,107 3.84
Total votes 28,816 100.00

The third general election was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Six seats were up for election. In the November general election, Robert Schnee and Jane Walsh-Waitkus were both newly elected to council. Even though Robert Schnee won the election as a Republican, he would serve as a Democrat. Stephen J. Urban was the only incumbent to lose his seat in the general election.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 7
Republican 3
Independent 1
Note: Robert W. Schnee won
the general election as a Republican,
but served as a Democrat.

2017 county council election

[edit]

The fourth set of primary elections were held on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Five Democrats and five Republicans were nominated. Republican Kathy Dobash and Democrat Eileen Sorokas did not seek re-election.[17]

2017 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shelia Saidman 9,332 13.90
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck (incumbent) 9,318 13.88
Democratic Wendy Cominsky 8,472 12.62
Democratic Matthew Vough 8,143 12.13
Democratic John Gadomski 7,706 11.48
Democratic Anthony J. Bartoli 7,169 10.68
Democratic Phil Gianfarcaro 6,237 9.29
Democratic James D. Watkinson Jr. 5,567 8.29
Write-in 398 0.59
Total votes 67,120 100.00
2017 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry Haas (incumbent) 9,018 21.50
Republican Chris R. Perry 8,503 20,27
Republican Marc Dixon 8,368 19.95
Republican Stephen J. Urban 8,363 19.94
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich Jr. 6,958 16.59
Write-in 729 1.74
Total votes 41,939 100.00

The fourth general election was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Independent councilman Rick Williams, who as an independent did not appear on any primary ballot, did not seek reelection.[19] Sheila Saidman, Matthew Vough, and Chris R. Perry were newly elected to council.[20] The Democratic majority grew from seven seats to eight.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 8
Republican 3

2019 county council election

[edit]

The fifth round of primary elections were held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Six Democrats and six Republicans were nominated. Democrat Edward Brominski, who was up for re-election that year, resigned in January due to health issues.[22] By February, the council appointed Patrick Bilbow to serve out the remainder of his term.[23] Republican Eugene Kelleher, also up for re-election in 2019, resigned in August. His seat was filled by Rick Morelli, who did not seek election to a full term.[24] Democrat Stephen A. Urban did not seek re-election.

Only four Republicans appeared on the ballot, the other two nominations were secured via write-in vote. Lee Ann McDermott had 454 write-in votes, and Councilman Robert Schnee received 417 write-in votes. Because Schnee had also won a Democratic nomination, he became the only candidate in council history to appear on the November ballot as both a Democrat and a Republican.[25]

2019 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim McGinley (incumbent) 13,089 17.91
Democratic Joseph C. Sebastianelli 11,253 15.40
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus (incumbent) 11,026 15.09
Democratic Patrick M. Bilbow (incumbent) 11,001 15.06
Democratic Robert Schnee (incumbent) 9,303 12.73
Democratic Anup K. Patel 8,731 11.95
Democratic Martin Dartoe 7,874 10.78
Write-in 7.92 1.08
Total votes 73,069 100.00
2019 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[27][25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen J. Urban 9,308 25.29
Republican Walter L. Griffith Jr. 8,969 24.37
Republican Kendra M. Radle 8,238 22.38
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich Jr. 7,915 21.50
Write-in Lee Ann McDermott 454 1.23
Write-in Robert Schnee 417 1.13
Write-in Other write-in candidates 1,508 4.10
Total votes 36,809 100.00

Following the November 5 general election, the balance of power shifted for the first time in council history with Republicans securing the majority. Republicans Lee Ann McDermott, Walter Griffith, and Kendra Radle were newly elected to council. Former Republican Councilman Stephen J. Urban, who lost his seat four years earlier, was also elected. Incumbent Democrats Patrick Bilbow and Jane Walsh-Waitkus lost their seats. Although Schnee secured both the Democratic and Republican nominations in 2019, he was sworn in as a Democrat.[28]

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 6
Democratic 5
Note: Robert Schnee secured both
Democrat and Republican nominations,
but was sworn in as a Democrat.

2021 county council election

[edit]

The sixth round of primary elections were held on Tuesday, May 15, 2021. Five Democrats and five Republicans were nominated. Democrat Linda McClosky Houck and Republican Harry Haas were prevented from running again due to term limits.[30]

2021 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Vough (incumbent) 18,309 21.77
Democratic Shelia Saidman (incumbent) 18,020 21.43
Democratic Jane Walsh Waitkus 16,131 19.18
Democratic Maryann V. Velez 15,853 18.85
Democratic Jimmy Sabatino 15,154 18.02
Scattered 254 0.30
Total votes 84,094 100.00
2021 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Lombardo 11,747 14.78
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich Jr. 10,508 13.22
Republican Chris R. Perry (incumbent) 10,379 13.06
Republican Brian Thornton 8,810 11.09
Republican Kevin Lescavage 8,603 10.83
Republican Ronald D. Knapp 8,546 10.75
Republican Carl G. Bienias III 8,383 10.55
Republican Michael G. Vacendak 6,607 8.31
Republican Martin L. Dartoe 5,444 6.85
Scattered 279 0.35
Total votes 79,470 100.00

The sixth general election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Incumbent Democrats Sheila Saidman and Matthew Vough were defeated for re-election. Republicans swept all contested seats in the election; the party's majority grew to 10. Democrat Robert Schnee had previously change his affiliation to Republican in June 2020. Councilman Tim McGinley was left as the only Democrat on council.[30] Incumbent Councilman Walter Griffith, who was not up for re-election, was elected as county controller in 2021. He remained in his council seat until the end of the year.[24] He was replaced by Carl Bienias III in February 2022.[33]

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 10
Democratic 1
Note: Robert Schnee switched
from Democrat to Republican
in June 2020.

2023 county council election

[edit]

The seventh round of primary elections were held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Six Democrats and six Republicans were nominated. Republican Robert Schnee resigned after winning a special election for state representative. He was replaced by Matthew Mitchell in June 2022.[35] Republican Kendra (Radle) Vough did not seek re-election.[36][37] Democrat Tim McGinley was term limited and prevented from running again; he was the last remaining inaugural member on the council.[36] Republican Carl Bienias III lost re-nomination.[38]

2023 Luzerne County Council Democratic primary election[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joanna Bryn Smith 14,034 15.96
Democratic Patricia Krushnowski 13,378 15.21
Democratic Brittany Stephenson 13,042 14.83
Democratic Michelle Rothenbecker 12,896 14.66
Democratic Jimmy Sabatino 12,596 14.32
Democratic Maryann Velez 12,421 14.12
Democratic Damon Saxon 8,552 9.73
Write-in 1,019 1.16
Total votes 87,938 100.00
2023 Luzerne County Council Republican primary election[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen J. Urban (incumbent) 9,915 11.27
Republican Lee Ann McDermott (incumbent) 9,568 10.88
Republican Harry Haas 8,744 9.94
Republican Thomas Dombroski 8,032 9.13
Republican Kimberly Platek 8,010 9.11
Republican Matthew Mitchell (incumbent) 7,535 8.57
Republican Gregory W. Griffin 7,376 8.38
Republican Anthony Corrado 6,865 7.80
Republican Carl Bienias III (incumbent) 6,377 7.25
Republican Richard Tihansky 5,717 6.50
Republican Ronald D. Knapp 4,874 5.54
Republican Vivian Kreidler-Licina 4,320 4.91
Write-in 634 0.72
Total votes 87,967 100.00

The seventh general election took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republicans Stephen J. Urban and Matthew Mitchell lost re-election.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 7
Democratic 4

2025 county council election

[edit]

The eighth general election for Luzerne County Council will take place in November 2025. The primary is scheduled for May 2025. There will be five Democratic nominees and five Republican nominees. The seats currently held by John Lombardo, Chris Perry, Brian Thornton, Kevin Lescavage, and Gregory S. Wolovich Jr. are up for election. Chris Perry will not seek reelection.[42]

  1. ^ The Editorial Board. "Our choices for Luzerne County Council". www.citizensvoice.com.
  2. ^ Voters say 'yes' to home rule - News. Standard Speaker (2010-11-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2017-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Luzerne County : Home Rule Charter". Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  5. ^ "Luzerne County Council members sworn in - The Times Leader reports" – via www.youtube.com.
  6. ^ Luzerne County 2011a, p. 39.
  7. ^ Luzerne County 2011a, p. 3.
  8. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (December 12, 2023). "Luzerne County officials honor McGinley in special ceremony". Times Leader. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Municipal Election November 8, 2011". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. November 15, 2011b. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  10. ^ Luzerne County 2013a, p. 67.
  11. ^ Luzerne County 2013a, p. 2.
  12. ^ "11/05/13 General & Municipal Elections". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  13. ^ Buffer, By Michael P. "Schnee, Kelleher win write-in nominations for county council". www.citizensvoice.com.
  14. ^ a b "May 19, 2015 Primary Election". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. May 29, 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Write in Winners (PDF)". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Municipal Election 11/03/2015". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  17. ^ Wellock, Bill. "Luzerne council seats will be open". www.standardspeaker.com.
  18. ^ a b "Municipal Primary Election - May 16, 2017". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. May 22, 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  19. ^ Leader, Times (August 16, 2017). "Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams won't run again". Times Leader.
  20. ^ Leader, Times (December 29, 2017). "Luzerne County Council chairmanship decision Tuesday". Times Leader.
  21. ^ "Municipal Election - November 7, 2017". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  22. ^ "Luzerne County Councilman Brominski resigning". January 2019.
  23. ^ "Pittston Area principal appointed to vacant Luzerne County Council seat". 20 February 2019.
  24. ^ a b Learn-Andes, Jennifer (November 7, 2021). "Luzerne County Council must pick another Republican when Griffith vacates council seat". Times Leader. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Write-ins decide council, DA races".
  26. ^ "County Council - Dem". Luzerne County, PA May 21, 2019 Municipal Primary. May 24, 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  27. ^ "County Council - Rep". Luzerne County, PA May 21, 2019 Municipal Primary. May 24, 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  28. ^ "2 incumbents, 4 others win county council seats". 6 November 2019.
  29. ^ "County Council". Luzerne County, PA General Election November 5, 2019. November 12, 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  30. ^ a b Learn-Andes, Jennifer (November 3, 2021). "McGinley will be lone Democrat on Luzerne County Council". Times Leader. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  31. ^ "County Council (Dem)". Luzerne County, PA May 18, 2021. June 17, 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  32. ^ "County Council (Rep)". Luzerne county, PA Primary Election May 18, 2021. June 17, 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Carl Bienias III announces run for Luzerne County Council". Times Leader. March 5, 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  34. ^ "2021 Official General Election Results". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. November 19, 2021. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  35. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (June 14, 2022). "Kingston resident appointed to Luzerne County Council". Times Leader. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  36. ^ a b Learn-Andes, Jennifer (August 29, 2023). "Luzerne County Democrats announce general election endorsements". Times Leader. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  37. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (April 21, 2023). "Luzerne County Council to receive top 3 manager finalists". Times Leader. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  38. ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (November 12, 2023). "Election outcome will change Luzerne County Council dynamics". Times Leader. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  39. ^ Luzerne County 2023a, p. 3.
  40. ^ Luzerne County 2023a, p. 14.
  41. ^ "County Council". Luzerne County, PA General Election November 7, 2023. scytl.us. November 27, 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  42. ^ Mark, Eric (December 23, 2024). "Candidates starting to line up for Luzerne County Council race next year". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 25 December 2024.