Luzerne County Council

Luzerne County Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Tim McGinley, Democratic
Eugene Kelleher, Republican
Structure
Seats 11
Political groups
  • Majority Party
  Democratic: 8 seats
  • Opposition
  Republican: 3 seats
Elections
Last election
 November 7, 2017 (5 seats)
Next election

Primary: May 21, 2019

General: November 5, 2019 (6 seats)
Meeting place
Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Website
Luzerne County Courthouse
Luzerne County Courthouse (in October 2009)

The Luzerne County Council is the governing body of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The council meets at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. There are eleven members on the assembly (eight Democrats and three Republicans). The chairperson is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes.[1] When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chairperson is Tim McGinley.[2]

History

Luzerne County voters rejected home rule proposals in the past (once in 1974 and again in 2003). However, from 2008 to 2010, corruption plagued the county government. Three county judges, a county commissioner, a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, and a director of human resources faced criminal charges. These events persuaded the voters of Luzerne County to adopt a new form of government. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, a home rule charter was adopted by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.[3][4]

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 first council chairperson was Jim Bobeck.[5]

Election process

The Luzerne County Council is elected by the voters of the county. 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). They are limited to three consecutive terms.[6][7] 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.

Current council members

The following members have been duly elected to the county council by the voters of Luzerne County:[8]

Council memberTime in officePartyNotes
Tim McGinley2012–presentDemocraticChairperson
Eugene Kelleher2012–presentRepublicanVice Chairperson
Edd Brominski2012–presentDemocratic
Harry Haas2012–presentRepublican
Linda McClosky Houck2012–presentDemocratic
Chris R. Perry2018–presentRepublican
Sheila Saidman2018–presentDemocratic
Robert Schnee2016–presentDemocratic
Stephen A. Urban2012–presentDemocratic
Matthew Vough2018–presentDemocratic
Jane Walsh Waitkus2016–presentDemocratic

List of chairpersons

The following chairpersons were elected by the council:

List of chairpersonsTime in officePartyNotes
1Jim Bobeck2012Democratic[9]
2Tim McGinley2012–2014Democratic[10][11]
3Rick Morelli2014–2015Republican[12][13]
4Linda McClosky Houck2015–2018DemocraticFirst female chair[14]
5Tim McGinley2018–presentDemocratic[15]

Former council members

NameTime in officePartyNotes
Elaine Maddon Curry2012–2014DemocraticShe did not seek re-election in 2013. [16]
Jim Bobeck2012–2016DemocraticBobeck served as the first council chair in 2012; he did not seek re-election in 2015.[17]
Rick Morelli2012–2016RepublicanMorelli served as the third council chair from 2014 to 2015; he did not seek re-election in 2015.[18]
Stephen J. Urban2012–2016RepublicanHe lost re-election in 2015 and 2017.
Kathy Dobash2014–2018RepublicanShe did not seek re-election in 2017.[19]
Eileen Sorokas2014–2018DemocraticShe did not seek re-election in 2017.[20]
Rick Williams2012–2018IndependentWilliams did not seek re-election in 2017. He remains the only independent councilor.[21]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/row_offices/controller/home-rule-charter
  2. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/687527/tim-mcginley-appointed-new-luzerne-county-council-chair
  3. ↑ Voters say 'yes' to home rule - News. Standard Speaker (2010-11-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  4. ↑ http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/departments_agencies/bureau_of_elections/election-results-archive
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UoGiwHEvpA
  6. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/681297/five-of-11-luzerne-county-council-seats-up-for-grabs-tuesday
  7. ↑ http://citizensvoice.com/opinion/our-choices-for-luzerne-county-council-1.2264197
  8. ↑ http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/luzerne-county-council
  9. ↑ http://citizensvoice.com/news/bobeck-to-step-down-as-county-council-chairman-1.1341217
  10. ↑ http://standardspeaker.com/news/new-chairman-takes-over-at-county-council-1.1367289
  11. ↑ http://standardspeaker.com/news/county-council-elects-new-chair-1.1352980
  12. ↑ http://standardspeaker.com/news/morelli-named-chairman-of-luzerne-county-council-1.1612486
  13. ↑ http://wnep.com/2015/01/06/morelli-steps-down-as-president-of-luzerne-county-council/
  14. ↑ By Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writer) (2012-07-31). "Luzerne County Council divided over next chairperson – News". Standard Speaker. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  15. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/687527/tim-mcginley-appointed-new-luzerne-county-council-chair
  16. ↑ http://citizensvoice.com/news/haas-will-seek-re-election-maddon-curry-will-bow-out-to-focus-on-hazleton-projects-1.1447165
  17. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/495541/luzerne-county-manager-robert-lawtons-job-status-up-in-the-air
  18. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/495541/luzerne-county-manager-robert-lawtons-job-status-up-in-the-air
  19. ↑ http://standardspeaker.com/news/luzerne-council-seats-will-be-open-1.2164627
  20. ↑ http://standardspeaker.com/news/luzerne-council-seats-will-be-open-1.2164627
  21. ↑ http://www.timesleader.com/news/local/671875/luzerne-county-councilman-rick-williams-wont-run-again
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