Luzerne County Council

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 (six Republicans and five Democrats). The chair 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 chair is Tim McGinley.[2]

Luzerne County Council
Type
Type
Term limits
3 consecutive terms, resets after leaving office
History
Founded2012 (2012)
Preceded byBoard of County Commissioners
Leadership
Tim McGinley, Democratic
Chris Perry, Republican
Structure
Seats11
Political groups
  • Majority Party
  Republican: 6 seats
  • Minority Party
  Democratic: 5 seats
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Plurality-at-large voting
Last election
November 5, 2019 (6 seats)
Next election
Primary: May 18, 2021
General: November 2, 2021
(5 seats)
Meeting place
Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Website
Inside the county courthouse

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 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 chair was Jim Bobeck.[5]

Election process
Main article: Luzerne County Council elections

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 county council by the voters of Luzerne County:[8]

Council memberTenurePartyNotes
Tim McGinley2012–presentDemocraticChair
Chris R. Perry2018–presentRepublicanVice Chair
Walter L. Griffith, Jr.2020–presentRepublican
Harry Haas2012–presentRepublican
Linda McClosky Houck2012–presentDemocratic
Lee Ann McDermott2020–presentRepublican
Kendra M. Radle2020–presentRepublican
Sheila Saidman2018–presentDemocratic
Robert Schnee2016–presentDemocratic
Stephen J. Urban2012–2016, 2020–presentRepublican
Matthew Vough2018–presentDemocratic

List of council chairs

The following chairs were elected by council:

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

Former council members
Name Tenure Party Notes
Elaine Maddon Curry 2012–2014 Democratic She did not seek re-election in 2013.[15]
James Bobeck 2012–2016 Democratic Bobeck served as the first council chair in 2012. He did not seek re-election in 2015.[16]
Kathleen M. Dobash 2014–2018 Republican She did not seek re-election in 2017.[17]
Eileen M. Sorokas 2014–2018 Democratic She did not seek re-election in 2017.[17]
Rick Williams 2012–2018 Independent Williams did not seek re-election in 2017. He remains the only independent councilor.[18]
Edward A. Brominski 2012–2019 Democratic He resigned in January 2019 due to health issues.[19] Council appointed Patrick Bilbow to serve out the remainder of his term.[20]
Eugene L. Kelleher 2012–2014, 2016–2019 Republican Kelleher lost re-election in 2013. He won a second non-consecutive term in 2015. Kelleher resigned in July 2019 due to relocating to Lancaster County.[21][22] Former Councilman Rick Morelli was appointed by council to serve out the remainder of Kelleher's term.[23]
Patrick M. Bilbow 2019–2020 Democratic In February 2019, council appointed Bilbow to serve out the remainder of Edward Brominski’s term.[20] He lost re-election in 2019.
Rick Morelli 2012–2016, 2019–2020 Republican Morelli served as the third council chair from 2014 to 2015. He did not seek re-election in 2015.[16] In August 2019, council appointed Morelli to serve out the remainder of Eugene Kelleher’s term.[23]
Stephen A. Urban 2012–2020 Democratic He did not seek re-election in 2019.[24]
Jane Walsh-Waitkus 2016–2020 Democratic She lost re-election in 2019.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Tim McGinley appointed new Luzerne County Council chair". 2018-01-03.
  3. Voters say 'yes' to home rule - News. Standard Speaker (2010-11-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2017-09-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Luzerne County Council members sworn in - The Times Leader reports" – via www.youtube.com.
  6. "Five of 11 Luzerne County Council seats up for grabs Tuesday". 2017-11-05.
  7. The Editorial Board. "Our choices for Luzerne County Council". www.citizensvoice.com.
  8. "Luzerne County Council | Luzerne County, PA".
  9. Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "Bobeck to step down as county council chairman". www.citizensvoice.com.
  10. Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "New chairman takes over at County Council". www.standardspeaker.com.
  11. Administrator, System. "County Council elects new chair". www.standardspeaker.com.
  12. Writer), By Matt Bufano (Staff. "Morelli named chairman of Luzerne County council". www.standardspeaker.com.
  13. "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. Writer), By Michael P. Buffer (Staff. "Haas will seek re-election; Maddon Curry will bow out to focus on Hazleton projects". www.citizensvoice.com.
  16. "Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton's job status up in the air". 2015-11-23.
  17. Wellock, Bill. "Luzerne council seats will be open". www.standardspeaker.com.
  18. "Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams won't run again". 2017-08-17.
  19. https://www.timesleader.com/news/729045/luzerne-county-councilman-edward-brominski-resigning
  20. https://www.timesleader.com/news/733911/patrick-bilbow-appointed-to-vacant-luzerne-county-council-seat
  21. https://www.timesleader.com/news/747027/eugene-kelleher-to-resign-from-luzerne-county-council
  22. https://www.timesleader.com/news/749299/luzerne-county-councilman-eugene-kelleher-offers-parting-words
  23. https://www.timesleader.com/news/752473/rick-morelli-appointed-to-vacant-luzerne-county-council-seat
  24. https://m.citizensvoice.com/news/urban-won-t-seek-re-election-this-year-1.2456660
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