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.

Background

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]

Elections

2011

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.

The first general election for Luzerne County Council was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The first eleven members were elected. Initially, the political makeup of council consisted of six Democrats, four Republicans, and one independent. The first councilors 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. Rick Morelli was the highest vote-getter (with 25,026 votes). The newly elected government was sworn in on January 2, 2012. Democrat Jim Bobeck, who came in third during the general election, was appointed by his fellow council members to serve as the first council chair.[5]

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 6
Republican 4
Independent 1
2011 Luzerne County Council election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Morelli 25,026 5.25
Democratic Stephen A. Urban 23,657 4.97
Democratic Jim Bobeck 23,412 4.91
Republican Stephen J. Urban 22,598 4.74
Democratic Tim McGinley 21,654 4.54
Democratic Edward A. Brominski 21,630 4.54
Republican Harry Haas 21,299 4.47
Independent Rick Williams 20,359 4.27
Democratic Elaine Maddon Curry 19,593 4.11
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck 19,375 4.07
Republican Eugene L. Kelleher 18,867 3.96
Democratic Eileen M. Sorokas 18,811 3.95
Republican John Ruckno 18,594 3.90
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus 18,419 3.87
Republican Kathleen M. Dobash 17,556 3.68
Democratic Michelle Bednar 17,532 3.68
Democratic Salvatore Licata 16,601 3.48
Republican Blythe H. Evans III 16,261 3.41
Republican William Bill James 15,611 3.28
Republican Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt 14,723 3.09
Democratic M. Theresa Morcavage 14,299 3.00
Republican Gina Nevenglosky 13,849 2.91
Republican Michael Cabell 12,855 2.70
Libertarian Michael A. Lacey 11,108 2.33
Independent Jeremy Packard 11,095 2.33
Libertarian Tim Mullen 10,770 2.26
American Independent Charlie "Bible Buck" Hatchko 6,309 1.32
Libertarian Brian R. Bergman 3,734 0.78
Write-in 862 0.18
Total votes 476,459 100

2013

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.

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
2013 Luzerne County Council election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck (incumbent) 18,980 10.18
Democratic Eileen M. Sorokas 18,287 9.81
Republican Kathy Dobash 17,829 9.56
Republican Harry Haas (incumbent) 17,552 9.41
Independent Rick Williams (incumbent) 17,226 9.24
Republican Sue Rossi 17,147 9.20
Democratic Richard "Kick" Heffron 16,929 9.08
Democratic Renee Ciaruffoli Taffera 16,560 8.88
Republican Eugene L. Kelleher (incumbent) 16,339 8.76
Democratic Michael Giamber 15,345 8.23
Republican Paul M. Defabo 13,586 7.29
Write-in 688 0.37
Total votes 186,468 100

2015

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.[12]

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.
2015 Luzerne County Council election[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim McGinley (incumbent) 23,892 10.37
Democratic Edward A. Brominski (incumbent) 21,066 9.14
Democratic Stephen A. Urban (incumbent) 20,967 9.10
Republican Eugene L. Kelleher 20,331 8.82
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus 20,287 8.80
Republican Robert W. Schnee 19,487 8.46
Republican Stephen J. Urban (incumbent) 19,117 8.29
Democratic John Gadomski 18,214 7.90
Democratic Anthony J. Rostock 17,661 7.66
Republican Marc Dixon 17,577 7.63
Republican Ray Gustave 16,491 7.16
Republican Mark A. Rabo 14,898 6.46
Write-in 486 0.21
Total votes 230,474 100

2017

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.[16]

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.[18] Sheila Saidman, Matthew Vough, and Chris R. Perry were newly elected to council.[19] The Democratic majority grew from seven seats to eight.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Democratic 8
Republican 3
2017 Luzerne County Council election[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Saidman 21,415 10.92
Democratic Matthew Vough 20,393 10.39
Democratic Linda McClosky Houck (incumbent) 20,380 10.39
Republican Harry Haas (incumbent) 20,328 10.36
Republican Chris R. Perry 20,138 10.26
Republican Stephen J. Urban 19,770 10.08
Democratic Wendy Cominsky 19,375 9.88
Republican Marc Dixon 19,125 9.75
Democratic John Gadomski 18,349 9.35
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich, Jr. 16,631 8.48
Write-in 278 0.14
Total votes 196,182 100

2019

The fifth general election was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Six seats were up for election. Republican Eugene Kelleher and Democrat Stephen A. Urban did not seek re-election. Democratic Councilman Edward Brominski, who was up for re-election that year, resigned in January 2019 due to health issues.[21] By February, the council appointed Patrick Bilbow to serve out the remainder of his term.[22]

During the primary—Tuesday, May 21—the Democrats managed to fill all six nomination slots. The Democratic nominees were Tim McGinley (13,089 votes), Joseph Sebastianelli (11,253 votes), Jane Walsh-Waitkus (11,026 votes), Patrick Bilbow (11,001 votes), Robert Schnee (9,303 votes), and Anup Patel (8,731 votes).[23]

Only four Republicans appeared on the primary ballot. They comfortably secured their party's nomination. The Republican nominees were Stephen J. Urban (9,308 votes), Walter Griffith (8,969 votes), Kendra Radle (8,238 votes), and Gregory Wolovich (7,915 votes).[23] The remaining two nominees were selected through write-in votes.[24] Lee Ann McDermott, with 454 write-in votes, and Councilman Robert Schnee, with 417 write-in votes, filled the two remaining Republican slots. Because Schnee had also won the Democratic nomination, he became the only candidate in council history to appear on the November ballot as both a Democrat and a Republican.[25]

During the November general election, the balance of power shifted for the first time in council history—the Republicans secured a 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. Democrats Patrick Bilbow and Jane Walsh-Waitkus were the only two incumbents to lose their seats. Due to straight-party voting and the fact that he appeared on the ballot as both a Democrat and a Republican, Robert Schnee's total of 28,588 votes stood as the largest tally ever won by a council candidate until 2021, when this was surpassed by Republican John Lombardo. Even though Schnee secured both the Democratic and Republican nominations in 2019, he was sworn in as a Democrat in January 2020.[26][27][28]

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 6
Democratic 5
Note: Even though Schnee secured the
Republican nomination in 2019, he was
sworn in as a Democrat in January 2020.
Luzerne County general election, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic/Republican Robert W. Schnee (incumbent) 28,588 11.02
Republican Lee Ann McDermott 25,752 9.93
Republican Walter L. Griffith, Jr. 24,314 9.37
Republican Stephen J. Urban 24,246 9.35
Democratic Tim McGinley (incumbent) 23,909 9.22
Republican Kendra M. Radle 22,950 8.85
Democratic Joseph C. Sebastianelli 22,622 8.72
Democratic Patrick M. Bilbow (incumbent) 22,263 8.58
Democratic Anup K. Patel 21,575 8.32
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus (incumbent) 21,483 8.28
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich, Jr. 20,931 8.07
Write-in 727 0.28
Total votes 259,360 100

2021

The sixth general election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Five seats were up for election. Democrat Linda McClosky Houck and Republican Harry Haas were ineligible to pursue a fourth consecutive term due to term limits. During the summer of 2020, Councilman Robert Schnee switched his registration from Democrat to Republican, creating a 7-4 Republican majority.[29] During the November general election, one party swept all five seats, which was unprecedented in council history.[30] Republicans John Lombardo, Brian Thornton, Kevin Lescavage, and Gregory Wolovich were newly elected to council. John Lombardo became the highest vote-getter in council history (with over 31,000 votes). Democrats Matthew Vough and Sheila Saidman were the only two incumbents to lose their seats. In the end, the Republican majority grew from seven seats to ten, leaving only one Democrat on council (Tim McGinley).[31][29]

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 10
Democratic 1
Note: Robert Schnee switched
from Democrat to Republican
in the summer of 2020.
Luzerne County general election, 2021
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Lombardo 31,102 11.99
Republican Chris R. Perry (incumbent) 30,096 11.60
Republican Brian Thornton 28,589 11.02
Republican Kevin Lescavage 27,092 10.44
Republican Gregory S. Wolovich, Jr. 26,425 10.19
Democratic Matthew Vough (incumbent) 25,523 9.84
Democratic Sheila Saidman (incumbent) 24,497 9.44
Democratic Jane Walsh-Waitkus 22,605 8.71
Democratic Jimmy Sabatino 22,338 8.61
Democratic Maryann V. Velez 20,448 7.88
Write-in 726 0.28
Total votes 259,441 100

2023

The seventh general election for Luzerne County Council took place on November 7, 2023. The primary was held on May 16, 2023. Six Democratic nominees and six Republican nominees sought six seats in the election.

Seats after the election
Party Number of seats
Republican 7
Democratic 4
Luzerne County general election, 2023[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lee Ann McDermott (incumbent) 28,151 9.09
Democratic Jimmy Sabatino 27,646 8.93
Democratic Joanna Bryn Smith 27,454 8.87
Republican Harry Haas 26,653 8.61
Democratic Patricia Krushnowski 26,494 8.56
Democratic Brittany Stephenson 25,906 8.37
Democratic Michelle Rothenbecker 25,153 8.13
Democratic Maryann Velez 23,875 7.71
Republican Thomas Dombroski 23,844 7.70
Republican Stephen J. Urban (incumbent) 23,808 7.69
Republican Matthew Mitchell (incumbent) 23,519 7.60
Republican Kimberly Platek 23,266 7.52
Write-in 3,802 1.23
Total votes 309,571 100

2025

The eighth general election for Luzerne County Council will take place in 2025. The primary is scheduled for May 2025. There will be five Democratic nominees, five Republican nominees, and potentially several independent/third-party candidates seeking office. Those who place in the top five during the general election—Tuesday, November 4, 2025—will go on to serve as councilors.

References

  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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Municipal Election November 8, 2011". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. November 15, 2011b. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Luzerne County 2013a, p. 67.
  10. ↑ Luzerne County 2013a, p. 2.
  11. ↑ "11/05/13 General & Municipal Elections". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  12. ↑ Buffer, By Michael P. "Schnee, Kelleher win write-in nominations for county council". www.citizensvoice.com.
  13. 1 2 "May 19, 2015 Primary Election". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. May 29, 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Write in Winners (PDF)". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Municipal Election 11/03/2015". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  16. ↑ Wellock, Bill. "Luzerne council seats will be open". www.standardspeaker.com.
  17. 1 2 "Municipal Primary Election - May 16, 2017". Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. May 22, 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Leader, Times (August 16, 2017). "Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams won't run again". Times Leader.
  19. ↑ Leader, Times (December 29, 2017). "Luzerne County Council chairmanship decision Tuesday". Times Leader.
  20. ↑ "Municipal Election - November 7, 2017". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  21. ↑ "Luzerne County Councilman Brominski resigning". January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Pittston Area principal appointed to vacant Luzerne County Council seat". 20 February 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Election Night Reporting".
  24. ↑ "Luzerne County Council nominees selected; McGinley top vote-getter". 22 May 2019.
  25. ↑ "Write-ins decide council, DA races".
  26. ↑ "2 incumbents, 4 others win county council seats". 6 November 2019.
  27. ↑ "Luzerne County Council At-Large". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  28. ↑ "Election Night Reporting".
  29. 1 2 McGinley will be lone Democrat on Luzerne County Council | Times Leader
  30. ↑ GOP carries Luzerne County Council contest | Times Leader
  31. ↑ Remaining Luzerne County general election results released - NewsBreak
  32. ↑ "County Council". Luzerne County, PA General Election November 7, 2023. scytl.us. November 7, 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

Sources

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