Jack Mundie Wrong For Hazleton City Council

Jack Mundie, Hazleton City Councilman, is going to seek another term to represent the citizens of Hazleton. In an effort to inform the electorate this column will expose his true character, or lack thereof, in the performance of his duties.

Mr. Mundie enjoyed an obscure tenure on Hazleton City Council.  He aligned himself with former mayor and now Congressman Lou Barletta, former City Councilwoman Evelyn Graham, and former councilman and present Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi for years. He remained silent until 2009 when Hazleton City Council stripped him of his fully paid healthcare benefit for attending just 21 meetings a year.

His healthcare insurance tab, paid by Hazleton taxpayers despite owning and operating his own business in Hazle Township, amounted to a total of $40,992.00.

Ordinance 97-9 granted newly elected council members for the year 1998 the right to paid healthcare and life insurance benefits.

The Ordinance states "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the City of Hazleton, by and through Hazleton City Council that newly elected members of Council of the City of Hazleton for the year 1998 will be provided health and life insurance benefits from the City of Hazleton, comparable to those benefits given to employees of the City of Hazleton."

It makes no mention of members elected in any other year. It appears Mr. Mundie had no legal authorization to have the City of Hazleton pay for his healthcare. Despite owning his own business for years, Mr. Mundie forced Hazletonians to pay for his healthcare by voting for the expenditure with each budget authorization.

The State Ethics Law is quite clear.

"Conflict" or "conflict of interest." Use by a public official or public employee of the authority of his office or employment or any confidential information received through his holding public office or employment for the private pecuniary benefit of himself, a member of his immediate family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. The term does not include an action having a de minimis economic impact or which affects to the same degree a class consisting of the general public or a subclass consisting of an industry, occupation or other group which includes the public official or public employee, a member of his immediate family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated.

§ 1103. Restricted activities (a) Conflict of interest.--No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest

(j) Voting conflict.--Where voting conflicts are not otherwise addressed by the Constitution of Pennsylvania or by any law, rule, regulation, order or ordinance, the following procedure shall be employed. Any public official or public employee who in the discharge of his official duties would be required to vote on a matter that would result in a conflict of interest shall abstain from voting and, prior to the vote being taken, publicly announce and disclose the nature of his interest as a public record in a written memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting at which the vote is taken, provided that whenever a governing body would be unable to take any action on a matter before it because the number of members of the body required to abstain from voting under the provisions of this section makes the majority or other legally required vote of approval unattainable, then such members shall be permitted to vote if disclosures are made as otherwise provided herein. In the case of a three-member governing body of a political subdivision, where one member has abstained from voting as a result of a conflict of interest and the remaining two members of the governing body have cast opposing votes, the member who has abstained shall be permitted to vote to break the tie vote if disclosure is made as otherwise provided herein. Mr. Mundie has to explain to the Hazleton voters why he collected benefits without the legal authorization to do so.

This isn't the only instance where Mr. Mundie may have run afoul of the Ethics laws. 

Lou Barletta Comment's On Paul Ryan's Selection As VP

Press Release From The Lou Barletta For Congress Campaign Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  Contact: Lance Stange, Jr.

August 11, 2012                                                                                                                                   lance@loubarletta.com

or 570-501-8683

Lou Barletta’s statement on the selection of

Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s running mate

Hazleton, PA – Today, Lou Barletta issued the following statement regarding the selection of Paul Ryan to complete the Republican presidential ticket:

“Jobs and the economy are the number one concern of voters across America.  Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney understand the need for pro-growth strategies that will get our economy back on the right track.

“A Romney-Ryan ticket offers a clear contrast to the failed policies of President Obama that have only made our economy worse.  The team of Governor Mitt Romney and Representative Paul Ryan has the expertise to offer idea after idea on how to fix our economy, cut Washington’s red tape, right-size federal spending to deal with our deficit, and save important federal programs that so many rely on.

“Having worked with Paul Ryan, I can say no one in the House of Representatives knows the federal budget better than he does.  He will be an invaluable resource to the ticket and the American people as their next Vice-President. At a time when our country is heading for a fiscal cliff, there could not be a better team for the future of America than Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan.”

Tony Phyrillas On Paul Ryan

Paid for by Lou Barletta for Congress

Leighton's Campaign Finances- Ethical Issues

The Times Leader ran an article about donations from Marvin Slomowitz and William Rinaldi in reference to the dredge project in Hazleton. For some unknown reason reporter Andrew Seder brought State Rep. John Yudicahk into the donation picture without doing a similar look at Wilkes Barre Mayor Tom Leighton. Of course those on the inside know that Rep. Todd Eachus and Congressman Paul Kanjorski are supporting Leighton's efforts against Yudichak in the Senate race to replace retiring Senator Ray Musto's seat.

A look at Leighton's campaign finance records on the Luzerne County website reveals some interesting information.

Within the 6th Tuesday Pre-Election Campaign Finance Report the following donations bring up some curious questions. Diamond Manufacturing Company is listed as a $400.00 donor on 06/246/2009 found on page 16. Diamond Manufacturing is listed as a corporation on the state's Corporation Bureau. Pennsylvania prohibits direct corporate donations to campaigns.

In the 2nd Friday Pre-Election CFR in 2008 West Side Hammer Electric Inc, another corporate donor, of Bethlehem is listed as a donor in the amount of $300.00 on 07/09/2008.

Seder failed to point out Marvin Slomovitz's donation to Leighton on 05/27/2009 in the amount of $300.00 found on page 12.

Falzone Realty is listed with a donation of $300.00 on 03/27/2009 (and 06/12/2008) found on page 12 but a search for that entity failed to produce any results on the Corporate Bureau, Department of State licensing or Switchboard.com.

Oddly enough Falzone Towing Service, Inc., another Pennsylvania corporation, is listed at the address, 365 Pierce Street, Kingston, on the CFR and the Corporate Bureau. Since there is no listing at the Department of State for a realtor there seems to be a huge question about the validity of that donation.

Kane for District Justice is listed as a donor on page 10 in the total amount of $500.00 listed as $300.00 on 06/11/2009 and $200.00 on 06/29/2009. According to the Judicial Cannon 7 District Justices are not permitted to engage in political activity of this type. (1) A judge or a candidate for election to judicial office should not: (c) solicit funds for or pay an assessment or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate.

Robert Mericle gave a $300.00 donation on 06/10/2009 listed on page 19 and was charged by the U.S. Attorney's office on 08/13/2009. It had been common knowledge that Mr. Mericle was Participant No. 2 in a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney on January 31, 2009 in the Luzerne County corruption scandal. Why did Tom Leighton accept the donation and why wasn't it returned?

On the in-kind contributions list are donations from Rodano's Restaurant and Patt Patte. If you read this Legal Opinion from the Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board gift certificates awarded as prizes must be for food only, as the awarding of gift certificates that include alcoholic beverages would be prohibited for the reasons provided in response to your first question. Was there a disclaimer on those gift certificates?

In the 2nd Pre-Primary 2008 CFR Leighton lists a loan to himself from the campaign on 01/17/2008 in the amount of $2,000.00 found on page 6. He repays the loan back to the campaign on 04/01/2008 found on page 5. Loans to committees are permissable but loans from a campaign committee to oneself is another question.

In the 2nd Friday Pre-Election CFR from 2008 the report lists a fee for a bounced check on 07/25/2008 found on page 25.

One suspects Leighton felt comfortable with his reports and didn't anticipate Ray Musto's retirement or the scrutiny his candidacy would cause.

Bill Goldsworthy Press Release HB2279

Bill Goldsworthy
For State Representative, 120th District


PRESS RELEASE
For more information: 570-237-1810


On March 23, 2010 the State House of Representatives passed HB2279, the General Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2010-2011. The price tag: $29 billion, a $1.2 billion increase over the current year. At the same time, Gov. Rendell is projecting a $525 million shortfall this year.

Because of last year’s budget debacle, lawmakers are trying to avoid the embarrassment of going 101 days without a budget by this early passage of a spending plan.

But doing it early is not the same as doing it responsibly. This is more of a spending plan than a budget. A budget requires a serious calculation of revenues and the common-sense approach of spending within one’s means – just like Pennsylvanians must do when they work on their own household and business budgets.

This $29 billion spending plan includes federal stimulus revenues of $2.76 billion. That’s a one-time gift. What happens next year? And the year after that? Relying on stimulus money to support future state budgets sets up Pennsylvanians for some serious financial problems. Once these funds are depleted, the state will be forced to deal with a multi-billion-dollar funding gap.

We all are aware of the looming state pension fiasco. Any responsible budget should address this problem by creating a reserve fund. It does not address the problem at all; lawmakers are just delaying the inevitable. Putting this issue on the backburner means an even bigger financial burden down the line for taxpayers.

So why did Phyllis Mundy vote for this $29 billion disaster? Does she think voting on a budget early makes up for doing so irresponsibly and without regard for the future?

Now more than ever, we need a responsible spending plan. We need lawmakers who are committed to representing the taxpayers and looking out for Pennsylvania citizens now and in the future. We need to bring spending under control and stop ignoring the looming pension crisis. It’s not going to go away just because we refuse to address it.

We need to avoid duplication of services and we need to eliminate per diems. We need elected officials who will work to lower taxes.

We need better than what we have right now. But most of all, we deserve better than what we are getting.

ThingsAChangin In Pennsylvania

From the Times Leader Newsroom:

Senator Mellow decides its time to retire.

Governor Rendell Finally Makes Up His Mind Regarding County Judge and Sheriff Appointments

David Madeira Announces Run For 10th Congressional Seat

Eachus To Face Attorney Toolhil In 116th Race

Times Leader Photo
The Times Leader is reporting that Attorney Tarah Toolhil from Drums threw her hat in the ring to challenge Rep. Todd Eachus for his seat in the 116th District.

Until recently Toolhil was a registered Democrat. She switched to Republican recently after receiving nothing but snubs from the Democratic party.

There are many issues that she can raise in this race but it appears her first is the absence of leadership and support from Harrisburg for her district.

For Eachus he will most likely raise the issue of senority and his majority leader post. The fact that under his leadership Pennsylvania is broke and went 101 days before an agreement was reached only to have key portions drag on will make his case less than believable.

Rendell Wants Candidates To Be "Factual"

Ed Rendell confirms he will play an active role in next year's gubernatorial selection process.

Rendell, who turns 66 on Jan. 5, also made clear that he expects to be involved in the gubernatorial campaign.

He said he plans to send a letter to all gubernatorial candidates, offering to provide background briefings on the intricacies of the state budget and any issues in which they are interested.

"I hope they'll avail themselves of it," he said. If they make factual errors about the administration on the campaign trail, "I will correct them, Democrats and Republicans alike."

Who the heck is going to correct Rendell's factual errors? What a pompous ass statement.

Tom Gabos Please Explain Your Income And Residency

According to documents on file at Hazleton City Hall Gabos Electric aka succesful businessman Tom Gabos and Peach Entrprises aka succesful businessman Tom Gabos have remitted a total of $3.00 to the City of Hazleton as mercantile tax since 2003.

In Gort's interview with Mayor Barletta last December the Mayor indicated a need to go after businesses that do not pay their mercantile tax.

In a search of the Luzerne County Courthouse Recorder of Deeds Office records indicate that Tom Gabos and his wife, Gale Zelenack, filed a deed for the purchase of their building located 105-107 East Broad Street. The deed was prepared by John P. Rodgers, Esquire and dated May 14, 2008.

The records also show a mortgage for the same property between Gabos and his wife, Gale, with the First National Bank of Pennsylvania with an address of One FNB Blvd, Hermitage, PA. 16148. The date of the mortgage is May 14, 2008. Interestingly, Tom Gabos and his wife, Gale M. Zelenack list their mailing address as 14 Airport Road Hazleton, PA. 18202. In the body of the mortgage Thomas S. Gabos lists his address as 14 Airport Road, Hazleton, PA. 18202 which is actually located in Sugarloaf Township and Gale M. Zelenack lists her address as 107 Fox Hollow Drive, Drums, Pa. 18222. According to other records Gale M. Zelenack sold her home located at the Drums address on February 9, 2007.

The amount of the mortgage was $90,000.00.

There is an Assignment of Rents document dated May 14, 2008 between Gabos, Zelenack, and FNBP listing the same addresses of 14 Airport Road Hazleton, PA. 18202 and 107 Fox Hollow Drive, Drums, Pa. 18222.

On the deed Thomas S. Gabos and Gale M. Zelenack list their address as 907 Lincoln Street, Hazleton, PA. 18201.

On July 6, 2006 Grantor Thomas Gabos deeded his property located in Sugarloaf Township to Grantees Thomas Gabos and Gale Rae M. Zelenack for the sum of One dollar. In Book 3006 on page 177642 located in the Recorder of Deeds office the following is noted for Certificate of Residence. I hereby certify the the precise address of the Grantee(s) herein is: 14 Airport Road, Hazleton, PA. 18202. It is notarized by Ann Fagan, Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. The Grantees are Thomas Gabos and Gale Rae M. Zelenack.

Here's the questions for you Thomas. Did you live outside of Hazleton for a period of time where you may have been required to resign your City Council seat over the residency requirement? Since you only paid $3.00 in mercantile tax what income did you produce to secure a mortgage for $90,000.00? Are you maintaining three properties, 907 Lincoln Street, Hazleton, 14 Airport Road, Hazleton, and 105-107 East Broad Street, Hazleton with that income? 

The voters deserve an explanation in light of the fact that the Greater Hazleton Historical Society claims it paid Gabos Electrical, Inc. $3,371.00 for the year ended April 30, 2006.

For legal reasons it should also be noted that Thomas Gabos and Gale Rae Margaret Zelenack were issued a marriage license on November 23, 2008 and were married before District Magistrate Joseph Zola on December 10, 2008. References to Gale being his wife in this post indicate the present status not the status at the time of the deeds. The documents are attached to the deeds.

Note: There has been a correction made to this post.

A Specter To Behold

Madonna & Young: A SPECTER TO BEHOLD… Needless to say Arlen is in big trouble

President Judge Muroski Asks That Ciavarella's Seat Be Placed on May Ballot

The Times Leader is reporting that President Judge Chester Muroski has asked Governor Ed Rendell to take whatever steps are necessary to place former Judge Mark Ciavarella's seat on the May ballot.

In a letter to Rendell dated Friday, Muroski says the county court system faces a "tremendous challenge" in staying current with cases given the Supreme Court's ruling last week that prevents former judge Ann Lokuta's seat from being placed on the ballot pending resolution of her appeal of the ruling that removed her from office. That decision means the 17 candidates who filed for judge are vying for two, instead of three seats.

REPUBLICAN BOB SYPNIEWSKI TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY FOR LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER

An announceent from the Luzerne County Republican Party

REPUBLICAN BOB SYPNIEWSKI TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY FOR LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER

Republican Bob Sypniewski, of Dallas, will announce his candidacy for Luzerne County Controller at a public reception at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Luzerne County Republican Headquarters, 25 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.

Sypniewski, a self-employed mortgage consultant for 10 years, is the CEO of 5:19 Investments, a company dedicated to raising joint venture capital for business projects throughout the state. He said his recent service on the Luzerne County Assessment Appeals Board was a major factor in his decision to run for controller.

“As I helped people through the appeals process, I saw the harm government can inflict on its citizens when it is poorly run,” he said. “As a lifelong resident of the county, I decided that I could no longer simply sit back and watch a steady stream of politicians put their own self interest above the interests of the people they were chosen to represent.”

Sypniewski is the 15th of 16 children of Wilkes-Barre Police Officer Stanley Sypniewski and Blanche Sypniewski. He was born and raised in the city’s Heights section and was graduated from GAR Memorial High School and attended Luzerne County Community College where he majored in human services.

He is on the board of the Pennsylvania Family Coalition and is an active member of the Cross Creek Community Church, Trucksville. He and his wife of 11 years, Tara Harteis, have three children, Christian, 9, Ethan, 7, and Gavin, 5.

Luzerne County Republicans-The New Conservative Order

From The Times Leader

The Luzerne County Republican Party came out swinging two nights ago. Well, not really because as you will see Republicans are not brawlers, but please read on. There was a sense of resurgence and pride to be a Republican that filled the packed room of candidates and party members. For too long Luzerne County(and Lackawanna too) were dominated by the Philadephia/Chicago style of democratic tricks that kept the Democrats in control of county offices. The reputation of the Democrats in this region has been more than marred by the actions and misdeeds at the Luzerne County Courthouse.

I saw a post that likened the atmosphere at this event to old style politics of "blame and restore". That asssessment couldn't be further off the mark. Paul DeFabo even called on Democratic candidates who might be in the audience to stand up and be noticed.

Lou Barletta's speech centered on the word "conservatism" becoming the new "liberal" in the American political lexicon. Liberalism was once a icon representing disorder for the country-racial freedom came to mean riots and crime; sexual freedom came to mean divorce; and cultural freedom came to mean disrespect for family, church and flag. Lou stated Just as Democratic politicians once distanced themselves from the liberal label, many Republicans now are worried about being called conservatives.

In a sense conservatism became a victim of its own success. In its bid for economic freedom it is now associated with economic disorder. In the pursuit of economic freedom a new movement of pro-government conservatives were born who morphed into a failed policy of increased government regulation and government spending. The traditional conservative values were abandoned.

John McCain's promises to cut taxes, cut spending and get government out of the way left them cold. Among the almost half of voters who said they were "very worried" that the economic crisis would hurt their family, Obama beat McCain by 26 points. In a sense a new conservative disorder became the old liberalism, cultural disorder replaced with economic disorder.

It appears the mood of the country right now is wanting of pampered oversight by government like parents watching over their children. Obama said it in his speech "But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life." The president also said that tax cuts, by themselves, cannot revive the economy.
The disorder in the 60's has been replaced today with economic discombobulation begging for intervention from someone, anyone.

The public mood on economics today is a lot like the public mood on culture 40 years ago: Americans want government to impose law and order-to keep their 401(k)s from going down, to keep their health-care premiums from going up, to keep their jobs from going overseas-and they don't much care whose heads Washington has to bash to do it.

Lou blamed politicians of both parties for excessive partisanship that he said has caused many Americans to lose faith in government.

Forty years ago, liberalism looked like the problem in a nation spinning out of control. Today that word is conservatism. Liberalism, which average Americans once associated with upheaval, now promises stability instead. But that is on a national level.

Luzerne County represents a world, not spinnning, but actually out of control. No bid contracts, juvenile rights violations, excessive salaries, money missing, credit and debit card fraud, excessive pricing on contracts, no accountabiliity for assets like vehicles, distrust of the entire judiciary process starting with the District Attorney's office and ending in the halls of what was tought to be justice, no show employees, failed appeals process in the assessment mess..oh the list could go on. Luzerne County residents lost their faith in county government but more importantly the courts which were believed to be the last bastion of justice.

The Repbulicans should mark its rebirth with renewed optimism. Luzerne County is not the nation but its own local castle. If the local Republican party stays focused on the local issues and leaves Barack to his own demise it will be successful in November. Steve Urban was once viewed as a sort or sorts. Today his words resonate to exemplify what took the FBI and the Secret Service to root out.

The Luzerne County crisis has brought opportunity. If the Republicans restore faith through a carefully crafted fireside chat with voters in Luzerne County victory will be theirs. If the Republicans use the same old rhetoric from elections past the voters are a much smarter breed and will not honor them with victory. The message has to be simple. WE GOT IT AND WE ARE ON IT.

Don't tell the voters what you are going to do about the Luzerne County mess. Show them the plan. Then execute it. Earning their trust won't be as important as keeping it. Row Officers won't have to accomplish their goals overnight but they will have to show progress. Communication is key in any relationship.

As they progress in turning the County around they must tell the constituents about their efforts. Good efforts gone unnoticed will be exactly that.

Turning to conservatism values will bring a new era of trust. There is a duty of loyalty owed to the voters and a duty of care owed to Luzerne County government. Non profit doesn't mean no profit. And less government does not mean no goverment. Accountability and oversight can never have enough redundancy.

On the national level there are too many examples that the Democrats are as much if not more to blame for our economic disorder. But the likes of Matt Lauer, CNN, and the New York Times go out of their way to hide it. These times are the worst case of media malpractice I have ever witnessed. The public has to be wary when it keeps saying "there ought to be a law." I believe this country was founded becauase our forefathers wanted freedom. The Boston Tea Party happened because there was too much governement taxation. For now it appears people won't mind paying extra taxes. That will soon wear off. But for now let's stick to the local issues like wasted taxation.


Gort42, Bill O"Boyle at the Times Leader, and David Yonki have more on Lou's words and the other candidates that evening.

And Their Off- First Governor Horse Out Of The Gate

A former revenue secretary for Pennsylvania announced his bid for governor to succeed Ed "Fast Deal'em" Rendell. According to an article in the Post-Gazette Tom Wolf who made a fortune in the family supply business filed the official papers to raise money in his quest for governor.

"His personal wealth could allow him to be one of his own biggest donors. That capability could invest his campaign with instant credibility despite Mr. Wolf's modest name recognition and relatively short public resume. The York businessman is better known within state political circles as a regular contributor to the campaigns of state Democrats. Mr. Rendell appointed Mr. Wolf revenue secretary in 2007, a post he resigned in November in anticipation of a run for office."

"...Mr. Wolf's potential rivals include Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Auditor General Jack Wagner, Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, and another wealthy businessman, Tom Knox of Philadelphia.

Among the Republicans mentioned as possible contenders to replace Mr. Rendell, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, are Attorney General Tom Corbett; Pat Meehan, the former U.S. attorney for the state's Eastern District; U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach; and Pat Toomey, a former congressman who just missed in a bid to wrest the GOP Senate nomination from Sen. Arlen Specter in 2004."

Joseph Scarnati, a Republican Senator, was sworn in as the 31st Lieutenant Governor following the untimely death of Katherine Baker Knoll. It is the first time in Pennsylvania history that the lieutenant governor serves with a governor of the opposing party. It has been reported that Karen Beyer is eyeing a run at that spot. She would join a list that now includes state Rep. Mike Turzai and Sen. John Pippy, both of suburban Pittsburgh, and current Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor.

Don't be surprised if you see a local well known office holder enter that race.