An Old Forge man who died from congestive heart failure might have lived had two employees of a Dunmore ambulance company not stopped efforts to resuscitate him, the man’s family says in a lawsuit.

Julianne M. Boynosky alleges employees of Pennsylvania Ambulance LLC, 1000 Dunham Ave., wrongly determined her 62-year-old husband, Garrett A. Boynosky, was dead and ordered police to stop chest compressions. Two other employees from the company who arrived minutes later restored his heartbeat, but the delay in treatment ultimately caused his death, the lawsuit says.The lawsuit

, filed Friday on behalf of Mrs. Boynosky and her daughter, Nicole Boynosky, says Mrs. Boynosky discovered her husband unresponsive in the basement of their North Main Street home at 7:13 p.m. on Jan. 25. Old Forge police were dispatched and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Mr. Boynosky, who was warm to the touch.

Pennsylvania Ambulance employees Phillip Pizano and Stanley Wyshock arrived and began attending to Mr. Boynosky at 7:23 p.m., the suit says. Police continued chest compressions until Mr. Pizano and Mr. Wyshock directed them to stop.

Police resumed chest compressions on two additional occasions, but Mr. Pizano and Mr. Wyshock again told them to stop. Mrs. Boynosky and her daughter pleaded with the ambulance employees to continue efforts to save Mr. Boynosky, but the men told them he was dead and nothing could be done.

At 7:25 p.m., a second unit from Pennsylvania Ambulance arrived, staffed by Joshua Wilbur and Robert Schaffer. The men restarted chest compressions and obtained a stable pulse within minutes. They continued to administer medications and ventilated Mr. Boynosky with a tube.

By 7:35 p.m., he had a heart rate of 103 — a rate within normal range, according to American Heart Association guidelines.

Mr. Boynosky was transferred to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he died on Jan. 28. An autopsy determined he suffered a sudden cardiac arrhythmia that resulted in death caused by congestive heart failure, the suit says.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Edward Ciarimboli of Kingston, alleges Pennsylvania Ambulance was grossly negligent for failing to properly train employees to assess patients. Mr. Pizano and Mr. Wyshock, who are not named as defendants, committed several errors, the suit says, including interrupting chest compressions without first contacting medical command, which is a violation of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Treatment protocols.

The suit seeks damages for five counts, including wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Efforts to reach representatives from Pennsylvania Ambulance for comment were unsuccessful Monday.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com, @tbeseckerTT on Twitter

A Jessup man is facing charges after Scranton police said he stabbed another man in front of a city home earlier this month.

Jonathan Varela, 19, 521 Third Ave., was arrested on attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault charges stemming from a stabbing on North Washington Avenue reported about 1 p.m. on April 16.

Mr. Varela is accused of stabbing 19-year-old Shaunce Reed. Officers responded to 657 N. Washington Ave. to find Mr. Reed in the kitchen of the residence with a 3-inch puncture wound to his torso, according to police. Paramedics took Mr. Reed to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

A witness reported that Mr. Reed was walking toward his home when a car pulled up; Mr. Reed walked up to the vehicle and gave the passenger, later identified as Mr. Varela, a high-five.

Mr. Varela then grabbed a knife from his pocket, thrust it out the window of the car and stabbed Mr. Reed, according to court documents. Mr. Varela then yelled at the woman behind the wheel of the car to drive away.

Detectives spoke to Mr. Reed at the hospital on April 18 as he was recovering. He told police he’s known Mr. Varela for about seven years and they used to go to school together.

Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available Monday.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

A Jessup resident is accused of giving an underage girl alcohol, having sex with her and taking her out of the county over the weekend.

Scott Twp. police filed charges against Danny Wilson, 45, 120 Gallagher St., on Monday stemming from an incident on Saturday night, when officers were called to a Layton Road home for a report of a missing girl. The girl’s father reported he left the home about 7:30 p.m. and when he returned home at 8:45 p.m., his daughter was missing, according to charging papers written by Patrolman Thomas Errigo. The man also reported that the girl, whose age was unavailable Monday, was communicating with her juvenile boyfriend using Facebook messenger and told him she was at a motel with a man she didn’t know, that the man had forced her to drink alcohol and she was scared, according to court papers.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The girl managed to take a photo of the license plate of the vehicle the man was driving and send it via messenger, using the man’s phone. Officers traced the plate to Mr. Wilson, police said. They also learned Mr. Wilson had recently moved out of the Gallagher Street address to a Scott Twp. trailer park, located only a few blocks from the girl’s residence.

The girl also reported she was in a car with the man and they were traveling west on Interstate 80 near Bloomsburg, police said. Officers relayed the information to state police. Troopers at the Clinton County-based Lamar barracks eventually located the vehicle and took Mr. Wilson and the girl into custody. Troopers called Patrolman Errigo and reported that the girl appeared intoxicated and was on the way to a hospital. While being transported for treatment, she told troopers she had sex with Mr. Wilson at some point through the night, according to court documents.

Mr. Wilson told troopers the girl came to his home while he was outside cleaning out his garage. When he told her he was going to Uniontown, a city in Fayette County, to pick up a family member, she asked to tag along, according to court documents.

Mr. Wilson is charged with statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, furnishing alcohol to a minor and unlawful contact with a minor. Magisterial District Judge Sean McGraw set bail at $75,000 at Mr. Wilson’s arraignment Monday. He is held at Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

PITTSTON TWP. — A northbound lane was closed on Interstate 81 after a four-car crash this morning, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The crash happened at 8:17 a.m. between the exits for Pittston and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, PennDOT spokesman James May said. Details of the accident were not available.

The crash forced the closing of a single lane in the area, Mr. May said. According to an online traffic map provided by PennDOT, there was stop-and-go traffic on I-81 north stretching back to Exit 170B in Plains Twp, for the North Cross Valley Expressway.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — Joblessness in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre metro area jumped five-tenths of a percentage point in March to 5.9 percent as more people entered the job market.

The number employed was unchanged for the month at 265,100 on a seasonally-adjusted basis. But the ranks of the labor force — those working and looking for work — increased 1,700, driving up the unemployment rate. Total non-farm jobs in the metro area are up 2,700 for the year.

Statewide average unemployment was 4.9 percent in March. U.S. unemployment was 5 percent.

A federal appellate court again denied former Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak’s motion for a new trial, rejecting his claims he had newly discovered evidence that proved three witnesses against him lied.Tuesday's ruling

by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals marks the second time the court upheld Mr. Munchak’s conviction on corruption charges for accepting bribes from a firm that did business with the county. It comes two weeks after the same court rejected the latest appeal filed by Mr. Munchak’s co-defendant, former commissioner Robert Cordaro.

A federal jury convicted Mr. Munchak and Mr. Cordaro of multiple charges in June 2011. The panel found Mr. Munchak accepted $30,000 from three partners with Highland Associates, while Mr. Cordaro accepted money from two companies.

Mr. Cordaro was sentenced to 11 years in prison and remains incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Mr. Munchak, who was sentenced to seven years, is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Pensacola, Florida.

The 3rd Circuit court upheld both men’s convictions in May 2013. Mr. Munchak filed a second appeal in January 2014, on the basis he obtained new evidence.

The latest appeal said Mr. Munchak discovered the partners of Highland Associates falsely testified Lackawanna County owed the company $1.3 million in May 2005 when, in fact, the firm was owed $95,807. The amount of money is important because the men said they paid the kickbacks because they feared the commissioners would halt or slow payments to them.

Mr. Munchak cited a statement by the county’s chief financial officer, who said there were no outstanding invoices for $1.3 million on the date in question. He did not learn that information until after his trial, however.

The 3rd Circuit Court rejected that argument. The court said the fact there was no invoice for precisely $1.3 million does not mean the partners lied. Other evidence showed Highland was billing the county for large sums of money during that time period, which is consistent with the partners’ testimony that they feared the consequences for their business if they reported they were being extorted.

Mr. Cordaro also recently lost his latest bid for a new trial. On April 11, the 3rd Circuit Court declined to grant him permission to appeal a judge’s ruling that denied his request for a new trial based on claims his attorneys were ineffective.

The rulings leave Mr. Munchak, who is scheduled to be released from prison on May 7, 2018, and Mr. Cordaro, who is scheduled for release on Aug. 29, 2021, few options if they wish to continue to appeal. The men can ask the court to reconsider its rulings or ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their cases.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com, @tbeseckerTT on Twitter

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton easily won Pennsylvania’s Democratic presidential primary as expected, but her failure to dominate Lackawanna and Luzerne counties left some local Democrats concerned.

On the Republican side, billionaire businessman Donald J. Trump overwhelmingly won statewide and with a strong turnout here. The strength of his victory added fuel to speculation that he could win the state and at least do well here if not win, assuming he is the nominee.

In defeating Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders statewide by more than she defeated Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, Mrs. Clinton did what she had to do. Anything less than a double-digit win could have raised serious questions about her chances of winning in November.

The outcomes in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties raised some concerns to local supporters.

“I was happy Hillary did well, I think the northeast delivered for her like we expected, but it wasn’t as big as we hoped,” said Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty, a Democratic national committeewoman and a longtime supporter of Mrs. Clinton.

Mrs. Clinton had to do at least as well in Pennsylvania as 2008, when she faced off with then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. Mrs. Clinton won the state then by 9.2 percentage points. Lackawanna by 47.6 points and Luzerne by 50.4 points. On Tuesday, she was leading the state by 12.1 points, but won Lackawanna by only 13.7 points and Luzerne by 5 points.

The difference between 2008 and Tuesday was visible in local rallies. Mr. Sanders filled the Scranton Cultural Center’s more than 1,800 seats while Mrs. Clinton drew what her campaign said was about 1,200 people to Dunmore High School.

“The Bernie Sanders campaign may have been more quiet, but their voters were more motivated,” Mrs. McNulty said.

“He did really well,” said former Scranton School Director Kyle Donahue, a Democratic state committeeman and a supporter of Mr. Sanders. “He exceeded my expectations, to tell you the truth. I think it means he’s bringing a portion of the electorate that could be helpful to Democrats in the fall.”

Mr. Donahue said he was referring to younger voters (age 44 and below), who, exit polls by Edison Research showed, again supported Mr. Sanders by large numbers.

“I don’t think it’s a warning sign, I just think she needs to play her cards right through California,” he said, referring to the results and Mrs. Clinton allowing the primary campaign season to end without calling for Mr. Sanders to get out of the race. “Let his supporters express their opinion and them come together for the fall.”

Mr. Donahue conceded some local Democrats will favor Mr. Trump, assuming he’s the nominee.

“Looking at these numbers tonight, I am (concerned),” he said. “He’s appealing to people’s fears ... So we’re going to have a lot of work to do I think. We need to get mobilized, and hopefully we can do that ... People that are supporting Bernie, those are going to be the people that are going to be most important when it comes to the fall. I think Bernie’s made Hillary a better candidate.”

One other ominous sign showed up in the numbers. Republican turnout exceeded Democratic turnout in a Lackawanna County primary for the first time in memory. With all 163 precincts reporting, more than 52.4 percent of registered Republican had showed up to vote compared to 47.5 percent of Democrats.

In 2008, Democratic turnout was more than 59 percent. (Republican turnout was only 26.4 percent then, mainly because Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain had no opposition.)

County Republican chairman Lance Stange Jr. has for two months pointed to an enthusiasm advantage for Republicans and a sharp growth in the party’s voter rolls compared to a downsizing in Democratic registration from a year ago. The turnout numbers only reinforced that.

He pointed to the decline from Mrs. Clinton’s 2008 numbers.

“There was clearly more excitement on the Republican side than there was on the Democratic side when you look at past performance given many of the same options on the Democratic side,” Mr. Stange said.

Local Republican leaders expected Mr. Trump to do well across the county, and the businessman did not disappoint.

Frank Scavo, a Republican activist from Old Forge, thought Mr. Trump would take just over 51 percent of the Lackawanna vote, seriously low-balling the actual outcome. Mr. Trump received about 70 percent.

“His numbers here were unbelievable,” Mrs. McNulty said.

While Mr. Cruz might appeal more to conservative purists, Mr. Trump’s showing demonstrated many local Republicans are “willing forgo the conservative focus” and embrace a populist message, Mr. Scavo said.

“Really, it comes down to the voters have spoken and they are not going to put up with it anymore,” he said. “Trump is really sweeping all the objections our voters have to our current government and their practices into one neat pile, and he’s about to put it into the garbage can.”

William Jones II, a member of the county Republican executive committee and a state party committeeman, said part of Mr. Trump’s appeal is his status as a political outsider and a “non-establishment candidate.” That is one reason why there was an pre-primary exodus of Democrats to the Republican Party to vote for him.

“They think he breaks the mold and the cycle that has continued to go on with politics,” Mr. Jones said. “It is somebody who is going to be fresh and new.”

Whether Mr. Trump or any Republican nominee can win a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988 remains an open question.

Lackawanna County Democratic chairman Chris Patrick said he isn’t worried about Democrats losing the state.

“In the general, Bernie won’t be in the race,” Mr. Patrick said. “Come the general election, Hillary will be just fine.”

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, PRESIDENT (All 163 precincts)

Democrat

✔ Hillary Clinton...................22,971

✔ Bernie Sanders.................17,265

Republican

✔Ted Cruz ..........................3,355

✔John Kasich.......................2,599

✔Donald Trump....................14,406

While a massive brush fire in Monroe and Pike counties grew in size, it was more contained Tuesday, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Nicknamed the Sixteen Mile Fire, the Porter Twp. blaze has grown to 8,030 acres, but that is mainly because the 165 firefighters trying to stop it set containment lines that size and worked to clear the zone of fuel, DCNR spokesman Jim Hyland said. The fire is now 40 percent contained, and Mr. Hyland believes that number will increase quickly because containment lines have been established.

“We made some good progress today,” he said Tuesday night. “Looks like good news overall.”

But the fire, which officials believe was set intentionally, has destroyed 11 structures: two leased cabins, three seasonal homes and six outbuildings, according to a DCNR news release. An estimated 140 structures are threatened by the fire.

An ember burned one firefighter’s leg, though it did not seriously injure him, Mr. Hyland said.

Recent rain helped crews make progress containing the fire but the wind from thunderstorms may have also blow embers around, Mr. Hyland said.

“Brief showers don’t really do much because it gets dry again the next day,” he said.

A portion of the Delaware State Forest bounded by Route 402, Highline Road, Pine Flats Road and Hobday Road is temporarily closed. Travel on Snow Hill Road is restricted. All visitors to the state forest should be cautious and use discretion.

Fire investigators believe the Sixteen Mile Fire, named after a region in the forest, was intentionally set along with the now-contained Bear Town Fire, which burned 700 acres.

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for setting the fires.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com,

@jkohutTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Emily Michelle Russen, Scott Twp., and Shawn Michael Bifano, Simpson.

■ Jerome Robert Smith and William James Carite Jr., both of Scranton.

■ Jared Eugene Smith and Jaclyn Marie Fisher, both of Gouldsboro.

■ John Michael Frankovsky and Cara Ann Lewis, both of Jermyn.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Karen Grabowski, administratrix of the estate of John Budnovitch, also known as Jack Budnovitch, Scott Twp., to Emil Suchy, Peckville; a property at 202 Eleanor St., Blakely, for $81,000.

■ Karl N. Kleeman to Angelica Baez; two parcels in Scranton for $70,000.

■ Wells Fargo Bank, attorney-in-fact for U.S. Bank NA, Frederick, Md., to Paul Trzcinski, Old Forge; a property at 1215 S. Main St., Old Forge, for $34,000.

■ Robert P. Conte, Juneau, Alaska, to James and Kim Weaver, Scranton; a property at 88 Arnold Ave., Scranton, for $122,900.

■ Guerra Inc., Raleigh, N.C., to Timothy S. and Stacy Jo O’Connor, Scranton; a property at 1216 Birch St., Scranton, for $167,000.

■ Caliber Home Loans Inc., attorney-in-fact for LSF9 Master Participation Trust, to Rysene Travis Price and Richard Joseph Musti, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 1102 Pierce St., Scranton, for $39,900.

ESTATES FILED

■ Erma Olga Donvito, 303 Smallacombe Drive, Scranton, letters of administration to Mary Metzger, 131 E. Corey St., Scranton.

■ Thomas J. Logan, 540 Main St., Dickson City, letters of administration to Rosemary Logan, same address.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Benton Twp.

Spring cleanup: Benton Twp. spring resident cleanup days, May 13, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 14, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; bins at maintenance building, Route 107, Fleetville, $35/pickup truck load, $50/larger trucks and $4/tire (must be dismounted), separate electronics from other debris; 570-945-5897.

Clarks Summit

Flower sale: Countryside Com­munity Church spring flower sale, May 7, 9 a.m.-noon, 14011 Orchard Drive; 570-587-3206 or www.-countryside-church.org by Sunday.

Clifford

Church dinner: Clifford United Methodist Church chicken-n-biscuit or ham dinner, May 18, 4-6 p.m., Main Street, takeouts available; $8.95.

Eynon

Pasta dinner: Mothers’ Club of the Gina Tomassoni School of Dance pasta dinner fundraiser, May 22, 1-5 p.m., studio, 280 Main St., 50/50 and basket raffle, takeouts available, $10, from dance students or Julie Kulenich, 570-876-8180, or April O’Connor, 570-876-5781, limited tickets at door.

Lackawanna County

Self-defense seminar: Scranton Mixed Martial Arts training center free self-defense seminar for women to benefit the Catherine McAuley Center, Saturday, 2 p.m., 1000 Dunham Drive, Dun­more, ages 12 and up, bring two items including kitchenware, school supplies, bathroom supplies, bedding, infant necessities, nonperishable food items and personal toiletries; bring five items, receive 10 percent off Scranton MMA training Center membership; 570-851-2987.

Senior seminar: Rep. Marty Flynn and the state attorney general’s office hosting senior crime prevention seminar, May 13, 10 a.m., St. Joseph’s Hall, Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Davis St., Scranton, information on how to avoid scams relating to charities, lotteries and home improvement issues; 570-342-4348 by May 9.

Pasta dinner: Pasta dinner benefit for Matthew Toolan, May 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Career Technol­ogy Center, 3201 Rockwell Ave., Scranton, $10, takeouts available; 570-346-8472.

Mid Valley

Benefit Zumbathon: Zumbathon to benefit family of 4-year-old Stage IV Neuroblastoma patient Elijah Sabo, Saturday, 6-9 p.m., Zumba, 6:30; Dickson City Civic Center, 935 Albert St., two hours nonstop Zumba fitness, basket raffles, food, beverages; T-shirt, wrist band, key chain sales; $12/adults, $7/children; details, Wee Care Daycare, 570-489-5273.

North Scranton

Neighbors meeting: North Scran­ton Neighborhood Associ­ation Watch meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., Weston Park field house, to discuss family fun day.

Pittston

Halupki dinner: St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church halupki (piggie) dinner, May 15, 1-3 p.m., church hall, 205 N. Main St., $10/adults and $7/under 12, also selling Lottery Tickets for the month of June.

Taylor

Historical meeting: Taylor His­tor­ical Society meeting, May 17, 6:45 p.m., community library, program: “History of Memorial Day,” Christine Schaefer, speaker; 570-562-1225.

Throop

Beef dinner: Congregation of Throop United Methodist Church roast beef dinner, May 14, 136 Charles St., takeouts, 2-4 p.m., eat-in, 4-7 p.m., $11/adults and $5.50/children; 570-489-3352 or 570-487-4664.

Tunkhannock

Women’s event: Tunkhannock Business and Professional Women Wine Down 2016, May 12, Dietrich Theater, featuring the movie, “The Intern,” wine, finger foods, desserts and door prizes, doors open, 6 p.m., movie starts, 7:30, in the Evans Theater, $20, from BPW members or at the door until sold out; 570-840-2928.

Wayne County

Grief support: Wayne Memorial Hospital free grief workshops, five-week session, Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., May 17-June 14, Chatlos Room, hospital’s second floor, facilitated by the Rev. Edward K. Erb, Wayne Memorial Hospital and Hospice chaplain (though the sessions are designed as nonsectarian) and Anna Walsh, a social worker with WMH; registration form: www.wmh.org; information; edwardkerb@aol.com.

Wyoming Valley

Group meeting: Wyoming Valley Civil War Round Table meeting, May 12, 7 p.m., lower level of the Daddow-Isaacs American Legion, 730 Memorial Highway, Dallas, presentation, “Hospital Sketches from the Civil War,” by Jennifer Ochman, as Louisa May Alcott; $3/nonmembers; John, 570-675-8936.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

ARCHBALD — Students requiring alternative and special education services will attend class in the same building in the fall.

The board of the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit voted 18-0 on Tuesday to rent the LaSalle Academy, 625 Dundaff St. in Dickson City, and move both the Jefferson Center and Achievement Academy to the new location.

“We think this is a solid opportunity that is safe for students,” said Bob McTiernan, NEIU executive director.

The NEIU expects to save about $500,000 a year in rent, staff reductions through attrition and the reassignment of an administrator. The two-year lease with Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is $42,000 a year, with an option to renew. The NEIU will no longer rent the alternative education school, the Achievement Academy, at 110 Betty St. in Archbald. The agency will retain the Jefferson Center, 185 E. Pine St., in Dunmore.

The two-year lease will give the agency time to decide what to do with Jefferson Center, which the NEIU’s foundation leases to the agency for $1 a year. The school is in need of $1 million to $2 million in repairs, Mr. McTier­nan said.

Some directors questioned the accessibility of the LaSalle Academy, since many Jefferson students are in wheelchairs. The NEIU will make necessary accommodations, including adding ramps and making restrooms accessible, Mr. McTiernan said. The NEIU expects the state Department of Education to approve the move.

Eric Emmerich, who represents Elk Lake on the board, called the lease “in the best interest of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Diocese of Scranton children at the LaSalle Academy’s Dickson City campus will attend school at the academy’s Jessup location this fall.

After the meeting, Mr. McTiernan addressed the report of a drug overdose Monday at the Achievement Academy. One student shared a prescription anti-seizure medication with another student. Both were taken to the hospital and both are fine, Mr. McTiernan said. Their home school districts will determine any kind of discipline, he said.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

A man accused of selling crack in Scranton ran from police Monday when they went to arrest him and led officers on a chase down a 30-foot embankment by the Lackawanna River, authorities said.

Raul Oscar Bernardez, 32, who is listed as homeless, faces charges ranging from drug crimes to resisting arrest, tampering with evidence and recklessly endangering another person, Lackawanna County detectives wrote in a criminal complaint.

Mr. Bernardez sold crack in a controlled purchase, and detectives moved in to arrest him near Bergen Court at 2:30 p.m., police said. Mr. Bernardez ignored commands to get on the ground and ran toward an embankment near the river. Police chased him and watched Mr. Bernardez tumble down the bank.

Two officers from the Scranton Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit lost their footing as well and fell 30 feet down the slope. However, they continued to chase Mr. Bernardez and tackled him on a trail that runs alongside the river.

Mr. Bernardez thrashed and struggled, police said, and officers used force and a stun gun to subdue him and put him in handcuffs. No one was injured in the pursuit, Scranton police Lt. Marty Crofton said.

Police searched him and found 20 plastic twist-off bags containing a total of 11 grams of crack.

Magisterial District Judge Sean P. McGraw arraigned Mr. Bernardez at 5:20 p.m. Monday and jailed him at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 5 at 9 a.m.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com,

@jkohutTT on Twitter

Meet Drake

Eshleman

School: Delaware Valley

Parents: Tamara and

Edward Eshleman

Plans: Major in a mathematics-related field at Cornell University

Drake Eshleman finds pas de deuxs, Super Smash Bros. Melee, math, reading and singing exciting and challenging.

A proud member of Delaware Valley’s nationally ranked Quiz Bowl team, Future Business Leaders of America and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honors Society, Drake performs with a ballet studio and various level choruses and choirs.

“Being in the NAfME (The National Association for Music Education) All-Eastern Chorus my junior year was the experience of a lifetime. In general, I am extremely proud of my choral accomplishments. I have put hours upon hours of work into my concerts and festivals, and it has always paid off,” Drake said.

A National Honor Society member with a 4.67 GPA, Drake was a regional medalist in the Scholastic Bowl, participated in AMC (American Mathematics Competitions)

12 Mathematics Competition, Moody’s Math Modeling Challenge and Science Olympiad, the student-run “Inyourface” Big Band and community theater with the Presby Players.

Dancing the lead role of Siegfried in the ballet “Swan Lake” was, Drake said, “extremely challenging. ... Siegfried has two full pas de deuxs, and the ballet is so highly regarded that the audience would know if something was off. I’m extremely proud of myself, my partners and my studio for pulling it off.”

Equally enjoyable for Drake are playing video games competitively, playing table tennis and Frisbee with family members, practicing piano or accordion, watching Netflix and just sitting down and reading “whatever’s next in my ‘Haven’t Read This’ list of books.” His childhood obsession with Rubik’s Cube resulted in a collection. “They come in a surprising number of shapes, sizes, and models,” he said.

“Truly awed at how much time, care and effort” his parents “put into raising me and my two older sisters,” Drake says his role models did, “Anything they could do to make sure our lives were a little bit better.” Their parents instilled him and his siblings with “a zest for being inquisitive, exploring the world and the opportunities it affords, a sense of humility and the importance of always helping others.”

And, it would seem a sense of individuality and humor. Every Tuesday, Drake dresses in formal attire “except for dress shoes, who wants to walk around in those” for a tradition he calls “Tailored Tuesdays.”

Drake plans to major in mathematics or a related field while including music or vocal performance.

“I intend to sing in some sort of choir or acapella group, and I want to continue Quiz Bowl in college. Long term, I hope to get a Ph.D. in mathematics and work as a professor.”

­— LISA ZACCAGNINO

Scranton native and Republican state attorney general candidate Joe Peters won big in Northeast Pennsylvania, but fell short statewide in Tuesday’s primary election.

The former city police officer and prosecutor overwhelmingly won Lackawanna County with about 75 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting Tuesday night. He also handily carried neighboring Wyoming, Wayne, Susquehanna and Luzerne counties, according to unofficial results.

Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, Montgomery, cruised to the GOP nomination Tuesday. Mr. Peters called the senator about 10:25 p.m. to concede the election.

Despite the wide margin, Mr. Peters, who lives in Overfield Twp., Wyoming County, said he felt good about his campaign’s showing Tuesday, saying he and his supporters were faced with an “incomprehensible task” due to his late entry.

Sen. Rafferty officially announced his intent to seek the attorney general’s job in June, the first candidate of either party to do so, and has been in the race for 10 months. In contrast, Mr. Peters entered the race in February, announcing his candidacy the same day embattled Attorney General Kathleen Kane, Mr. Peters’ former boss, said she would bow out.

“We took on the establishment with little money versus an organization with people in every county that generates votes at every poll,” Mr. Peters said to supporters at the Scranton Club.

Mr. Peters served as Ms. Kane’s press secretary during the early part of her tenure as attorney general.

Three candidates vied for the Democratic nomination for attorney general: former state representative and current Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro and a pair of district attorneys, John Morganelli of Northumberland County and Stephen Zappala Jr. of Allegheny County. Locally, Mr. Shapiro handily won Lackawanna County with about 45 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results with three precincts still unreported. Mr. Zappala narrowly edged Mr. Morganelli for second place, with 28.2 percent of the vote to 26.5 percent.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

NAME: Larry Wynne

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 35

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Scranton Department of Public Works, Parks and Recreation

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON: She’s going to restore education and she’s going to bring things back to Lackawanna County.

NAME: Ryan Yurvati.

PARTY: Democrat.

AGE: 25

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Student at The Commonwealth Medical College

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: He fit more along the lines of what I value, and that is more of a focus on education and economic distribution, more to help the middle class, and less of an emphasis on the immigration laws and deportations and stuff that Republicans are currently focused on.

NAME: Frank Balducci

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 74

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Retired iron worker

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I voted for Trump because he doing -- saying everything that I've been saying all my life, and besides that I know his son.

NAME: Thomas Nicholls

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 89

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Retired roofer and University of Scranton security officer

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I like him because he's forward and he tells the truth and he might help America out.

Name: Leslie Matatics

Age: 52

Home Town: Scranton

Occupation: Home business operator

Who voted for: Ted Cruz

Reason: I feel we really need a conservative Supreme Court nominee. That's one of many reasons. To me that's very important.

Name: Rose Marie Katchmar

Age: 82

Occupation: Retired

Home town: Scranton

Who voted for: Donald Trump

Reason: I feel he is going to do good for us . . . . When he talks, he means it. there is no BS with him. He knows what he is doing

Name: Christina Matatics

Age: 30

Home Town: Scranton

Occupation: Soccer coach

Who voted for: Ted Cruz

Reason: I feel the pro-life cause is the most important issue. Ted Cruz does more than any other candidate to support that.

Name: Aileen Roth

Age: 66

Home town: Scranton

Occupation: Retired

Who voted for: Joe Biden

Reason: I don't like any of the rest of them. I know him personally. He is the most honest and would put the country back on track better than any of them.

Name: Gayle Gilman

Age: 76

Home Town: Scranton

Occupation: Retired

Who voted for: Hillary Clinton

Reason: I think she is the most qualified. You look at other candidates. They have a lot to say, but they don't have anything to back up their plans. She is in government a long time.

NAME: Gregory King

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 28

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Manufacturing worker

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: Bernie is a true American, a regular man who lives in a regular house and has regular problems. He wants to make America be America again and fulfill what it promises to the people.

NAME: Brian Bauman

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 29

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Commercial Driver

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: Trump is a smart businessman. People make fun of him because he claimed bankruptcy from time to time, but he always came back. In some ways, the country is in bankruptcy and he's going to bring it back. A lot of the comments he has taken heat for were taken out-of-context.

NAME: Bill Rosky

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 71

HOMETOWN: Scranton

OCCUPATION: Retired Police Officer

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: Donald Trump is the best man for the job because he is not a politician and he's putting his own money from his own pocket into the race. I want my grandchildren to have the type of opportunity I had.

NAME: Bill Torbeck

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 52

HOMETOWN: Dunmore

OCCUPATION: electrical contractor

VOTED FOR: Ted Cruz

REASON: I think (Donald) Trump has no substance. He's just talked to the masses ... Ted Cruz is a constitutional conservative, an originalist ... He has a long record of fighting for school choice, states rights and defending the Bill of Rights.
 

NAME: Tara Roche

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 33

HOMETOWN: Dunmore

OCCUPATION: real estate agent

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I honestly think this country needs a change, and he's the one to do it. He has engaged a lot of people who haven't been active in politics. And he's a businessman.

 

NAME: Ellen Malone

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 29

HOMETOWN: Dunmore

OCCUPATION: teacher

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON: She's been talking a lot about education. That's important. It's nice to see someone taking it seriously and trying to be proactive.

 

NAME: Aubrie Collins

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 35

HOMETOWN: Dunmore

OCCUPATION: stay-at-home mother

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: Hillary seems less trustworthy. I like Bernie's education policies - making college tuition free.

NAME: Tracy Brazil

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 36

HOMETOWN: Archbald

OCCUPATION: Kindergarten Teacher

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON: (Hillary Clinton) is the best candidate for teachers. The NEA has said that she is the best for teachers. Education is an important value, and she'll continue President Obama's initiative of "Race to the Top".

NAME: Edward Andrukitis

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 66

HOMETOWN: Jefferson Township

OCCUPATION:  Electronics worker at Tobyhanna Army Depot

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I'm tired of the same old game in Washington, the same politicians the same power bloc, and they're running the country. They have no concern for the voters at all. All they are concerned with is maintaining their own power bloc. Trump is an outsider. I believe as a businessman he can turn this country around, because he is a businessman. Politician is second. I enjoy his forthrightness, his bluntness, his wanting to tackle the problems head on rather than talking about them, putting them on the table and naming a committee. This Republican party that we have right now, including the other two runners, are all part of the party. And you can see right now with the deals they're making to keep Trump out.
I'm for Trump 100 percent, (and) 100 percent behind the Republican party, but the party needs to change. It needs to adapt to the needs of the people, rather than the needs of the party.

NAME: Alec Rodway

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 19

HOMETOWN: Blakely

OCCUPATION: College Student

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I believe (Bernie Sanders) is an honest man who is willing to help people like me and my family. He's not into the whole 'helping the one percent get richer,' and that's something he always likes to talk about.

NAME: Ken Kochis

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 58

HOMETOWN: Jefferson Township

OCCUPATION: Self-employed in construction

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I just like the fresh approach he has. He gets the young people involved. And one of the biggest reasons - I don't think another Clinton should be president.

NAME: Judy Czachor

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 69

HOMETOWN: Madison Township

OCCUPATION: Retired

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: He doesn't owe anybody anything. I even changed my party. I've been a Democrat all my life and I changed my voter registration so I could vote for Donald Trump. I just think he's the best choice. I don't like Hillary. That's it. I like Trump. I like (that) he's honest. He might be a little mouthy at times, but hey, who isn't.

NAME: Eric Parsons

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 51

HOMETOWN: Madison Township

OCCUPATION: NJ Transit railroad employee

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: The reason I voted for Donald Trump is because I have seen the Republicans cower down to Obama for year after year after year. I'm sick to death of it. In fact, now that I'm done, I'm leaving the Republican party because of that. And I stayed with it to vote for Donald Trump because I don't think he's going to cower down and he's certainly not going to bow to foreign leaders.

NAME: Carol Stedenfeld

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 62

HOMETOWN: Roaring Brook Twp.

OCCUPATION: Nurse

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: He's sort of the underdog at this point and Hillary has taken a lot of money from big corporations. And I'm sort of still idealistic, and I'm hoping that some of it, if not coming from him if he doesn't get elected, it will at least put it into the consciousness of a lot of people.

NAME: Dr. Donald Preate Jr.

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 47

HOMETOWN: Roaring Brook Twp.

OCCUPATION: Urologic Surgeon

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: We need change. Make America great again. I just have been kind of confused at prior Republicans and the Democrats. I think he brings some new ideas and goes against the time-honored traditions of the same old things that we always vote for. I think the country really needs to do something different now, so I'm willing to give him a chance.

NAME: Kevin Collins

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 35

HOMETOWN: Blakely

OCCUPATION: Benefits and Records Technician for the Social Security Administration, Combat Veteran

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I'm a Marine Corp.veteran and I find my values are more affiliated with (Donald Trump's) than the other candidates. I like what he has to say about veterans and I also like his immigration foreign policies ... One thing that Trump said that I like: he wants to make the VA similar to Medicare. Where you can get a veterans card just like a Medicare card and you can go to any providers you want, as opposed to having to go to the VA hospital.

NAME: Carolyn Hickman

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 18

HOMETOWN: Clarks Summit

OCCUPATION: Student

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: Because he's the only candidate who can challenge Hillary.

NAME: Megan Boettcher

PARTY: Democratn

AGE: 31

HOMETOWN: Clarks Summit

OCCUPATION: Social worker

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: What Bernie stands for is most in line with my political views," she said, adding especially his attention to the student debt problem.

NAME: Nancy Guzzi

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 54

HOMETOWN: Carbondale

OCCUPATION: Homemaker

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: Number one he can't be bought because he's got his own money. Number two he doesn't take crap from anyone ... I just think he would be a strong President, and I think we do have to do something about our borders.

NAME: Akhtar Nayeem

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 52

HOMETOWN: South Abington Township

OCCUPATION: Engineer

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I want a change. I want to see the old politicians go away and see a new generation step up and new ideas come forward.

Name: Bethany Cross

Age: 32

Party: Republican

Hometown: Clarks Summit

Occupation: Stay at home mom

Voted for: Ted Cruz

Why: "He's believable and trustworthy. I want someone who I know is pro-life and will not sway on the issues. I feel Trump could be swayed in any policy area. I also want a president who is elected based on merit and not emotional campaigning.

NAME: Phillip Crisp

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 39

HOMETOWN: Scott Township

OCCUPATION: Probation Officer

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON: I like that she has a background in the White House having been first lady. I also like that she has family ties to the area.

NAME: Kay Lavelle

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 62

HOMETOWN: Moscow

OCCUPATION: Retired college professor

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I’ve admired him for many years. Until recently he wasn’t given the recognition that he deserves. I always felt as if he spoke for the average, middle-class person.

 

NAME: Cindi Mazza

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 59

HOMETOWN: Thornhurst Twp.

OCCUPATION: Behavioral health executive

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON: I think she’s very objective. I think she does change her mind (is willing to compromise) because she listens to the people around her … I don’t care what happens in her private life, I don’t care about her emails. I care about her experience, and what frightens me most is our foreign affairs. I want somebody who knows what they’re doing.

NAME: Andy Burke

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 50

HOMETOWN: Moscow

OCCUPATION: Computer programmer

VOTED FOR: John Kasich

REASON: Tilting into windmills, but … He is the most level-headed. He’s had the best ideas so far; he’s not as radical or as dimwitted as Trump seems to be, and I can’t stomach voting for another evangelical, conservative Christian.

 

NAME: Ed Little

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 52

HOMETOWN: Covington Twp.

OCCUPATION: Equipment technician

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I think the way we’ve been heading is wrong. I like his ideas on enforcing laws that we already have on the books on immigration. I like the idea of making our military strong. He’s saying all the right things for people. I wouldn’t say I’m a straight-up conservative, and neither is he.

NAME: Michael Pope

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 18

HOMETOWN: Old Forge

OCCUPATION: Student

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I believe Donald Trump has the best vision for America moving forward... I think Donald Trump has the country's best interests in mind, regardless of how ridiculous he seems sometimes. If you get past all the media hype, he does have a legitimate vision for America.

NAME: Nick Lawrence

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 26

HOMETOWN: Dunmore

OCCUPATION: Metal worker

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: Numerous reasons. Number one, I will say his campaign finance reform is tantalizing, and is a fantastic opportunity. Also, the opportunity for free healthcare is also fantastic, free college...Those are the reasons people really seem to be gravitating towards, but number one, campaign finance reform. Getting the money out of politics, getting the money out of Washington, it's the only way that the people are going to have a legitimate voice again.

NAME: Marsha Gilbride

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 70

HOMETOWN: Throop

OCCUPATION: Health care worker

VOTED FOR: Hillary Clinton

REASON:  I think she's more than qualified. She was a state senator for eight years, the first lady for eight years. She knows what's going on. We don't need a Donald Trump.

NAME: Karen Persing

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 26

HOMETOWN: Throop

OCCUPATION: Teacher

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: He's the only one I listen to and understand. He doesn't talk in circles. The others seem to just be arguing.

NAME: Dominick Fortese

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 23

HOMETOWN; Dunmore

OCCUPATION: Food maintenance

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I feel like he has better views than all the other candidates, and his views are more plausible.

NAME: Janice Philbin

PARTY: Democrat

AGE: 50

HOMETOWN: Throop

OCCUPATION: Registered nurse

VOTED FOR: Bernie Sanders

REASON: I like what he stands for. He advocates for younger people and education. He's a humanitarian.

Name: Jeremy Burden

Age: 19

Party: Republican

Hometown: Scott Township

Occupation: Student/Dairy farmer

Voted for: Donald Trump

Why: He's the only one who will get in and get things done, he can get in there and get people riled up. I also like his positions on gas drilling and immigration.

NAME: Ken Jenkins

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 55

HOMETOWN: Old Forge

OCCUPATION: Self-employed

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I voted for Trump because America needs a change, and needs to be ran like a business.

NAME: Richard Williams

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 46

HOMETOWN: Madison Township

OCCUPATION: Production supervisor

VOTED FOR: Donald Trump

REASON: I'm not happy with the way the establishment is today in the current administration and our elected officials altogether. I think we need a change. Status quo doesn't work. I like his aggressiveness. I don't
think that any candidate out there right now is perfect, but I think he might be the best chance for us to make a big change in Washington.
I voted for Donald Trump because I think he can bring change that we need. I think he's more for the people than the current administration and the other people that are running.

Bethlehem racing car team owner Matt Connolly earned the Republican party nod to face off against incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright in the general election for the 17th Congressional District.

Mr. Connolly’s opponent, Glenn Geissinger, was unable to parlay his experience as a business owner, Northampton city councilman and Army veteran into a victory against Mr. Connolly’s full-throated conservatism.

Mr. Cartwright, of Moosic, working toward a third term representing the 17th District, was unopposed on the Democratic side.

As results from throughout the sprawling districts funneled in late Tuesday night, Mr. Connolly had a commanding lead — 30,328 votes to Mr. Geissinger’s 18,013 votes, according to unofficial results — which was in excess of 20 percentage points with three-fourths of the precincts reporting.

This is Mr. Connolly’s second bid for the seat, having run in 2014 for the Republican nomination and losing the primary to David “Doc” Moylan, who went on to lose to Mr. Cartwright.

11th District

In the 11th Congressional District, unopposed former Hazleton Mayor Michael Marsicano earned the Democratic nod to face off against an old political foe, Republican Lou Barletta, who hopes to defend his seat for a fourth term.

Prior to his election to Congress, Mr. Barletta and Mr. Marsicano ran for mayor in 1999. Then-incumbent Mr. Marsicano lost to Jack Mundie in the Democratic primary, and Mr. Barletta defeated Mr. Mundie in the general election.

In 2007, Mr. Marsicano tried to reclaim the mayor’s office, but Mr. Barletta stopped him in the primary with a write-in campaign.

10th District

In the 10th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Tom Marino ran unopposed for the Republican Party nomination.

17th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Matt Cartwright..................................67,185

REPUBLICAN

Matt Connolly.....................................30,328

✔Glenn Geissinger..................................18,013

Uncontested

10th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Tom Marino........................................83,618

11th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Lou Barletta.......................................90,793

DEMOCRAT

Michael Paul Marsicano.....................56,568

Contact the writer:

dfalchek@timesshamrock.com✔

The 10th Congressional District includes Brandford, Juniata, Lycoming, Miflin, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union and Wayne counties and parts of Lackawanna, Monroe, Northumberland, Tioga and Perry counties.

The 11th Congressional District includes all of Columbia, Montour, and Wyoming counties and parts of Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne, Northumberland, and Perry counties.

The 17th Congressional District includes part of Lackawanna County stretching from Carbondale through Scranton to Moosic and down to Thornhurst Twp., the Wilkes-Barre and Pittston areas and other parts of Luzerne County, all or parts of Berks, Perry, Lebanon or Schuylkill counties.

Voters in the Riverside School District stomped a referendum that would have allowed a tax increase of more than 8 percent to raise money for a district with a “dangerously low” rainy-day fund.

More than 90 percent of ballots cast — representing 3,370 voters — were against the tax increase, while 308 were in favor, according to unofficial results.

Registered voters in Moosic and Taylor, the two boroughs served by the district, were asked to hike school district real estate taxes by an additional 4.47 mills, or 3.93 percent. A mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

A “yes” outcome could have resulted in an increase of as much as 8.93 mills, or 8.16 percent, during the 2016-17 school year.

The state Department of Education already approved the district’s application to increase taxes over a predetermined cap, known as the Act 1 Index, giving the school board the ability to enact a 4.46-mill hike regardless of what voters decide.

Superintendent Paul M. Brennan previously called the referendum a “desperation move” from the school district because it has a “dangerously low” rainy-day fund and health insurance reserve.

Attempts to reach Mr. Brennan and school board President Carol Armstrong were unsuccessful Tuesday, but school district officials had warned of cuts if the referendum failed.

Carbondale

referendum fails

In another referendum on the other side of the county, voters in the city of Carbondale narrowly defeated a complicated measure that would have amended the Home Rule Charter to alter how the city handles its annual financial audit.

About 51 percent of 952 ballots were cast against the change, according to unofficial results.

Carbondale officials said the change would result in lower audit fees, saving the city money.

Had the referendum been approved, the accountant or accounting firm hired to perform the audit could have been appointed for up to six consecutive years and would be eligible for reappointment after three years. The current language limits the appointment to two years and bars reappointment for five years.

The question also would have dropped a requirement for the city to publish an annual audit summary in favor of making the audit available for public inspection at City Hall.

City officials argued they would have gained additional cost savings through elimination of the publication mandate.

REFERENDUMS

Do you favor the Riverside School District imposing an additional 3.93% increase in real estate taxes equaling 4.47 mill(s) above the Act 1 Index and referendum exceptions granted under Section 333(f) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006?

✔No......................... 3,370

Yes...............................308

Should Section III of the City of Carbondale’s Home Rule Charter be amended to extend the appointment period for the independent auditor to six years and reappointment eligibility to three years; and eliminating the requirement of publishing an annual audit summary in favor of requiring the audit be available for public inspection at City Hall?

✔No.............................952

Yes...............................898

Contact the writer:

pcameron@timesshamrock.com,

@pcameronTT on Twitter

Former state Rep. Kevin Haggerty won his rematch with state Rep. Frank Farina during Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, with Throop Borough Council President Thomas Lukasewicz finishing in a distant third place.

Mr. Farina, of Jessup, defeated Mr. Haggerty by 7 percentage points two years ago when the lawmakers were pitted against each other in a redrawn 112th Legislative District.

But this time, the Dunmore resident turned the tables and won a close race by about 2 percentage points, according to unofficial results.

Mr. Haggerty, who will carry the party banner this fall as he vies with Archbald Republican Ernest Lemoncelli, credited a grass-roots team that relentlessly campaigned. Mr. Haggerty estimated he knocked on doors between five and seven hours per day over the past four months.

“We worked long hours, and when you see the results, you know that every inch matters,” Mr. Haggerty said.

Two controversial projects that drew grass-roots opposition from residents on each side of the district spanning the Midvalley, Dunmore and a slice of Scranton provided a unique element to the race.

In Dunmore and Throop, Keystone Sanitary Landfill proposed a nearly half-century expansion, and in Mr. Farina’s hometown, Invenergy plans to build a natural-gas-fired power plant.

Mr. Farina supported the power plant project, citing a $1 billion investment into a community, and the second-term lawmaker did not take a position on the landfill expansion, saying he wanted to keep politics out of the state Department of Environmental Protection review. His foes opposed both projects.

“I think it all comes into play,” Mr. Haggerty said.

Mr. Farina agreed several factors were relevant to the outcome and said it’s possible supporting the power plant project may have hurt him on election day — even though he thinks the plant will be good for the community.

“A politician lives from election to election,” Mr. Farina said. “A statesman does the right thing.”

Mr. Farina also thinks media coverage of his $197 travel reimbursement for a trip to Penn State University, during which he attended a football game, hurt him. Earlier this month, Mr. Farina apologized and announced he was paying the money back.

In the end, Mr. Farina said he felt relieved because being a legislator took so much time away from his family, although he didn’t entirely rule out another run in the future.

Mr. Lukasewicz, who drew 22.2 percent of the vote, spent significant time campaigning door to door and said he was surprised and disappointed by the results Tuesday — although he acknowledged going up against an incumbent lawmaker and a former state representative isn’t easy.

Mr. Haggerty said he commends both of his opponents for being willing to serve and complimented Mr. Lukasewicz on his debate performance.

“I think he has a future in politics,” Mr. Haggerty said.

112th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Kevin Haggerty..............5,773

Frank Farina.....................5,444

Thomas Lukasewicz..........3,204

REPUBLICAN

Ernest Lemoncelli............. 2,678

113th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Marty Flynn...............9,031

REPUBLICANDavid Burgerhoff...............3,054

114th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Sid Michaels Kavulich....... 9,645

REPUBLICAN

Cheryl Scandale-Murnin..... 4,871

116th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Gary Gregory....................4,080

REPUBLICAN

Tarah Toohil...................... 7,104

117th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Karen Boback................... 9,709

118th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Mike Carroll...................... 9,449

119th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Justin Valera Behrens...... 4,235

DEMOCRAT

Gerald Mullery.................. 7,018

120th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Aaron D. Kaufer................ 6,741

DEMOCRAT

Robert John McDonald...... 7,251

121st DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

Eddie Day Pashinski.......... 6,558

139th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Michael Peifer................... 2,462

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

The 112th District includes parts of the city of Scranton along with the boroughs of Archbald, Blakely, Dunmore, Jessup, Olyphant and Throop.

Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Fritz won a three-way Republican primary contest for the nomination in the 111th House District, according to unofficial results.

With 100 percent of Wayne County precincts and 98 percent of Susquehanna County precincts reporting, Mr. Fritz had 4,120 votes, or 41 percent, while former longtime state Rep. Jerry Birmelin, also of Wayne County, was running second with 3,116 votes, or 31 percent. Susquehanna County Commissioner Alan Hall was trailing with 2,817 votes, or 28 percent.

No Democrat ran in the primary; however, a write-in candidate could be named by Democrats for the Nov. 8 general election.

Mr. Fritz cleaned up on his home turf of Wayne County by a large ratio, with 58 percent of the vote. Mr. Birmelin garnered 36 percent of the Wayne County vote, while Mr. Hall trailed with 6 percent there.

With most of Susquehanna County votes tallied, Mr. Hall led there with 47 percent of the vote. Mr. Birmelin and Mr. Fritz each were polling at nearly the same amount in Susquehanna County, 27 and 26 percent, respectively.

In an interview before results started coming in, Mr. Hall said his opponents from Wayne County each spent a lot of time campaigning in Susquehanna County.

Turnout at some polling places also appeared to be heavy for a primary, at more than twice as high as usual, Mr. Hall said.

All well-known in the GOP-dominated 111th House District, the three candidates vied for the Republican nod to fill a void left by the retirement of longtime state Rep. Sandra Major.

In her 22nd year in office, Ms. Major, a resident of Bridgewater Twp. in Susquehanna County, has announced she will retire when the legislative session ends Nov. 30.

Mr. Fritz, 39, a former two-term Honesdale mayor in his second term as Wayne County commissioner, focused in his campaign on rural issues. He referred to himself as “Tractor Jon,” in a nod to his days as a tractor salesman.

Mr. Birmelin, 66, of South Canaan Twp., is a former 22-year state representative for the 139th District, now represented by Rep. Michael Peifer.

Mr. Hall, 59, of Hallstead, is serving his second commissioner term and is a former Blue Ridge School Board president.

During the campaign, Mr. Birmelin cited his extensive experience in the Legislature and knowledge of how the legislative process works.

However, Mr. Hall portrayed Mr. Birmelin’s legislative history as a liability. Mr. Hall cited Mr. Birmelin’s vote in 2005 for the infamous midnight pay raise for legislators that angered voters and led to many incumbents losing their seats. Mr. Birmelin, who retired from his 139th seat in 2006, had said that pay raise was a mistake. He supported its repeal.

Efforts to reach Mr. Birmelin and Mr. Fritz on Tuesday night were unsuccessful.

111th DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

Jonathan Fritz..............4,120

Jerry Birmelin.................3,116

Alan Hall........................2,817

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

WASHINGTON (AP) — With five convincing victories in hand, Donald Trump strengthened his grip on the Republican primary race and pushed tantalizingly close to a general election showdown with Hillary Clinton. The Democratic front-runner is now 90 percent of the way to her party's nomination after four solid victories of her own Tuesday.

The Republican race now turns to Indiana, where next week's primary marks one of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's last chances to slow Trump and push the race toward a contested convention. While Trump does need to keep winning in order to stay on his narrow path to the GOP nomination, he declared himself the party's "presumptive nominee" after Tuesday's results rolled in.

"It's over. As far as I'm concerned it's over," he declared. The real estate mogul now has 77 percent of the delegates he needs.

Trump was headed to Indiana Wednesday after delivering a foreign policy speech in Washington. The address at a downtown hotel is the first in a series of speeches the Republican front-runner is expected to give in the coming weeks, all with the goal of easing Americans' concerns about his readiness for the presidency.

Likewise, Clinton was eager to turn her attention to Trump. While Clinton advisers say they won't underestimate Trump, as many of his vanquished Republican rivals did, her campaign sees opportunities to not only energize Democrats in an effort to keep him out of the White House but also appeal to Republicans turned off by the brash billionaire.

"If you are a Democrat, an independent or a thoughtful Republican, you know that their approach is not going to build an America where we increase opportunity or decrease inequality," Clinton said of the GOP candidates.

Trump's victories came in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Clinton ceded only Rhode Island to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders, in an interview with The Associated Press, conceded he has a "very narrow path and we're going to have to win some big victories."

In the Republican race, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich are desperately trying to force a convention fight. The challengers have even taken the rare step of announcing plans to coordinate in upcoming contests to try to minimize Trump's delegate totals.

But that effort did little to stop Trump from a big showing in the Northeast, where he picked up at least 105 of the 118 delegates up for grabs. He now has 950 of the 1,237 delegates he needs to secure the nomination.

Cruz spent Tuesday in Indiana, where Kasich's campaign has withdrawn in an attempt to give the Texas senator a clear path.

"Tonight this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain," Cruz said during an evening rally in Knightstown, Indiana. His event was held at the "Hoosier gym," where some scenes were filmed for the 1986 movie "Hoosiers," about a small-town Indiana basketball team that wins the state championship.

Trump has railed against his rivals' coordination, panning it as a "faulty deal," and has also cast efforts to push the nomination fight to the convention as evidence of a rigged process that favors political insiders.

Yet there's no doubt the GOP is deeply divided by his candidacy. In Pennsylvania, exit polls showed nearly 4 in 10 GOP voters said they would be excited by Trump becoming president, but the prospect of the real estate mogul in the White House scared a quarter of those who cast ballots in the state's Republican primary.

In another potential general election warning sign for Republicans, 6 in 10 GOP voters in Pennsylvania said the Republican campaign has divided the party — a sharp contrast to the 7 in 10 Democratic voters in the state who said the race between Clinton and Sanders has energized their party.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Democrats award delegates proportionally, which allowed Clinton to maintain her lead over Sanders even as he rattled off a string of wins in recent contests. According to the AP count, Clinton now has 2,141 delegates while Sanders has 1,321.

That count includes delegates won in primaries and caucuses, as well as superdelegates — party insiders who can back the candidate of their choice, regardless of how their state votes.

Sanders has vowed to stay in the race until voting wraps up in June. He continues to raise millions of dollars and attract big crowds, including Tuesday night in West Virginia, where he urged his supporters to recognize that they are "powerful people if you choose to exercise that power."

Clinton's advisers are eager for the Vermont senator to tone down his attacks on the former secretary of state. She's been reminding voters of the 2008 Democratic primary, when she endorsed Barack Obama after a tough campaign and urged her supporters to rally around her former rival.