DUNMORE — The Democratic primary features the borough’s first contested mayor race in 16 years with four-term Councilman Timothy Burke challenging Patrick “Nibs” Loughney, who has held the office for nearly a quarter century.
The last time Loughney faced a challenge was in 2001, when he handily defeated Salvatore Nardozzi in the general election. This time, on May 16, he faces Burke, who was the top vote-getter in his last two primaries in Democrat-dominated Dunmore.
Burke said he challenged the 23-year mayor because of differences in political beliefs — most notably on Keystone Sanitary Landfill’s proposed 44.6-year expansion, which Burke has vocally opposed and Loughney supports.
“I believe if we can close that landfill after eight to 10 years or whatever its remaining life expectancy ends up being, we can bring jobs into the area,” Burke said. “We need more manufacturing jobs to keep young people here instead of a having a place where you have to worry about a landfill right in the middle of the neighborhood. ... I won’t give up the fight.”
While the 16-year councilman fears the Dunmore and Throop facility damages the region’s image and threatens public health, the mayor sees Keystone as a good neighbor that has benefited the borough financially for decades.
Dunmore’s 2017 budget includes an expected $2.41 million in per-ton fees for waste Keystone accepts; the landfill also allows the borough to dispose of garbage there free as part of its November 2014 contract with Dunmore.
Burke urged council to use leverage from the state’s review of the plan to renegotiate host municipality fees but ultimately didn’t support the new deal, citing perceived shortcomings in the contract language and fears that the appearance of consent from the borough could help Keystone get the Department of Environmental Protection’s approval.
The mayor, on the other hand, made a rare appearance before council in November 2014 to urge the group to approve the contract, saying the decision to approve the expansion is up to DEP while council members have a fiduciary responsibility to the borough.
Loughney also clashed with members of Friends of Lackawanna, who wanted council to reject the deal, which nearly tripled fees to the borough from the state-mandated minimum payment and called for gradual increases over the life of the operation.
“We’re told basically take this or leave it,” Pat Clark, one of the leaders of the anti-expansion group, said at the time. “We’re told if we don’t sign this, they are going to put a bill on the borough’s office desk tomorrow for four-point-some million (dollars) for garbage they haven’t billed us for. That’s not negotiation. It’s more like extortion.”
When Loughney later took the podium, tempers flared.
“People talk about extortion,” the mayor angrily said, also responding to an animated crowd as he spoke. “There’s no extortion here. There you go chuckling. You could (chuckle) all you want. If you want to see me outside and talk about extortion, feel free.”
Loughney said in a recent interview he did not intend the remark as a threat.
That wasn’t the only time Loughney was in the middle of controversy in recent years.
James Dartt, former executive director of the Lackawanna County Housing Authority, told The Times-Tribune in 2014 that Loughney — then vice chairman of the housing authority board — pressured him to hire Loughney’s son two years prior and ordered him to not tell other board members.
Dartt made the claim in the aftermath of The Times-Tribune’s reporting on an audit report that hammered the authority over the hiring of Mr. Loughney’s son Patrick and other areas of noncompliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements. Loughney declined to address it at the time.
Last summer, Loughney wouldn’t explain why he pulled Dunmore police from a multiagency DUI checkpoint, effectively shutting it down and making the venture ineligible for state reimbursement.
He still didn’t want to elaborate on either topic.
“I’ve already answered that,” Loughney said. “I’ve been the mayor for the past 23 years. Everyone who has asked for help, I’ve always helped. I love to serve the people of Dunmore and hope I can continue.”
Loughney described his platform as ensuring the borough can help residents by supporting professional staff, as well as ensuring emergency responders have the equipment they need and youth and senior citizen programs are funded.
Although he doesn’t attend council meetings, the mayor said he is in frequent communication with borough officials and that he worked with council on advancements over the last several years, including updating police cars, renovating the firehouse and leasing a new firetruck.
“There’s always a piece of equipment that could help out,” he said. “Whatever we could do to make their job safer, we’ll try to provide the apparatus.”
Burke also highlighted seeking grants to keep emergency responder equipment up to date among his priorities, along with working with the neighborhood watch and appearing at one council meeting per month at least.
The councilman wouldn’t address Loughney’s controversies directly, saying he doesn’t “want to go negative.” He came closest when asked about the DUI checkpoint issue.
“If I do something like that, you’ll know the reason, because I’m going to be open and transparent,” Burke said.
Contact the writer:
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Dunmore mayor
TIMOTHY BURKE
Age: 60
Family: Wife, Carm Scrimalli Burke; children, Angela D’Angelo, Nicole Hoppel, Sara Burke and Marissa Cieciorka.
Education: Bishop O’Hara High School.
Employment: Operator of heavy equipment, CDL driver for Pennsylvania American Water.
Experience: Four terms on Dunmore Borough Council; ran YMCA youth basketball for 10 years; coached biddy basketball, T-ball and missy league (softball); member of San Cataldo Club, German American Club, Friends of Lackawanna.
PATRICK “NIBS” LOUGHNEY
Age: 57
Family: Wife, Donna Loughney; children, Mark, Sean, Patrick Jr. and Colleen.
Education: Dunmore High School.
Employment: Retired regional manager for the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Experience: Councilman for six years; mayor for 23 years.