The Lackawanna County Board of Elections heard arguments Thursday for removing from the ballot all the candidates for a commission that would study changing the structure of county government, but issued no ruling.
Scranton resident Joseph Pilchesky challenged the commission candidates' right to be on the ballot. He argued they all failed to file a document stating they are willing to be candidates and ready to serve if elected.
He also argued:
- Candidates who filed nomination petitions jointly should have filed individually.
- The committees the candidates named to replace them if they were unable to serve after being elected should have been party committees, not people named by the candidates.
Lawyers for the 39 candidates argued they filed all the documents the county Department of Elections required; filing joint petitions is allowed; and the candidates should be able to name the committees who will choose their replacement because commission seats are nonpartisan.
The panel of judges acting as the Board of Elections repeatedly expressed skepticism about Mr. Pilchesky's arguments.
In one case, that of commission candidate Joseph Albert, Judge Terrence R. Nealon pointed out Mr. Pilchesky had not listed Mr. Albert as one of the candidates being challenged.
Mr. Pilchesky acknowledged he had mistakenly not listed Mr. Albert.
The board also heard attorney Arthur Rinaldi argue a challenge against Republican Clarks Green council candidate Stephen A. Shumaker. Mr. Rinaldi said one of the 10 signatures Mr. Shumaker was required to have on his nominating petition was invalid because the person is not registered to vote in Clarks Green.
In testimony, county Department of Elections Director Marion Medalis confirmed the person is not registered anywhere in Lackawanna County. If the court rules the signature invalid, Mr. Shumaker would have only nine valid signatures, one short of the necessary 10.
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