First in a series
A long-standing feud between Scranton's mayor and council majority must not be allowed to resume after a new mayor and council take over on Jan. 1, council candidates said.
The six Democratic candidates each vying for a nomination to one of three, four-year council seats available in the May 21 primary election - incumbent Pat Rogan, who is in his fourth year on council, and Greg Evans, William Gaughan, Joseph Matyjevich, Tim Perry and Joe Wechsler - agree that the new council and new mayor must not reignite the bitter divisions between Mayor Chris Doherty and a council supermajority led by Janet Evans, who is not related to Greg Evans.
During much of the mayor's tenure when Mrs. Evans controlled council, its majority often complained of being ignored by the mayor. Weekly televised council meetings became platforms for the political bashing of the mayor, who for years avoided those meetings like the plague.
The city's financial crisis produced an icy thaw of sorts last year, when both sides finally had to put on a united front to obtain borrowing to keep the city afloat. Now, with the archenemies serving out their last terms and not seeking re-election, this year's council and mayoral elections provide an opportunity for a new start between a new mayor and council.
All council candidates said they would cooperate with other council members and the next mayor.
Mr. Rogan, who often aligned with the supermajority to buck the mayor's agenda and override vetoes, said, "All those past animosities are gone. There has to be a new day for city. With a new mayor and new council president, therein itself is a big change and we could get some cooperation. The big thing missing over the last decade is if both sides were on opposite ends of street, they would fight each other rather than just meet in the middle of the street."
Mr. Gaughan said, "Egos got involved and for a while there they forgot there are 70,000 people in the city. When you are on council, it's not about yourself. That relationship has to be wide open. I think maybe there was a communication breakdown and we can't have that, especially with the financial state we're in."
Mr. Matyjevich said of the mayor/council feud, "It was a power struggle. The breakdown was to show who was in charge, and I believe we saw the administration and council come together (last year) when the rubber hit the road, when the city was in dire straits. But I think it was too late." Regarding moving forward, he said, "Check the egos at the door and come up with a plan that is acceptable by all and able to be implemented."
Mr. Perry said, "The council and mayor wanted to go in different directions. A lot of it had to do with the unions and how they will be handled. They just couldn't agree on anything and after it was settled in the courts, they just couldn't get back together. People will be surprised how quickly Scranton will change when we get new people on board. There's going to be a lot of ambition for getting together."
Mr. Wechsler agreed and said that although the candidates are competitors, they are all hearing the same thing from residents: the infighting must end. "There were two differing visions for city; the mayor had one vision and council majority had another vision," Mr. Wechsler said. "This group of candidates, even though we're competing against each other, we're all able to talk to each other. All the people I talk to - and me - are just so frustrated with the lack of progress by mayor and council over the years."
Noting that Mr. Doherty early on had vowed to be a sixth council member, Mr. Evans said the belated unity between both sides has not produced realistic fiscal plans. "I don't know why they've gotten together and agreed on a budget when the budget doesn't even make sense. They need to work together for benefit of the city, of course. They must have the same goal and work independently to reach those goals."
In a first in some six years, Mr. Doherty in August made a surprise visit to a council meeting that was a public hearing on their joint revised recovery plan. He made another surprise visit to council in December to ask for a larger-than-anticipated tax hike, to comply with a court order on paying back debt and to improve the city's chances of getting court approval for a commuter tax that ended up rejected.
The council candidates also said they hope the next mayor would attend council meetings more regularly, although they agreed that a mayor need not attend every weekly council meeting. By charter, Scranton has a strong-mayor form of government and it is the mayor's choice whether to attend council meetings.
Mr. Evans said, "I don't think it's necessary, but it's the right thing to do. Maybe not every single meeting, maybe monthly or a quarterly caucus. Wouldn't it be nice if the public could address the mayor like they do council? A lot of questions from the public are executive decisions and council doesn't have the answer and has to write a letter to the administration."
Mr. Wechsler said, "I don't believe the mayor needs to be at every council meeting. I believe he should feel comfortable enough to go to meetings. I think he was frustrated with that fact that it wasn't going to be a productive effort. Both sides had agendas. It became more of an issue of is he going to go to a meeting, not what was going to be accomplished."
Mr. Perry said, "I wouldn't say it's necessary to attend every single one, but if we are to present ourselves as more of an open book, I think it would do the (next) mayor justice to attend occasionally and show the people the old way of doing business is over. The meetings are televised and if the mayor is not there, I think it sends a message that the mayor is not involved."
Mr. Matyjevich said, "It would be nice to have a mayor show up at council meetings and provide input where needed. But it is not a requirement, it's the choice of the mayor. But it would be an asset to have joint meetings."
Mr. Gaughan said, "I think that (the mayor's lack of attending council meetings) has got to be changed. The mayor should come at least once a month or every two months and meet with the council."
Mr. Rogan said, "When there are big issues or initiatives, yes, I think it's a good gesture by the mayor to attend council meetings. Occasionally - not a weekly requirement."
All of the Democratic candidates are running for council individually. Only Mr. Rogan has announced support for a mayoral candidate, and he is backing Bill Courtright for mayor over Elizabeth Randol, Joe Cardamone and Lee Morgan in the Democratic mayoral primary. Two Republicans are running for mayor in the GOP primary: Gary Lewis and Marcel Lisi.
There are no Republican council candidates in the GOP primary.
The three candidates who win the council election would join council members Bob McGoff and Jack Loscombe on the five-member council. Councilman Frank Joyce also is not seeking re-election to council, but instead is running in the Democratic primary for tax collector against Anthony DiBileo and Bill Fox. There are no Republican candidates for tax collector in the primary.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter
Candidates
Greg Evans
Age: 23
Family: Two children, Broderick, Roman
Education: West Scranton High School, 1998; Lebanon Valley College, 2002
Employment: Owner/operator, Whiskey Dick's Tavern; Evans Holdings (real estate); Co-owner: City Cafe Mediterranean Restaurant
Experience: American Wine Society, vice president of chapter; Arts, Culture & Education Council of Lackawanna County, Everhart Museum, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Greater Scranton Jaycees, League of Women Voters, National Scoliosis Foundation - director of chapter, Pennsylvania Tavern Association - member of month, November 2012; Professionals Organized and Working to Enrich Region, Scranton Tomorrow - block ambassador, economic development committee, promotions committee; Tripp Park Neighborhood Association - chairman, board of directors, West Scranton-Hyde Park Elm Street Project - co-chairman of project, West Scranton-Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch - board of directors, founding member.
Top issue: Financial mismanagement.
Bill Gaughan
Age: 26
Family: Fiancée, Kellie Wright
Education: 2005 graduate of Scranton High School, 2009 bachelor's degree, communications, minor of history, University of Scranton; 2012 master's degree, secondary education history, University of Scranton. Dual-teaching certification Pennsylvania (citizenship, social studies grades 7-12)
Employment: Substitute teacher, Scranton School District
Experience: Two years' experience working for city of Scranton in Office of Economic and Community Development as equal opportunity specialist. Team member on projects such as: Fellows Park Improvement Project, Mulberry Street Fire Headquarters Renovation, Employment Opportunity Training Center Renovation Project, Mulberry Lofts Development
Top issue: Regressive taxes; finances
Joe Matyjevich
Age: 48
Family: Married to former Laura Rillstone; daughter, Morgan Ann, 19, Mansfield University student.
Education: West Scranton High School honors graduate (class rank second out of 253), 1983; University of Scranton Bachelor of Science, computer science, 1988.
Employment: 1988 to present, VaxServe/Sanofi Pasteur; information solutions project leader; responsibilities include design development and implementation of business systems and solutions following formal system design methodologies. Full-project management expertise, resources and budgetary responsibilities. Consulted by business leaders and co-workers to provide recommendations for business solutions and initiatives.
Experience: Member, Tripp Park Civic Association, board of directors; member, Dickson City Sons of American Legion Squadron 0665; member, Scranton Parking Authority; vice chairman of 113th Legislative District; member, St. Patrick's Parish Community; treasurer, West Scranton Black Sheep Organization.
Top issue: Financial condition over years.
Tim Perry
Age: 38
Family: Married to Lori Hurrey Perry
Education: Graduate of Scranton Central High School, associate degree in business administration, Lackawanna College
Employment: Independent contractor conducting market research
Experience: 20 years' experience in restaurant management for Yum Brands and Cross Country Ventures, during which time I've held many positions in both operations and training divisions, including district supervisor where I was accountable for six restaurants with an annual budget of $6 million.
Top issue: Responsible financial management of Scranton
Pat Rogan
Age: 26
Family: Single
Education: West Scranton High School, University of Scranton, political science (six credits needed for degree, expected completion summer 2013)
Employment: Scranton city councilman; constituent services representative for U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta
Experience: City councilman in first term
Top issue: Taxes, blight, safety in our neighborhoods
Joe Wechsler
Age: 54
Family: Married to former Cathy Nealon since 1984. Son Drew, 26, Scranton; daughter Aimee, 23, Harrisburg.
Education: Graduate, Scranton Central, 1977, class president; and University of Scranton, Bachelor of Science.
Employment: American Technical Industries, 1981 to 1987, quality supervisor; Specialty Plastic Products, 1987 to 1994, quality and inventory manager; North American Manufacturing, 1994 to present, plant manager.
Experience: East Mountain Residents Association officer, 1994 until present. Lackawanna German American Society officer 2004 to present; St. John Neumann Parish fundraising committee, 2009 to present; Scranton Zoning Board, 2001 to 2005, chairman, 2005; Holy Name of Jesus Church Parish Council, 2006 to 2009.
Top issues: Neighborhoods, finances and confidence.