Two primary elections for Luzerne County controller are a week away, and a Democratic candidate is accusing the Republican incumbent of illegally recording a private meeting of the county retirement board.
County Councilman Stephen A. Urban said he learned Controller Walter L. Griffith Jr. secretly recorded the closed meeting when he met with law enforcement officials Feb. 28. Mr. Urban said he was told not to disclose that information, but he asserted Monday "the public has the right to know" what Mr. Griffith was doing.
"He should own up to what he did," said Mr. Urban, who served on the retirement board with Mr. Griffith in 2010 and 2011. "This is very serious. This county has had enough scandal."
Mr. Griffith faces Karen Ceppa-Hirko, a tax accountant from Wilkes-Barre, in the Republican primary on May 21. Mr. Urban is up against Conyngham Twp. Tax Collector Michelle Bednar in the Democratic contest.
District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said Jan. 14 she referred a criminal investigation to the state attorney general's office that Mr. Griffith illegally recorded dozens of telephone and in-person conversations with numerous people.
CityVest Chairman Y. Judd Shoval sued the county and Mr. Griffith on Jan. 14, claiming his civil rights were violated when Mr. Griffith recorded an interview without permission.
"Please understand that I cannot comment on the investigation or anything that Stephen A. Urban is alleging," Mr. Griffith said in an email. "Please contact my attorney for any further comments."
Jack Dean and Mark Bufalino are representing the county and Mr. Griffith in the Shoval suit. They could not be reached for comment.
Dennis Fisher, a spokesman for Attorney General Kathleen Kane, did not provide a response to messages seeking comment.
Tom Cooney, a former retirement board member, also said Monday he learned Mr. Griffith recorded a private meeting of the retirement board when he met with law enforcement officials several months ago.
In Pennsylvania, a person must obtain permission from each party involved in a conversation before recording.
Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com