Latest news with #Cognetti
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election analysis: A look at primary outcomes, implications
Two women will battle for Scranton mayor just six years after city voters swept incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti into office as a Democrat-turned-independent running as an alternative to the city's entrenched Democratic political establishment. Cognetti's historic 2019 special election victory to fill the unexpired term of corrupt former Mayor Bill Courtright was in the minds of many a rejection of Scranton's old-guard Democratic politics — a symbolic turning of the page that opened the door for Cognetti to become the city's first female mayor and shatter a longstanding glass ceiling without the support of traditional city Democratic power brokers. * Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) * Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. * A voter walks into the polls in John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Charles Sumner Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into the polls as they take literature from candidates and volunteers at John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters gather outside of Green Ridge Assembly of God Church in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A voter walks into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A volunteer waits for voters to enter the polls in Jackson Heights Apartments in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 9 Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) Expand After sailing to reelection as a Democrat in 2021 and dominating a contested Democratic primary Tuesday with more than 75% of the vote, Cognetti now faces another potential glass-ceiling-breaker in Republican mayoral candidate Patricia 'Trish' Beynon. The accounting executive defeated business owner Lynn Labrosky by 118 votes in Tuesday's GOP primary, securing the Republican nomination for mayor in November's municipal election, according to unofficial election results. If elected, Beynon would become the first Republican woman to take City Hall and Scranton's first elected GOP mayor since the late Jimmy Connors, a Democrat who switched parties and won the office as a Republican in 1989 before switching back in 2000 during his third term. Then-Republican City Councilman Wayne Evans was appointed interim mayor after Courtright resigned in disgrace, serving for several months until Cognetti succeeded him in January of 2020. Patricia Beynon celebrates with supporters at Cooper's Seafood House in Scranton on Tuesday night after capturing the Republican nomination for Scranton mayor. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Beynon will have to overcome a considerable Democratic voter-registration advantage to make that history, which will require defeating Cognetti and a possible field of independent candidates for mayor in November. The entrance of would-be independent mayoral candidate Gene Barrett, the former Scranton Sewer Authority executive director and a former city councilman who originally announced plans to challenge Cognetti in the Democratic primary but ultimately didn't file paperwork to appear on the ballot, would certainly change the dynamic of the race. Barrett forecasted his potential independent run in March after Democratic former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan filed to challenge Cognetti, telling The Times-Tribune on the day of the filing deadline that a three-person Democratic primary would only split up votes to the advantage of the incumbent mayor. Cognetti didn't ultimately need that advantage, earning 6,264 votes Tuesday to Sheridan's 1,864, but Barrett could prove a more formidable challenger if he mounts a meaningful independent campaign. Reached last week, he didn't commit to an independent run but didn't rule one out. 'We're looking at it,' Barrett said. 'It will be a practical and common-sense decision. Certainly the incumbent mayor won convincingly in the Democratic primary, but on the other hand it wasn't a very strong candidate that she ran against.' Even if Barrett runs and doesn't defeat Cognetti himself, his possible independent candidacy, that of independent mayoral candidate Mike Mancini and potential others would likely siphon votes away from Cognetti to Beynon's advantage. It's an advantage she could use in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a more than 2-1 margin and hold the registration advantage in every one of Scranton's 48 precincts. Mayor Paige Cognetti enters her campaign headquarters after winning the Democratic primary mayoral election in Scranton on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Running for mayor as a Democrat, Cognetti has never failed to garner at least 70% of the vote. She earned 71.36% in her 2021 municipal primary victory over Democratic City Controller John Murray, 72.51% in the 2021 municipal election where she defeated longshot Republican candidate Darwin Lee Shaw II and 75.51% to Sheridan's 22.47% Tuesday. But despite that success, Cognetti's endorsement wasn't enough to get her preferred city council candidate, Democratic city planning commissioner member Todd Pousley, over the finish line in the Democratic primary for city council. It was a defeat that could hamper Cognetti's ability to enact her legislative agenda should she win another four-year term this fall. City council The dynamic of city council was going to change regardless of Tuesday's outcomes, as two of the three Democratic council members who most frequently align with Cognetti on legislative matters — Council President Gerald Smurl, Councilman Bill King and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild — are set to leave office after this year. King didn't seek reelection, and Smurl withdrew from Democratic primary contention in March amid issues with certain signatures on his nomination petitions. His withdrawal left a field of six Democratic candidates — Pousley, incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster, Scranton School Director Sean McAndrew, former state House candidate Patrick Flynn, political organizer Frankie Malacaria and vocal Cognetti critic Virgil Argenta — vying for three Democratic nominations to advance to November's municipal election, when three seats on the five-member council are up for grabs. Flynn, McAndrew and Schuster won nominations Tuesday, with Flynn finishing as the top vote-getter. They'll appear on November's ballot alongside Republican Marc Pane, who was the lone candidate in the GOP primary. Whoever wins the three council seats in November will serve alongside Rothchild and Democratic Councilman Mark McAndrew, Sean McAndrew's uncle, when council reorganizes. Patrick Flynn, who captured a Democratic nomination for Scranton City Council on Tuesday night, celebrates with his wife, Kate, at Benny's on Green Ridge Street in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Smurl said last week he doesn't currently intend to seek reelection as an independent, but left open the possibility that he'll reconsider. Nonetheless, Tuesday's council outcome was a blow for Cognetti who, should she win reelection, stands to lose two often reliable votes on the five-member legislative body. The administration's legislative proposals require the majority support of three council members to pass, assuming all members are voting, and a supermajority of four can override the mayor's veto. In past votes where council split and Cognetti's proposed legislation narrowly passed 3-2, Smurl, King and Rothchild often voted together in support of her proposals with Schuster and Mark McAndrew opposed. That's not to say Smurl, King and Rothchild always align with the mayor or that Schuster and Mark McAndrew never do — council members are free agents and the body often votes unanimously. Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Pane could also find common ground with the mayor if she's reelected and they secure council seats. But the defeat of Pousley, who finished fourth despite Cognetti's backing, means one less likely ally on council for the mayor should she retain City Hall. Cognetti acknowledged the harder road ahead in her victory speech Tuesday. 'We have a real fight on our hands for city council,' she told her supporters, Pousley among them. 'We will continue to fight to make sure that we have a city council, with Dr. Rothchild, that can continue to help us make this progress and not try to tear down everything that we've built. So, it's going to be a slog. We've got a long way to go until November.' Schuster took umbrage with those remarks at Thursday's council meeting. 'I saw comments in the paper by the mayor and if I don't question things while on this council I'm not doing my job as a councilman, so I'd just like to put that out there,' he said. 'I think a lot of progress is made and this council passes most things that come from down from this mayor.' School district The race for Scranton School Board lacked the political acrimony that often marks primary elections. City voters backed experience. Incumbent board Vice President Danielle Chesek led the field in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. In Pennsylvania school board candidates can cross-file, meaning they can seek both Democratic and Republican nominations to secure spots on the November ballot. In the school board race all but one of the six candidates cross-filed and all but one, 22-year-old political newcomer Julien M. Wells, secured either a Democratic nomination, a GOP nomination or both. Chesek, recently appointed school Director Jenna Strzelecki and retired district Chief Information Officer Joe Brazil won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. Former school Director Carol J. Cleary, running only as a Democrat, won a Democratic nomination, while former Scranton City Council candidate John Howe won a nomination on the Republican ballot. From left: Scranton School Board candidates Joe Brazil, Danielle Chesek, Carol Cleary, John Howe and Jenna Strzelecki. (Chad Sebring / Staff Photos) Howe is the only of the winning primary candidates not to have worked for the district, served on the board or currently serve in that capacity. Strzelecki, the board's newest member, was appointed to a vacant board seat in late April. Tuesday's results suggest voters put stock in experience. And with four seats on the nine-member school board up for grabs this year, the majority of the five candidates that secured nominations Tuesday seem likely to win or maintain board seats. Several of the candidates who won nominations in the primary complimented the other candidates in the field after the polls closed. And while all candidates for school director are focused on the challenges ahead for the district — from improving educational outcomes and bolstering curriculums to providing the best possible education for the district's roughly 9,300 students amid the looming threat of federal funding cuts — the Scranton School Board has proven a reliable pipeline for city offices. Cognetti, Schuster and Mark McAndrew all previously served on the school board, Sean McAndrew is a current school director and King, the outgoing city councilman, is the district's former superintendent. The window for individuals who plan to run as independent or third-party candidates in November's municipal election to begin circulating nomination papers opened March 12. The last day to file those papers is Aug. 1. The municipal election itself is Nov. 4.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scranton improves its pave-cut rules for better monitoring, oversight
Scranton has revamped its pave-cut rules for better oversight of restoration of utility excavations in roads, the mayor announced Tuesday. Earlier this year, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti proposed improvements to Scranton City Council in the city's street excavation and openings code, also known as the pave-cut ordinance. Amendments approved by council in April give the city new tools and regulations to improve the condition of roads, the announcement said. Improved standards and third-party accountability have become increasingly necessary as more companies that build infrastructure in Scranton do so by excavating roads to install lines and equipment, she said. For example, internet companies Comcast, Loop and Verizon each are working in the city to deliver fiber optic internet to residents. Since Jan. 1, Scranton has received more than 260 permit requests for street excavations, an average of almost two permits per day. 'I am extremely frustrated by the insufficient repair of Scranton's roads by outside groups this past winter. While we are excited about the high level of infrastructure improvement activity across the city, this work has to be done right. We are pressing these firms to repair our roads quickly and, most important, properly,' Cognetti said in the statement. 'The amendments to the pave-cut ordinance approved last month, plus diligent work by our project management team, help us track street openings through an improved permit process that holds companies responsible for restoring our roads.' Previously, the city used a decentralized paper permit system for street excavations. The city in December approved prior updates to the pave-cut ordinance and a contract with a third-party engineering firm to do pave-cut inspections. Changes under the latest amendment include: • The permit process has been moved online into a system called OpenGov, which provides greater ability to track pave cuts, receive payments and flag problems for repairs. • Pavement restoration must meet the state Department of Transportation standards. • Traffic control, safety personnel and coordination of road closures with the Lackawanna County Emergency Communication Center. • A new, color-coded asphalt tag based on type of utility work performed. • Added inspections occurring before excavation, during the work and after restoration. • Late fees and the ability to issue quality-of-life tickets through Scranton's Code Enforcement Office for violations. • Permits required within 24 hours after emergency work, so the city can track restoration results going forward. Members of the administration also detailed the improvements to council in a council caucus Tuesday. 'I'm thrilled that the amended ordinance … puts more of you involved and there's more tracking and there's more oversight,' Councilman Mark McAndrew said during the caucus. He has noticed inconsistent sealing of pave-cut restorations, with some having been done over a year ago. 'So who's watching that now?' he asked. City Business Administrator Eileen Cipriani said the city also reviews the Pennsylvania One Call system, also known as PA One Call, which requires contractors and homeowners to call 811 at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation project. 'We're going back through the historic 'PA One Calls' and that's how we're identifying who was the utility that was involved. Then we reach out to the utility to have them address this issue,' Cipriani said. Cognetti said her administration also has made strides in collaborating with utilities by continuing monthly meetings and developing stronger communications. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission also is monitoring for mischaracterized emergency work across the state, which adds another layer to Scranton's enforcement, the announcement said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Race for Scranton Mayor heating up head of primary election
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The race for Scranton mayor is heating up ahead of next week's primary election. Voters will choose from both familiar faces and new challengers, all with different ideas on how to shape the city's future. 28/22 News has a closer look at who's on the ballot and what each candidate is bringing to the table. From longtime public servants to first-time contenders, each hopeful has a different vision for the Electric City. 28/22 News spoke with each candidate to learn more about who they are and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Incumbent Mayor Paige Cognetti is running for a second full term. She first won a special election in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. Her administration points to economic progress, increased transparency, and reinvestment in public safety and neighborhoods. 'We're excited to continue to invest in public safety, to keep that financial stability going, to make sure that we're pinching every penny, and to work on road safety as well. We really want to focus on the safety of our roads,' Mayor Cognetti said. Sneak peek into Quiet Valley's Farm Animal Frolic Cognetti faces a Democratic primary challenge from Bob Sheridan, a retired Scranton police officer and former school board president. His campaign centers on public safety, blight removal, and restoring city services. 'I met a lot of people that might that I was born and raised with that moved out of town, okay it's about we wish we were back in scranton, because we had a move, because of the taxes, because of the roads, because of the blight, everything the city is going downhill, someone has to go and take charge of it,' Sheridan explained. On the Republican side, two women are hoping to win the GOP nomination. Trish Beynon is running on her 34 years of experience in accounting and construction management. She's prioritizing tax relief, support for police, and making Scranton a more attractive place to live. 'If I became mayor, it's my job to work for the people, that's my goal, to just listen to everybody, make sure they know they have transparency in the city, and make sure that they know when they ask me a question, I have their best interest at heart,' Beynon said. Lynn Labrosky, a lifelong Scranton resident and small business owner. She's focused on eliminating wasteful spending, fully staffing the police department, and addressing homelessness and drug abuse. 'Our tax dollars should be spent in the best way they can. So I would try to generate more revenue into the city. I'll try to fix the roads fully staff our police department. Pick up the morale in our local unions, especially the fire the police, and the DPW,' Labrosky stated. Each of these candidates says they're ready to take on Scranton's challenges, but it's up to voters to decide who moves forward. The primary election is Tuesday, May 20, and polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scranton council candidates weigh in on preferences for mayor, council
Scranton's city council election this year, with three seats up for grabs, coincides with the mayoral election. The Democratic candidates for council are Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Frankie Malacaria, Sean McAndrew, Todd Pousley and incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster. Republican Marc Pane also is running in the GOP primary for a nomination for city council. The Democratic ballot for mayor has incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti challenged by former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan. The Republican ballot for mayor has accounting executive Patricia Beynon and business owner Lynn Labrosky each seeking the GOP nomination. The Times-Tribune asked the council candidates who they will vote for mayor and for council, besides themselves. Argenta declined to answer the questions and called them 'borderline election interference.' Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) Flynn, on mayoral candidates, said, 'Scranton deserves a City Council member who will work hard and always put our neighborhoods first no matter who's mayor. Council should be a strong check and balance, but also a partner in progress. I'll work with anyone to get results for Scranton, and I'll stand my ground when needed.' Regarding other council candidates, Flynn said, 'If I'm fortunate enough to win, I look forward to working with whoever else is elected to City Council. Progress takes teamwork, and I'm committed to doing what's best for our city in a collaborative manner, no matter the outcome of the other races.' Patrick Flynn, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICK FLYNN) Malacaria said he will vote for Cognetti, calling her 'the best candidate running for mayor at this time,' and adding, 'While we don't always agree, I believe her leadership has set us toward the right direction.' As for other council candidates, Malacaria said he will vote for Pousley. Frankie Malacaria, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF FRANKIE MALACARIA) McAndrew said he has 'serious concerns' about Cognetti's priorities. 'I won't be a rubber stamp. I'll stand up for working families and advocate for real solutions. At the same time, I'm committed to working with whomever is elected mayor, because putting our city first means finding common ground.' Regarding other council candidates, McAndrew said, 'I'll work with whomever is elected. Working together is the only way we make progress in our city.' Sean McAndrew, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF SEAN McANDREW) Pousley said he will vote to re-elect Cognetti. 'Under her leadership, Scranton shed its distressed status after 30 years and is now on a solid financial footing. Our downtown is vibrant, with a growing residential population, and our neighborhoods are benefiting from park improvements, efforts to clean up blight and support for small businesses. I will work with the mayor, even when we disagree, to continue this positive forward momentum.' Cognetti on April 30 announced her endorsement of Pousley in the council race. He is the only council candidate Cognetti endorsed. Regarding other council candidates, Pousley said, 'There are other good candidates on the Democratic ticket and I'm still deciding who else I will vote for, but I know for certain I will not be voting for the candidates who are running as Democrats but don't actually share the values of the Democratic party. Their words and actions directed at me and other candidates demonstrate they can't be trusted to lead with integrity and work together to achieve results for Scranton residents.' He declined to identify those candidates. Todd Pousley, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TODD POUSLEY) Schuster, regarding mayoral candidates, said, 'I will leave that up to the voters,' and 'I will be happy to work with any of the candidates if elected.' As for other council candidates, Schuster said he believes there are 'serious red flags' regarding two of the other candidates, and he referenced articles in newspapers about one candidate's 'conflict of interest' regarding his 'employment with a non-profit that receives city funding;' and the other candidate's prior runs for Wilkes-Barre City Council. Schuster declined to identify those two candidates by name. Scranton Councilman Tom Schuster,a candidate for re-election in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TOM SCHUSTER) Argenta is the only candidate for council in this primary who previously ran for a council seat in Wilkes-Barre. Argenta ran unsuccessfully in the 2003 and 2007 Democratic primaries for Wilkes-Barre City Council, and ran unsuccessfully in the 2011 general election as a Republican for Wilkes-Barre City Council, according to archives of The Citizens' Voice newspaper. The Times-Tribune reported last month on Pousley saying he started a leave of absence March 27 from his job with NeighborWorks while he runs for city council because of concerns raised about a potential conflict of interest. If elected, Pousley acknowledged he would have a conflict of interest on any matter directly involving NeighborWorks, but the remedy to that would be for him to recuse himself from any such matter, discussion or vote, Pousley had said in that article. In a phone interview Friday, Pousley said of Schuster's 'red flag' comment, 'What I said previously still applies.' Pousley said he has since also sought an advisory opinion from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, and that opinion mirrors his stance. Pane answered the two questions about voting for mayor and council in one reply: 'Privacy in the voting booth allows voters to make decisions based on their own beliefs and preferences without feeling pressured to conform to the views of others. Voters are free to vote honestly and independently when their choices are confidential and it is the cornerstone of our democracy. Such questions would only promote more division in our already fractured community where we should be promoting unity instead. When I first became involved in politics, a good friend told me when someone tells you they will vote for you, you really can't believe them. He told me the only person you can believe 100% is the person who tells you they are not voting for you.' Marc Pane, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Republican primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF MARC PANE) The three council seats available are those of Schuster and two held by Bill King and council President Gerald Smurl. King and Smurl are not running in the primary for reelection. Winners of the primary will advance to run in the Nov. 4 general election. The three winners of the general election would join on council the other two members not up for reelection this year: Mark McAndrew and Jessica Rothchild. * Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) * Patrick Flynn, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICK FLYNN) * Frankie Malacaria, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF FRANKIE MALACARIA) * Sean McAndrew, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF SEAN McANDREW) * Todd Pousley, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TODD POUSLEY) * Scranton Councilman Tom Schuster,a candidate for re-election in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TOM SCHUSTER) * Marc Pane, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Republican primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF MARC PANE) Show Caption 1 of 7 Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) Expand
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scranton council candidates weigh in on preferences for mayor, council
Scranton's city council election this year, with three seats up for grabs, coincides with the mayoral election. The Democratic candidates for council are Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Frankie Malacaria, Sean McAndrew, Todd Pousley and incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster. Republican Marc Pane also is running in the GOP primary for a nomination for city council. The Democratic ballot for mayor has incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti challenged by former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan. The Republican ballot for mayor has accounting executive Patricia Beynon and business owner Lynn Labrosky each seeking the GOP nomination. The Times-Tribune asked the council candidates who they will vote for mayor and for council, besides themselves. Argenta declined to answer the questions and called them 'borderline election interference.' Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) Flynn, on mayoral candidates, said, 'Scranton deserves a City Council member who will work hard and always put our neighborhoods first no matter who's mayor. Council should be a strong check and balance, but also a partner in progress. I'll work with anyone to get results for Scranton, and I'll stand my ground when needed.' Regarding other council candidates, Flynn said, 'If I'm fortunate enough to win, I look forward to working with whoever else is elected to City Council. Progress takes teamwork, and I'm committed to doing what's best for our city in a collaborative manner, no matter the outcome of the other races.' Patrick Flynn, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICK FLYNN) Malacaria said he will vote for Cognetti, calling her 'the best candidate running for mayor at this time,' and adding, 'While we don't always agree, I believe her leadership has set us toward the right direction.' As for other council candidates, Malacaria said he will vote for Pousley. Frankie Malacaria, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF FRANKIE MALACARIA) McAndrew said he has 'serious concerns' about Cognetti's priorities. 'I won't be a rubber stamp. I'll stand up for working families and advocate for real solutions. At the same time, I'm committed to working with whomever is elected mayor, because putting our city first means finding common ground.' Regarding other council candidates, McAndrew said, 'I'll work with whomever is elected. Working together is the only way we make progress in our city.' Sean McAndrew, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF SEAN McANDREW) Pousley said he will vote to re-elect Cognetti. 'Under her leadership, Scranton shed its distressed status after 30 years and is now on a solid financial footing. Our downtown is vibrant, with a growing residential population, and our neighborhoods are benefiting from park improvements, efforts to clean up blight and support for small businesses. I will work with the mayor, even when we disagree, to continue this positive forward momentum.' Cognetti on April 30 announced her endorsement of Pousley in the council race. He is the only council candidate Cognetti endorsed. Regarding other council candidates, Pousley said, 'There are other good candidates on the Democratic ticket and I'm still deciding who else I will vote for, but I know for certain I will not be voting for the candidates who are running as Democrats but don't actually share the values of the Democratic party. Their words and actions directed at me and other candidates demonstrate they can't be trusted to lead with integrity and work together to achieve results for Scranton residents.' He declined to identify those candidates. Todd Pousley, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TODD POUSLEY) Schuster, regarding mayoral candidates, said, 'I will leave that up to the voters,' and 'I will be happy to work with any of the candidates if elected.' As for other council candidates, Schuster said he believes there are 'serious red flags' regarding two of the other candidates, and he referenced articles in newspapers about one candidate's 'conflict of interest' regarding his 'employment with a non-profit that receives city funding;' and the other candidate's prior runs for Wilkes-Barre City Council. Schuster declined to identify those two candidates by name. Scranton Councilman Tom Schuster,a candidate for re-election in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TOM SCHUSTER) Argenta is the only candidate for council in this primary who previously ran for a council seat in Wilkes-Barre. Argenta ran unsuccessfully in the 2003 and 2007 Democratic primaries for Wilkes-Barre City Council, and ran unsuccessfully in the 2011 general election as a Republican for Wilkes-Barre City Council, according to archives of The Citizens' Voice newspaper. The Times-Tribune reported last month on Pousley saying he started a leave of absence March 27 from his job with NeighborWorks while he runs for city council because of concerns raised about a potential conflict of interest. If elected, Pousley acknowledged he would have a conflict of interest on any matter directly involving NeighborWorks, but the remedy to that would be for him to recuse himself from any such matter, discussion or vote, Pousley had said in that article. In a phone interview Friday, Pousley said of Schuster's 'red flag' comment, 'What I said previously still applies.' Pousley said he has since also sought an advisory opinion from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, and that opinion mirrors his stance. Pane answered the two questions about voting for mayor and council in one reply: 'Privacy in the voting booth allows voters to make decisions based on their own beliefs and preferences without feeling pressured to conform to the views of others. Voters are free to vote honestly and independently when their choices are confidential and it is the cornerstone of our democracy. Such questions would only promote more division in our already fractured community where we should be promoting unity instead. When I first became involved in politics, a good friend told me when someone tells you they will vote for you, you really can't believe them. He told me the only person you can believe 100% is the person who tells you they are not voting for you.' Marc Pane, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Republican primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF MARC PANE) The three council seats available are those of Schuster and two held by Bill King and council President Gerald Smurl. King and Smurl are not running in the primary for reelection. Winners of the primary will advance to run in the Nov. 4 general election. The three winners of the general election would join on council the other two members not up for reelection this year: Mark McAndrew and Jessica Rothchild. * Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) * Patrick Flynn, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICK FLYNN) * Frankie Malacaria, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF FRANKIE MALACARIA) * Sean McAndrew, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF SEAN McANDREW) * Todd Pousley, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TODD POUSLEY) * Scranton Councilman Tom Schuster,a candidate for re-election in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF TOM SCHUSTER) * Marc Pane, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Republican primary election for a nomination to Scranton City Council. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF MARC PANE) Show Caption 1 of 7 Virgil Argenta, a candidate in the May 20, 2025 Democratic primary for Scranton City Council. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF VIRGIL ARGENTA) Expand
