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Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bob Bolus booted off ballot in Scranton mayoral election
SCRANTON — A Lackawanna County Court judge on Thursday excluded Bob Bolus as a candidate for Scranton mayor in the May 20 Republican primary. In an unrelated ballot challenge, a different judge excluded Dean Faraday as a candidate for South Abington Township supervisor in the GOP primary. And in another unrelated ballot challenge, Scranton resident Frankie Malacaria prevailed over objectors and will remain on the primary ballot as a Democratic candidate for Scranton City Council. Here's a look at each case: Bolus bounced from Scranton mayoral election Scranton Republican Charlie Spano completed a hat trick against Bolus, by successfully challenging his attempt to run for Scranton mayor in the GOP primary and getting him knocked off the ballot. Spano previously successfully challenged Bolus' candidate petitions in 2019 and 2021. Like the prior two cases, the current challenge generally centered on Bolus' criminal record of having past felonies and how that related to his candidate petitions. Spano argued Bolus falsely claimed in candidate affidavits that he was eligible to hold the office of Scranton mayor, but he was not eligible because of his past felony convictions. Bolus contended he was seeking an expungement and believed he could run for the office. After hearing arguments Wednesday from Spano and Bolus, Judge Terrence Nealon issued a 23-page ruling Thursday that determined Bolus' lack of a valid candidate affidavit in his nomination petition rendered it 'fatally defective.' Nealon granted Spano's petition to 'set aside' Bolus' nominating petition and directed the Lackawanna County Board of Elections to exclude Bolus as a candidate for the Republican nomination for mayor in the primary. Bolus had said after Wednesday's hearing that he would appeal a ruling that booted him off the ballot. For Scranton's four-year mayoral term, incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan will battle for the Democratic nomination, while on the Republican side newcomers Trish Beynon and Lynn Labrosky each seek the GOP nomination. Meanwhile, Lackawanna County Judge Trish Corbett heard the other two cases Thursday at the county government headquarters in Scranton. Faraday out in South Abington Twp. supervisor election South Abington Twp. resident Karl Lewis objected to Dean Faraday's candidacy for township supervisor in the Republican primary for a nomination to a six-year term, because Faraday did not file with the township a required financial disclosure statement when he was supposed to have filed it, and instead filed it three days later. That represented a 'fatal and automatic defect' requiring automatic disqualification of the candidacy, attorney Anthony Lomma argued on behalf of Lewis. Township Clerk Susan McLane testified that Faraday filed the form March 14, when it should have been filed by March 11. Corbett said, 'That's a fatal flaw and I will grant the petition' of objection by Lewis to preclude Faraday from getting on the Republican primary ballot. Faraday was not present in court. The decision leaves Giles W. Stanton as the lone candidate in the GOP primary for supervisor in South Abington Twp. No Democrats filed to run for supervisor. Malacaria remains in Scranton City Council election Scranton residents Tim Gilroy and Joan Roskos jointly objected to Frankie Malacaria running in the Democratic primary for a nomination to Scranton City Council for a four-year term, claiming seven of Malacaria's eight election petitions contained numerous deficient signatures. Many of the names were illegible, such that it was impossible to identify the signers. Several of the signers did not live in Scranton, and others were not registered voters or were not registered at the addresses given, according to the objection prepared by attorney Paul Walker on behalf of Gilroy and Roskos. Corbett went through each name that was at issue. She disallowed several that were illegible. Malacaria raised no objection to many of the other signatures at issue and they were also disallowed. He was able to justify some other signatures, such that Walker was satisfied and those were allowed to stand. The end result was 44 of 153 signatures on Malacaria's petitions were disallowed, leaving 109 to stand, which was more than the 100-signature threshold required for him to appear on the primary ballot. 'Congratulations. You're on the ballot,' Corbett said. After the hearing, Malacaria said, 'I'm glad that justice was done.' Malacaria and five other candidates are vying in the primary for three Democratic nominations to appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, including incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster, Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Todd Pousley. McAndrew attended the hearing on the Gilroy/Roskos ballot challenge against Malacaria. Republican Marc Pane is also running for a GOP nomination for council. On Monday, Scranton City Council President Gerald Smurl withdrew as a candidate for reelection, saying a handful of signatures on his nomination petitions were valid but were not witnessed by the petition circulators and that was a problem.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge hears ballot challenge to Bob Bolus candidacy in Republican primary for Scranton mayor
SCRANTON — A hearing Wednesday in Lackawanna County Court on whether to remove Bob Bolus as a candidate for Scranton mayor in the May 20 Republican primary election focused on typographical and procedural errors made in proceedings and potential expungement of his past felony convictions. Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon heard Scranton resident Charlie Spano's challenge to Bolus as a mayoral candidate in the GOP primary. Spano argued Bolus falsely claimed in his candidate affidavit that he is eligible to hold the office of Scranton mayor, but he currently is not eligible because of his past record. Bolus said he is seeking expungement and Spano's case should be tossed on several grounds. Prior cases The challenge filed Friday by Spano is similar to one he successfully pursued against Bolus in his run for mayor in 2021, when a judge bounced Bolus from that ballot and the state Commonwealth Court upheld the removal. At that time, Spano asked the court to strike the candidate petition of Bolus because he claimed in a candidate affidavit he was eligible to hold the office of mayor. Spano argued courts previously ruled Bolus cannot serve as mayor because of a prior felony conviction. Bolus had claimed that even if he could not hold the office, the rulings did not preclude him from running for mayor. Two years earlier, in 2019, Bolus filed nomination papers as an independent candidate for Scranton mayor, a challenge was filed, a judge removed Bolus as a candidate and the state Commonwealth Court upheld that ruling. Expungement issue At Wednesday's hearing, Spano said he has no animus toward Bolus and raises the challenge reluctantly, 'but it seems like its deja vu all over again.' Bolus said he seeks expungement before the swearing in of the next mayor. A person over the age of 70 who hasn't had a conviction in the prior 10 years can seek an expungement. 'With my expungement, which I'm eligible for, I will be able to take the seat,' the 82-year-old Bolus said. Nealon said, 'But it (expungement) hasn't been granted' yet. And Bolus would not even become eligible to seek expungement until mid-January of 2026, because his release from supervision under a 2012 conviction on insurance fraud and attempted theft by deception, both third-degree felonies, ended in mid-January of 2016, Nealon said. Scranton police also charged Bolus, of 1531 Birch St., in August 2022 with trespass, criminal mischief, harassment and other violations regarding knocking down no-trespassing signs put up by neighbors and other actions. In that case, Bolus pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2024, to two counts of criminal mischief and was sentenced by Lackawanna County Court Judge Frank Ruggiero to a suspended sentence of 90 days' incarceration and payment of costs of prosecution and $175 in restitution. Bolus seeks to withdraw that guilty plea to be able to secure an expungement. Nealon said once someone is sentenced, 'it is exceedingly more difficult to have that guilty plea withdrawn.' And even if it were withdrawn, the state then could still pursue the prosecution. Typographical error Bolus argued that Spano's reference in his removal petition to being a registered Republican in the year 2021 instead of 2025 was a fatal defect and it should be thrown out. Courts generally do not decide cases based on typographical or procedural errors, Nealon said. Spano testified he made a typographical error regarding the year and that he is currently a registered Republican. Bolus said, 'It's not a typographical error. It's just that he's incompetent in what he's doing.' Spano said, 'People can make typographical mistakes no matter how much experience they have.' Procedural error In Spano's petition filed Friday, Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse issued an order Friday that set a hearing for Wednesday and a deadline of Monday for Bolus to file a response in court. Bolus did not file a response until Tuesday. Nealon said missing a deadline for a response to be filed in the case could be construed as a 'more significant defect' than a typographical error. Adequate notice Legal procedures require a party to be given timely notice of an action against them and informing them of their requirement for a timely response. Spano testified that on Friday at 2:32 p.m. he hand-delivered a copy of his petition and Barrasse's order to Bolus' home on Birch Street, put the documents in a manila envelope and taped it to a door. Spano submitted as exhibits photos of the envelope and of it taped to the door and showing his reflection, as proof he provided to Bolus the required notice and service of the legal action. Bolus said he never received the documents and thus never received adequate notice. The door that Spano referenced was not the main entrance to his home and the steps to the door were blocked with yellow caution tape, Bolus said. Spano said there was no yellow tape there on Friday. Bolus called Spano 'a liar.' Nealon did not immediately rule from the bench but said he would render a decision as quickly as possible because ballots for the primary election would soon have to be printed. For Scranton's four-year mayoral term, incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan will battle for the Democratic nomination, while Bolus and newcomers Trish Beynon and Lynn Labrosky each seek the Republican nomination.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican Charlie Spano aims to get Bob Bolus bumped off GOP primary election ballot for Scranton mayor
Scranton Republican Charlie Spano aims to again get Bob Bolus bumped off a ballot. Spano filed in Lackawanna County Court a challenge to Bolus' seeking the GOP nomination for mayor in the May 20 primary election, arguing Bolus falsely claims in his candidate affidavit that he is eligible to hold the office of Scranton mayor. Spano seeks to have the court void Bolus' election petition because his status as a convicted felon precludes him from holding that office. Lackawanna County Court Judge Terrence Nealon will hear on Wednesday arguments on whether to void Bolus' 2025 nomination petition. Bob Bolus Sr,, candidate for Scranton mayor in May 20, 2025 Republican primary election. (PHOTO SUBMITTED / COURTESY OF BOB BOLUS SR.) For Scranton's four-year mayoral term, incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan will battle for the Democratic nomination, while Bolus and newcomers Trish Beynon and Lynn Labrosky each seek the Republican nomination. The challenge filed Friday by Spano is similar to one he successfully pursued against Bolus in his run for mayor in 2021, when a judge bounced Bolus from that ballot and the state Commonwealth Court upheld the removal. At that time, Spano asked the court to strike the candidate petition of Bolus because he claimed in a candidate affidavit he was eligible to hold the office of mayor. Spano argued courts previously ruled Bolus cannot serve as mayor because of a prior felony conviction. Bolus had claimed that even if he could not hold the office, the rulings did not preclude him from running for mayor. Two years earlier, in 2019, Bolus filed nomination papers as an independent candidate for Scranton mayor, a challenge was filed, a judge removed Bolus as a candidate and the state Commonwealth Court upheld that ruling. In the current challenge, Spano similarly argues Bolus signed a candidate affidavit claiming he is eligible to hold the office of mayor, 'a claim which Bolus knows is completely false, rendering the petitions fatally defective and is a fraud.' Charlie Spano during a debate of candidates for Scranton mayor hosted by the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County and the Political Science Department at The University of Scranton, at the university on Oct. 15, 2019. (TIMES-TRIBUNE / FILE PHOTO) Spano's challenge cites various examples of case law on the issue and notes that 'Pennsylvania appellate courts have also held that nomination petitions and affidavits are not mere technicalities, but are necessary to prevent fraud.' In a phone interview Monday, Bolus said he is seeking expungements of his record before the swearing in of the next mayor. 'I'll be there Wednesday and lay out exactly what we're doing (regarding seeking expungement), so I will be able to take the seat because the felonies will no longer exist,' Bolus said.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two House Bills address concerns about rock quarries from Williamson County residents
The Brief Two bills in the Texas House could shape the future of rock quarries in the state. HB 873 would require quarry operators to develop reclamation plans for sites. HB 1018 would create a certification process for companies that use best practices. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - As lawmakers gather at the state capitol for the legislative session, so do Central Texas farmers living next to quarries like Mark Friesenhan. What they're saying "It's time to start moving to the middle ground of equity for all the stakeholders involved in the APO industry," said Friesenhan. They're calling on lawmakers to pass two bills filed by Williamson County State Representative Terry Wilson. "Legislators, it's time," said Friesenhan. "Call us, and we'll help you." HB 873 would tighten quarry regulations, including requiring sites to have a reclamation plan. "What will happen to the quarry after it has lived its life as a quarry?" said Cliff Kaplan, the secretary for Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining, or TRAM. "There's a big pit in the ground. Currently, there are no requirements that operators have to follow to plan for that eventuality." Michael Spano, a co-founder of the Coalition Of Responsible Environmental Aggregate Mining, or CREAM, in Williamson County, is most excited about HB 1018, which would create a certification program to recognize quarry operators who follow voluntary best management practices. "With the certification, that kind of gives them an incentive. Otherwise, it's kind of nice, or maybe we can do it, maybe the neighborhoods might ask us to do it, and you know, it's optional," said Spano. The state would then direct TxDOT to purchase supplies from operators with the certification. "Which is the largest buyer from that industry, because we need these construction materials to build our roads," said Kaplan. Why you should care Best management practices encourage responsible water consumption and help mitigate dust, which residents living near quarries have expressed concern about before In June, a study published by CREAM showed that 60 percent of its 200 respondents had dealt with excessive dust from quarries. "We really want them, these APOs, these quarries, these concrete batch plants to be better neighbors rather than to be looked on as invaders," said Spano. The other side In response, the Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association sent the following statement to Fox 7. It represents quarries across the state. "With Texas as one of the fastest growing states in the nation, the need for aggregates, concrete and cement has never been greater. "Our priority for the 89th legislative session is to ensure that we can continue to deliver the critical infrastructure materials required to build the roads, bridges, schools, buildings, homes and hospitals that sustain the state's unprecedented growth, in a regulatory environment that provides certainty and consistency. "TACA continues to work diligently in the Texas House and Senate and across both sides of the aisle to ensure legislation that achieves the goal of benefitting our communities, while delivering the essential materials that all Texans rely on." Fox 7 Austin reached out to State Rep. Terry Wilson's office multiple times but never heard back about a time for an interview. The Source The information in this article comes from FOX7 interviews.
