Thursday, December 29, 2005

Daily and Sunday Review - News - 12/01/2005 - Will Rep. Tina Pickett go along to get along or, stand on her own?

Daily and Sunday Review - News - 12/01/2005 - Will Rep. Tina Pickett go along to get along or, stand on her own?: "Will Rep. Tina Pickett go along to get along or, stand on her own?

12/01/2005
State Rep. Tina Pickett, a Republican who represents Sullivan County and much of Bradford County in the Republican-controlled state House, has made it clear that in her view, in order to be effective in the legislature, rank-and-file members must stay in line and not openly challenge the leadership.

Apparently, for her, this is a guiding principle to which we take exception, and challenge her to publicly respond to the following sound analysis and worthwhile advice, originally published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News:
The great and noble concept of "one man, one vote," handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court 40 years ago, continues to be flawed in its execution.
It's true we no longer have widely disparate representation by districts, as back when in New Hampshire, to cite one example, one state assemblyman represented a town of three people and another represented one with 3,244. Then, a resident in the former exercised 108,000 percent more power at the state capital than a resident in the later.
In accordance with Reynolds v. Sims, each Pennsylvania state House member represents roughly 61,000 people, each state senator roughly 243,000. That is not to say that all Pennsylvanians are equally represented. Real power rests in the hands of a relatively few legislators who make the big decisions and disproportionately assist their own district's - and their loyal legislative followers - with the state's largess.
Rank and file lawmakers of both parties have long acquiesced to this arrangement, to the great detriment of truly representative government, by following the time-honored tradition of "getting along by going along."
But one of the consequences of the embarrassing legislative pay increase/pay repeal is that it has emboldened backbenchers in at least one caucus. Some House Republican rank-and-file members are pushing for major changes in how the Legislature operates.
* They want reinstatement of a tough lobbyist disclosure law.
* They want powerful committee chairmen limited to three terms, or six years.
* They would ban 11th-hour bill changes by the House Rules Committee, a device often used to barrel through controversial measures with little debate or consideration.
* They want a look at restricting post-election "lame duck" voting sessions.
* And they want a study to look at shrinking the size of the Legislature.
We urge them to stick to their guns, recognizing that no district has sent a representative or senator to Harrisburg to serve as second banana. Every legislator, regardless of his or her seniority, has been equally empowered to carry out the people's will.

©Daily and Sunday Review 2005 "

The Times-Tribune - Opinion - 12/10/2005 - Brett Feese For Congress?

The Times-Tribune - Opinion - 12/10/2005 - Dem chairman ponders retirement: "Democratic congressional candidate Chris Carney recently submitted the first campaign finance report for his campaign. It shows he has a way to go before he’s in the same league campaign money-wise as the man whose job he wants, Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock Township.

Mr. Carney, a Dimock Township resident, had raised $28,283.99 and spent only $5,864.86, leaving him with $22,419.13 as of Sept. 30, according to his report. Not bad for starters, but he’ll have to do better.

Mr. Sherwood, perhaps spurred by the potential political impact of his personal troubles, raised another $153,513.32 and spent $49,996.85, leaving him with $406,072.40.

l Democratic political consultant Larry Ceisler thinks the heavily Republican nature of Mr. Sherwood’s district makes it unlikely a Democrat can beat him. Mr. Ceisler thinks someone like state Rep. Brett Feese, a Lycoming County Republican who can raise the money necessary to compete, could beat Mr. Sherwood.

Neither Mr. Feese nor any other Republican has shown an interest in taking on Mr. Sherwood. The only Republican to have publicly shown an interest, state Rep. Jerry Birmelin, R-South Canaan Township, has said he won’t run if Mr. Sherwood does."

NEPA News - Don Sherwood Linked To Criminal Congressman Duke Cunningham - Sherwood Says "I can't criticize him"

NEPA News - NEPA News - 12/01/2005 - House members give away contributions from Cunningham: "Rep. Don Sherwood said he accepted an in-kind contribution of $901 from Cunningham's political action committee, but could not return the money or donate it because it was reimbursement for a flight Cunningham took to Pennsylvania for a veterans event.

"I'm very sad about this. This is terribly unfortunate, but Duke was a fighter ace pilot and the fact that he got around and talked to veterans, I can't criticize him for that," Sherwood said. "Not knowing that there was anything improper going on, I think that was a proper thing for me to do. It was a veteran talking to veterans and it was a man with very interesting stories to tell of his service in Vietnam.""

UCSF RAS Archive: Sports - National Football League Daily - 6/3/98

UCSF RAS Archive: Sports - National Football League Daily - 6/3/98: ">CAROLINA RELEASES VETERAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
>
>(AP) - The Carolina Panthers released Greg Skrepenak on Tuesday,
>clearing more than $3 million in salary-cap money over the next
>two years and severing ties to a player once viewed as a
>cornerstone of their offensive line. "These decisions are always
>the hardest," coach Dom Capers said of the move to cut Skrepenak,
>who joined Carolina as an unrestricted free agent in 1996 after
>playing his first five NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders. The
>Panthers signed Skrepenak to a four-year, $7.2 million deal,
>making him easily the highest-paid player on a line made up of
>players in their early and mid 20s. Carolina wanted Skrepenak to
>oversee the younger players from the right tackle spot, but those
>plans never materialized."

The Citizens Voice - News - 08/31/2005 - Skrepenak cancels run for Congress

The Citizens Voice - News - 08/31/2005 - Skrepenak cancels run for Congress: "Skrepenak cancels run for Congress

By Elizabeth Skrapits, Staff Writer 08/31/2005
Greg Skrepenak has opted not to tackle a run for Congress, but hasn't ruled it out as a possible goal down the road.
The Luzerne County commissioner chairman, who previously considered going after the seat of U.S. Rep Don Sherwood in the 10th Congressional District, wrote to the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Tuesday that he changed his mind.

Michael F. Prociak, Skrepenak's campaign manager, said in early June the DCCC brought him to Washington D.C. to meet with its officers, specifically DCCC chairman U.S. Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Illinois).

"I was honored and thrilled to get that phone call," Skrepenak said. "I was only in politics for a year and a half, and to get called by the DCCC to run for such a position was exciting."
He gave the matter a lot of thought, and ultimately decided to stay a commissioner.
"As a former athlete, and riding on emotions, I wanted to make a logical decision, not an emotional one," he said. "It wasn't in the game plan."
Skrepenak's almost national name recognition, from his days as a National Football League player with the Oakland Raiders and the Carolina Panthers, helped, Prociak said.
"They were very interested in having Greg run. They ran a poll, and the results were extremely favorable for Greg," Prociak said of the DCCC.

"His decision is his, and we wish him all the best," DCCC spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg said.
Skrepenak said he was confident he could have won the seat, but admitted Sherwood, a lifelong resident of Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, would be a tough opponent. The district, which includes parts of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Lycoming and all of Bradford, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties, is heavily Republican.

Still, the DCCC has tagged Sherwood as vulnerable, not just because of his legal problems, but because he does not meet the needs of his district, Feinberg said.
Cynthia Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md., filed a $5.5 million suit against Sherwood, claiming he beat and assaulted her throughout their six-year relationship.
Sherwood has publicly admitted to the affair with Ore, but denied her abuse allegations.
With Skrepenak out of the picture, Chris Carney may have a clear field to be the Democratic nominee next May - although Feinberg said the district is so large a challenger could be off the radar.

Carney, a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve and associate professor of political science at Penn State, said in a press release he will formally announce his candidacy in Montrose on Sept. 7.
The Dimock Township, Susquehanna County resident was out of the country Tuesday, so could not be reached for comment.

Skrepenak said he would "absolutely" support Carney if he was the Democrats' pick to challenge Sherwood.
"That seat is a very big part of this county," Skrepenak said. "We're definitely going to watch with great interest what happens there."
And he is keeping his options open. He might consider running for another office in the future, "when the time is right," he said.

But for now Skrepenak enjoys being a county commissioner, and said it is a good place to learn about government on the county, state, and federal levels.
"He's young. He has a lot of opportunity," Prociak said of the 34-year-old Skrepenak. "We don't know what the next step will be, but there certainly will be a next step.""

Greg Skrepenak, NFL tackle, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers January 31 in History

Greg Skrepenak, NFL tackle, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers January 31 in History: "January 31, 1970 in History

Born:
Greg Skrepenak, NFL tackle, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers "

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Times Leader | 02/01/2005 | Vonderheid, Skrepenak receive $76,000

Times Leader | 02/01/2005 | Vonderheid, Skrepenak receive $76,000: "Posted on Tue, Feb. 01, 2005


Officials report status of war chestsCAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Officials report status of war chests

Vonderheid, Skrepenak receive $76,000

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net


Luzerne County Commissioners Todd Vonderheid and Greg Skrepenak pulled in $76,747 in campaign donations during their first year in office, a new 2004 filing shows.

Their committee, Friends of Skrepenak and Vonderheid, split $40,000 of that take down the middle, placing $20,000 into each candidate’s individual campaign organization.

Vonderheid used $14,000 of his $20,000 to pay off loans. His individual organization, Todd Vonderheid Today, still owes $109,380 in debts and obligations.

Skrepenak paid off $10,000 in debt and still owes about $11,600 -- about $9,000 to himself and $2,500 to Michael F. Prociak.

Both commissioners are trying to knock off some debt and build a campaign war chest because they plan to run again in 2007.

The Friends of Skrepenak and Vonderheid committee still owes $50,000 to Skrepenak from a loan he made to the committee the month before the November 2003 election.

Among the other bills paid by the joint committee were $4,835 for advertising to Ed Mitchell Communications and $9,491 to Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top for an event expense.

Several other county officials are carrying campaign debt, the new reports show.

District Attorney Dave Lupas leads the pack, reporting $333,500 in debt and obligations. Of that, Lupas owes $30,000 to himself and $303,500 to his father, Anthony.

County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella’s committee shows a debt of $180,117 from various loans he made dating back to 1995.

Likewise, Prothonotary Jill Moran’s $139,700 loan to her committee is still on the books.

Others owed by their committees are Register of Wills Dorothy Stankovic, $62,685; Controller Steve Flood, $80,000; and Treasurer Michael Morreale, $15,460.

Recorder of Deeds Mary Dysleski and minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban report no debt.

Dysleski has $161 in the bank, and Urban has $1,306.

County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said campaign committees can’t dissolve until they spend all their money and account for the debt by paying it off, either through campaign funds or forgiveness by the original loan grantor.

Candidates who ultimately eat their debt must report that in a form. Piazza said he doesn’t know of any deadline to settle campaign accounts.

“The entire report has to be at zero before the committee can be terminated,” Piazza said. “It’s all about public disclosure.”

For example, the Committee to Elect Makowski and Pizano, which represented former commissioners Tom Pizano and Tom Makowski, still has $18,557 in the bank, its report says. The committee didn’t spend anything in 2004.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friends of Skrepenak and Vonderheid received donations of $1,000 from each of the following in 2004: MT&T Bank PAC; John J. Passan, Valley Distribution & Storage; Michael J. Pasonick, Michael J. Pasonick Jr. Associates; Patrick J. McLaine, Acker Associates; Michael A. Answini, Apollo Group; three representatives of CPA firm Snyder & Clemente; Andrew J. Sordoni III, Sordoni Enterprises; Paul J. Siegel, Eastern Insurance Group; William B. Sordoni, Sordoni Enterprises; H. Robert Weaver Jr., W-B Clay Products; Wolfgang Hans Baerwald, Wyoming Valley Health Systems; Christopher L. Borton, Borton-Lawson Engineering; Jack J. Burke, Penn Millers Insurance; Joseph A. Frank, Centralia Coal Sales Co.; John J. Homza, Sordoni Construction; William R. Host, Wyoming Valley Health Care; Allan M. Kluger, Hourigan Kluger & Quinn; Sandy Insalaco Sr.; Thomas J. McGrath Jr., McGrath Medical Associates; Douglas Barbacci, Calex Logistic Services; Christopher Hackett, Onesource Staffing Solutions; John C. Metz, Metz Enterprises; Neil T. O’Donnell, lawyer; Michael Butera, lawyer; Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald; Eugene Roth, Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP; Philip Santarelli, Santarelli Vibrated Block Co. (the company alone also gave another $1,000); Murray Ufberg, lawyer; Satish Patel, physician; Joseph L. Persico, lawyer; John Churnetski, Quad Three Group Inc.; Philip G. Decker, Hospice Community Care; Alan J. Finlay, Humford Equities; Michael MacDowell, College Misericordia; Randall B. K. Mark, Pulverman; Charles E. Parente; and John G. Nackley Sr., Intermetro Industries Corp.

Larger donors include: PA Cleanpac, $2,000; Samuel Marranca Sr., Sam-Car Group, LTD, $1,500; Greg Fellerman, Fellerman Law, $1,500; Mericle Properties, $2,000; Charles J. Bufalino Jr., attorney, $1,125; Thomas E. Lawson, Borton-Lawson, $1,250; and Noble C. Quandel Jr., Quandel Construction, $2,000.

County employees who donated to the campaign include: solicitor Jim Blaum, $250; prison employee John Roke, $250; solicitor Christopher Slusser, $250; prison warden Gene Fischi, $125; assessment appeals board member Andrew Shiner III, $750; solicitor Edward McNelis, $500; and prison deputy warden Joseph Morris, $500."