• • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Donate/Volunteer
  • Events
  • Photos
  • Media
  • Press Releases
  • Contact
  • Staff
  • Links

I would like to thank the thousands of supporters that helped me in my bid for state representative in the 120th district last year. Whether it was by donating, volunteering,putting up yard signs, or just by spreading my words of fiscal sanity, it was greatly appreciated. Although personally I was disappointed in the results, many of you have pointed out to me that what I did as a third party candidate was a historical achievement locally, and even on the state and national level.

I also thank my opponents Phyllis Mundy and Bill Goldsworthy for competing in the arena of ideas. I learned a great deal from them in addition to what I learned on the campaign trail.

Notable achievements included knocking on over 12,000 doors in the 120th district including every door in West Wyoming, Swoyersville, Courtdale, Luzerne Boro, and Pringle. A large majority of doors were hit in Wyoming Boro, Exeter Boro, Jackson, and Exeter Twps. The only areas where I was unable to knock on at least half the doors were Kingston Boro, Kingston Twp., Forty Fort, and West Pittston. My efforts attracted for the first time in this area the visitation of National Chairman of the Libertarian Party, Bill Redpath in May of last year. My campaign was one only of twelve in the country deemed worthy to receive a donation from the Libertarian National Committee. The 14.91% of the vote I received was the second highest in the nation for a candidate running for state legislature against both a Republican and Democrat. My percentage also beat the previous record of 8.81% held by the highest percentage of the vote obtained by a Libertarian running in a 3-way race for state legislator in Pennsylvania. Notable endorsements I received included the 2006 120th district Republican challenger John Cordora, Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith, and Luzerne County taxpayer watchdog group CAP Taxes. It was also pointed out to me by my supporters that it would have been very unlikely that the well-liked Phyllis Mundy would have received only 52% of the vote in a traditional two-way race. She probably would have with obtaining her usual 60-75% of the vote, indicating a great deal of Democrat support for my campaign.

It is my supporters' belief in me and my message that have encouraged me to once again seek elected office. The dysfunction that exists at all levels of government is especially acute here in Luzerne County, which has historically been one of the most corrupt and mismanaged government entities in the country. I was personally against the present Home Rule charter mostly for constitutional reasons such as the inability to elect the sheriff, and for potential flaws such as possible no minority party representation. The people spoke loud and clear in November and said enough is enough which is understandable. I have always thought that any system of government can run amuck with the wrong people at the helm. Now more than ever it is critical for the voters of Luzerne County to elect the right people to lead us out of the abyss under the new home rule charter.

My promises to the citizens of Luzerne County:

I will never vote for a tax increase. Period. 

This includes any increase in fees,new fees, or any other means to increase revenue. The only type of fee I would ever approve of would be a user type fee (ie., admission to a county park). The taxpayers of this county are to no longer be viewed as sheep to be fleeced. With an employee base that is at least 1/3 larger than similar sized counties, the size and cost of county government will decrease to balance budgets. Also budget projections are to be realistic with conservative revenue projections, and margin for error on expenses. For example, there would never be a pie-in-the-sky revenue projection for an unsold former Valley Crest property. Our current crop of commissioners deserve no feathers in their caps for this years' zero tax increase, after a 15% and 10% tax increase the prior two years. They did little to nothing to pay down debt and decrease the size and cost of county government to avert future tax increases.

   No more borrowing. Period.

      With almost a half a billion dollars in outstanding debt, the county can ill afford to take on any more. Our present leaders have hung their hats on assuming that cheap and easy money will always be available to borrow. History tells us that in all likelihood interest rates have no where to go but up from here. Evidence is already pointing to the fact that this is, indeed, already happening. What do you think will happen when all this outstanding debt needs to be rolled over and who will pay for it? You guessed it..... the taxpayer. I will do everything in my power to prevent the borrowing of so much as a nickel, and I will do everything in my power to begin to pay off our debt in the most expedient and painless way possible.

   No tolerance for corruption. No tolerance for nepotism. Period. 

Let me just say that in addition to those that have been convicted of wrongdoing  there are many in the courthouse that in all likelihood should join their associates doing the perp walk, or in the very least feel ashamed at having not spoken up about the wrongs that were committed against the children and taxpayers of our county. The culture of corruption that is Luzerne County must come to an end, and as I see it the Home Rule Charter and those elected to fill the council positions is our last best chance at affecting a change for the better. There can no semblance whatsoever to the traditional candidates that the voters of Luzerne County have chosen in the past. "Connections" and "credentials" need to be tossed out the window. I offer as the alternative someone that doesn't owe anything to anybody, and has the fortitude and integrity to speak up if something doesn't smell right. In my years in the Army, I had to face far greater enemy and threats to my well being, than anything so trivial as that might arise in county government. My principles will not be sacrificed