Is Home Rule the Answer in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. -- The home rule initiative in Luzerne County is a national story with a Pennsylvania angle to it. Home rule is part of the never ending attempt to establish efficient, transparent, clean, and honest government in America. Millions of Americans in communities across the nation are involved in this effort right now. Many Americans are already familiar with the new type of government being proposed in Luzerne County.

Approximately 92 million Americans live under the council-manager system of government, which is the basis of the proposal in Luzerne County. Currently, Luzerne County is governed by just three county commissioners who have executive and legislative powers. In November, voters will decide if they want to move from the county commissioner form of government to home rule.

Since it is a national issue, I invite all readers to leave their comments on whether home rule will improve the government in Luzerne County. Let us take a look at the history and environment in Luzerne County where the home rule initiative is taking place.

The Environment

Corruption in Luzerne County is now in the local, state, national and international news. Just about everyone has heard about it by now. As of this writing, thirty people have been arrested, pleaded guilty to corruption charges, or are awaiting trial.

Home Rule Study Commission

Citizens reacted to this by voting to establish a government study commission. Eventually, the study group voted unanimously to go from the current County Commissioner form of government to home rule. They have drafted a Home Rule Charter and it will be on the ballot in November 2010. Voters will decide if they want to abandon the County Commissioner form of government and move to home rule. It will be the most significant vote in a generation.

The late Tip O'Neil was one of the greatest politicians of his generation, and he spoke with great wisdom when he said all politics is local. This is a local issue with enormous consequences for everyone who lives in Luzerne County, as well as Pennsylvania, and the entire nation. As a citizen, voter, and a Republican Committeeman, I want to help history along by helping voters make the right choice. I sent the Executive Director of the Luzerne County Republican Party, Renita Fennick an e-mail. I recommended that as a public service to help voters make an informed decision on home rule, the Luzerne County Republicans should hold public forums at Republican Headquarters.

I recommended that we invite Luzerne County Commissioners Petrilla and Urban as well as Controller Walter Griffith to speak against it. Then the Republicans could invite study commission chairman James Haggerty, and two members of the study commission to speak for it. The Luzerne County Republican Party is not taking an official position on Home Rule, and is encouraging individual Republicans to make up their own minds on the issue. Public forums will be compatible with that philosophy and will help all voters make up their minds on the issue. The bottom line is that the Luzerne County Republican Party is here to serve the people of Luzerne County. Renita Fennick replied that this is a great idea and agreed to set up the forums.

The Home Rule Charter

The study commission promises that the Home Rule Charter will change the climate in Luzerne County from negative to positive. The council-manager system will be established by electing eleven commissioners who will then hire a county manager. The voters will not elect the county manager.

Controversy

The proposal is controversial and all three current county commissioners have raised concerns about home rule. Luzerne County Commissioner Maryann Petrilla believes that the current government is working. She believes the current commissioners are focused on the goal which is to make Luzerne County a better place to live.

Petrilla believes the eleven member council will be ineffective just as large school boards are ineffective. She is also concerned as the appointed county manager will be accountable to the majority on council and not the voters.

County Commissioner Steve Urban agrees that the current government is working. He believes the charter does not provide adequate checks and balances, as the council picks the county manager. In essence, the legislature hires and fires the executive, so the executive and the legislative functions of government are fused together.

Another major concern is that the council members are elected at large so they will probably be Democrats from Hazelton and Wilkes-Barre. Many citizens want the council to be elected from different districts in the county so some Republicans could be elected to provide a check and balance on the council.

Commissioner Thomas Cooney is concerned that the executive will give in to the whims of the council. He wants the county executive to be elected.

Stay tuned; it is going to be a great issue on the ballot in November. The quest for honest, efficient, and transparent government, is a microcosm of the struggle that is occurring across the nation.

Sources:

1. Luzerne County Government Study Commission, Luzerne County Home Rule Charter Review: Problems Found and Reforms Proposed, May 2010.
2. Jennifer Learn-Andes, Home rule worrisome to board, The Times Leader Newspaper, June 4, 2010.
3. Our Voice, Charter panel should reassess opposition to district voting, The Sunday Voice, June 6,2010.