Lackawanna County Democratic Party

A non-discrimination ordinance passed by Luzerne County Council in June is caught in a battle to either repeal it or put it up for a county-wide vote on whether or not to keep it. While county residents and officials trade petitions, lawsuits and challenges, the fate of the law is uncertain.

School counselor and political campaign veteran Larissa Cleary Valonis was elected chairperson of the Lackawanna County Democratic Party on Tuesday. She is believed to be the first woman elected to the post.

Acting on numerous complaints, the state Democratic Party assumed control of the process for election new Lackawanna County Democratic Party officers.

A sharply divided Lackawanna County Democratic Party may be headed for another court battle. This one is over who can serve as the party committee members when the committee votes to pick new officers at an upcoming reorganization meeting.

Lackawanna County Democratic Party faction plans to legally challenge outgoing county party chairman Chris Patrick's decision to declare 76 newly elected committee members ineligible to serve.

The Lackawanna County Democratic Party and Commissioner Brenda Sacco plan to withdraw lawsuits that sought to declare illegal a special election meant to choose someone to serve out the remainder of former Commissioner Matt McGloin's term. Former state Rep. Thom Welby, a Democrat, won that election Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Brenda Sacco says she will respect the result of the special election for county commissioner Tuesday if the result is 'lawful.'

Former Lackawanna County planning and economic development director Brenda Sacco took the oath of office as the county's newest commissioner Wednesday, replacing Matt McGloin, who resigned in February.

Former Lackawanna County official Brenda Sacco is scheduled to take the oath of office as former Commissioner Matt McGloin's replacement Wednesday at 10 a.m., despite being allowed to serve only until a replacement is elected. A special election is set for Nov. 4 to replace McGloin.

Ryan Runco is an independent candidate for Lackawanna County commissioner in a Nov. 4 special election, but two voters say he filled flawed nominating papers and should be removed from the ballot.