Lauren Bieber Mailen

Former state Rep. Thom Welby took the oath of office Tuesday as Lackawanna County commissioner. He replaces Brenda Sacco, who served only 34 days after her appointment to the seat ended a long legal battle over who should replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin. Welby won the seat in a Nov. 4 special election.

Former state Rep. Thom Welby, a Democrat, easily defeated two challengers to win the right to finish out the term of former Commissioner Matt McGloin.

The Lackawanna County Democratic Party wants the state Commonwealth Court to overturn a county court ruling that allows the Nov. 4 special election to happen.

The special election is Nov. 4. Voters will also choose in a special election for clerk of judicial records.

Brenda Sacco, the confirmed replacement for ex-Lackawanna County commissioner Matt McGloin, said Wednesday she won’t run in the Nov. 4 special election for commissioner if there is one.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday morning approved Lackawanna County and County Commissioner Bill Gaughan's request for an emergency order preventing the appointment of a new commissioner to replace Matt McGloin, who resigned in February.

Lackawanna County common pleas court judges chose Brenda Sacco on Thursday to replace ex-Commissioner Matt McGloin and former congressional aide Lauren Bieber Mailen as the new clerk of judicial records.