SCRANTON -- When voters go to the polls in the May primaries in Lackawanna County, they will get to decide on the future of certain row offices.
In a referendum, voters will be asked five questions:
1. Whether to seat a 7-member commission to study the county`s current form of government, the Home Rule Charter.
2. To allow the county commissioners to eliminate Register of Wills.
3. To allow the county commissioners to eliminate Recorder of Deeds.
4. To allow the county commissioners to eliminate Clerk of Judicial Recorders.
5. To allow the commissioners to appoint a sheriff rather than having voters elect one.
“We have a plan that`s going to be put in place, we have a conservative amount that if these offices are consolidated that we`ll be able to save a million dollars over four years,” said Democratic Commissioner Jim Wansacz.
Evie McNulty is running for her fifth term as Recorder of Deeds, and she said this change in government will give the commissioners too much control.
“Two people should not be allowed to choose your government, to choose your sheriff, to choose your Recorder of Deeds,” said McNulty.
At the University of Scranton, the League of Women Voters held a forum to explain the referendum, saying the questions are confusing, especially the home rule charter study commission.
“You`re not electing a change in the form of government right now, so the commission can come back later and say no, we don`t think that a change in the form of government is necessary,” said Andrea Mulrine with the League.
If those row offices are eliminated that means time and money spent by the candidates this primary season is worthless.
Alicia Di Leo is the republican seeking the Recorder of Deeds and said she`s fine with those chances.
“It’s worth it for me, especially if the voters do decide to keep these offices as elected,” said Di Leo.