SCRANTON -- Lackawanna County's form of government will remain the same.
On the ballot, voters in the county were asked if they'd like to see a change in the way the county is run. The unofficial poll results show the voters want the three county commissioner form to stay.
Despite having their efforts fail, the party at the Radisson Lackawanna Station in Scranton for Fix Lackawanna was still spirited.
Fix Lackawanna is a group pushing to change the way Lackawanna County is run.
The group said they felt they got their got their message across exposing problems with the current form of government.
"We raised significant issues, public issues that needed to be raised. We exposed many things that were infirmities and faults in the system. We need checks and balances, some of those things we brought to the public consciousness. I think that the future government, even the three commissioner form, will be put on notice. Those things need to be dealt with," said Chuck Volpe of Fix Lackawanna. "Almost 17,000 people did vote yes versus the 21,000 and change that voted no."
Lackawanna County commissioners said the effort at the polls shows that the people of the county are happy with the way government is working.
"I think they know that they have a good government and they wanted to keep it in place and that's what it was all about. It's always been efficient. It's always been effective and I believe the people of Lackawanna County wanted to keep it that way," said Lackawanna Commissioner Pat O'Malley.
Voters were asked if want to replace the three commissioner form of government and replace it with an executive council form of government. Under that plan, the county would have seven districts with a part-time council member representing the district. The council would be overseen by a full-time county executive.
Supporters say this form of county government provides a better system of checks and balances. They claim it would also lower taxes.
Those who support the current form of government dispute the claim of lower taxes and say it will increase the size of county government.