WILKES-BARRE -- The weather won't keep people from the polls Wednesday, plenty of races, big and small on general election day 2015.
The polling place on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre, like polling places across the state, opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. On this election day, Wilkes-Barre will elect a new mayor.
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George is opposed by Republican Frank Sorick. Sorick is a realtor and head of the Wilkes-Barre taxpayers association. His platform includes a crackdown on crime, plus an end to what he believes is corruption in the city.
Current mayor, Tom Leighton is not seeking a fourth term, but may pick up votes Tuesday anyway. There are social media sites encouraging people to write in the name of the outgoing mayor. Leighton said last week he is not, "formally conducting" a write-in campaign.
In neighboring Lackawanna County, you are guaranteed to see some new faces on the board of commissioners.
The county's current commissioner Pat O'Malley and businessman Jerry Notarianni are running on the Democratic side. Racing for the Republicans are Laureen Cummings and Bill Jones. Charlie Spano is running a write in campaign.
Current commissioner Jim Wansacz lost in the primary, while Ed Staback is not seeking a full term.
Stefanie Salavantis is also seeking re-election. The Republican was swept in to office four years ago, in a county still reeling from bribery and corruption scandals. Salavantis alleged the incumbent wasn't vigilant prior to judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan being swept off to jail.
This time, Salavantis is opposed by Democrat Vito Deluca. He promises to spend more time in the courtroom than Salavantis. Deluca faults his opponent for allegedly throwing out dozens of drunk driving cases, and blaming the police.
It's a rematch in Pike County.
Republican Kelly Gaughan won the Republican nomination back in the spring, defeating incumbent Ray Tonkin.
However, Tonkin won the Democratic nomination because of hundreds of write-in votes.
Tonkin, seeking his third term, says he remains a Republican, even though his name is on the Democratic side of the ballot.
The winner, Gaughan or Tonkin, will likely be the one who handles the prosecution of Eric Frein, the man charged with killing one state trooper, and wounding another at Blooming Grove in September of last year.
In addition to those races, there are contests for commissioner, county council, town council, and school board, all across northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
