SCRANTON -- With the resignation of Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, voters find themselves in a position they're all too familiar with.
This is the third time is about 12 years that a Lackawanna County commissioner has left before his term has ended.
When majority commissioner Corey O'Brien resigns in March, Lackawanna County will exercise a part of its home rule charter that has been used before in the past decade.
County solicitor Don Frederickson says the Democratic party, then county judges will pick someone to fill O'Brien's spot.
"There should be no interruption. There are still two commissioners in place. All the other county offices are filled," Frederickson said.
One of the remaining two commissioners is Democrat Jim Wansacz, O'Brien's running mate in 2012.
"My plan is right now to circulate by myself and figure this out as we're going forward. I'll work in conjunction with the Democratic Party and sit down with various people who I'm sure are going to be interested in wanting to run, and try to figure out a running mate going forward."
This is not the first time that Lackawanna County voters have been left with only two of their three elected commissioners.
In 2002, Mike Washo was picked to replace Commissioner Randy Castellani who resigned.
In 2011, Republican Bruce Smallacombe was picked to replace Commissioner A.J. Munchak who left after his public corruption conviction.
This time, the Democratic Party will nominate three candidates who could replace O'Brien. They have five days after his resignation to do so. Then, county judges will appoint one of those three to fill out O'Brien's term.
County officials say, thanks to Corey O'Brien, being a commissioner is at least a more attractive job than it was when he first took office seven years ago.
"I think his legacy will be turning things around, moving it in the right direction, leaving the county in a much better place than when he found it," Wansacz said.
"He's led the charge. I think he's turned around Lackawanna County government. It's honest now and productive and moving forward as opposed to looking back," Frederickson added.
Commissioner Wansacz and attorney Frederickson didn't have any guesses as to who might want to fill in for Corey O'Brien.
Former state representative Ed Staback tells us he's interested in the job, but only to finish out O'brien's term. Staback says he wouldn't want to run in November.
