UPDATE: Luzerne County voters have decisively rejected a proposed revision to the county’s Home Rule charter during Tuesday’s election, with unofficial results showing a significant margin: 29,993 votes against and 20,184 votes in favor. As of now, 120 of 186 precincts have reported, confirming overwhelming opposition to the changes.
The proposed charter aimed to reduce the county council from 11 members to 9 and modify the county’s governance structure. However, voters expressed their dissatisfaction, with mail-in ballots rejecting the proposal by a margin of 10,635 to 7,749.
Critics of the charter, including many current council members, argued that the changes would centralize power and diminish representation for smaller communities and underrepresented groups.
“Reducing council to nine members would concentrate power in fewer hands,”
one opponent stated. Furthermore, Controller Walter Griffith labeled the proposal a “bait and switch charter,” fearing it would undermine the integrity of the county’s election board and ethics commission.
The charter would have continued the trend initiated by the 2010 charter, which eliminated a state-mandated government structure led by three county commissioners and ended elections for several row offices. Under the current charter, only a few officials remain elected, including the district attorney and council members.
Former council member and current study commission member Tim McGinley, who abstained from supporting the new charter, expressed concerns that it strayed from the original goal of reducing political influence in governance. Meanwhile, Sam Sanguedolce, the district attorney, defended the proposal, stating it would enhance accountability among council members.
The charter’s rejection halts potential changes that voters might have found controversial or confusing. In April 2024, voters had already approved a referendum to establish a county government study commission, which led to this latest proposal. The commission voted in July to send the charter to the voters, but the outcome has raised questions about the community’s appetite for structural changes.
Moving forward, all eyes will be on how this decision impacts future governance strategies in Luzerne County. Advocates for change will need to reassess their approaches in light of the community’s clear message against the proposed charter.
As the results are finalized, many residents are left wondering: what does this mean for the future of governance in Luzerne County? Will new proposals emerge that address the concerns raised during this election? The conversation is just beginning, and community leaders are expected to respond in the coming days.
Stay tuned for more updates as officials analyze the implications of this pivotal decision.
