'driven' Dishes All The Dirt

2003 Election 
Flood Enters Commissioners Race 
He Hopes To Modernize The County's Financial System And Hire A Grant Writer
For Added Funding

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net
 Thursday, February 13, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





State Sen. Robert Mellow says Controller Steve Flood is ``extremely
misleading'' by making statements that he would be instrumental in selecting
his own replacement if he's elected county commissioner this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``To me it's a little disingenuous of Flood to say something like this. He
will probably have little or no input if he is elected commissioner,'' Mellow
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mellow, a Democratic, said he's the one who would be instrumental as the
Senate minority leader in picking Flood's replacement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The law had allowed the governor to nominate a replacement controller from
either political party. The nomination had to be confirmed by two-thirds of
the Senate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Changes to the law now require the replacement be of the same political
party in which the controller was registered when elected - in Flood's case,
Democrat - Mellow said. The change also reduced the required Senate
confirmation from two-thirds to 26 of 50 senators, he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow said the law was changed so nominations aren't stymied or blocked,
which happened when former controller Tom Pizano was elected commissioner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Former Gov. Tom Ridge was unable to win senate approval for his Republican
nominees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow said Rendell, a Democrat, would and must involve him in the
selection of any controller replacement because the Senate must approve the
person. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As part of the decision, Mellow, of Lackawanna County, said he would
consult with Luzerne County senators Raphael Musto, D-Pittston Township, and
Charles Lemmond, R-Dallas, as well as Luzerne County Democratic Party Chairman
Joe Mazur. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow said he would choose someone with a background in government and
education or experience in accounting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``A CPA would be great if that person would be available, but
unfortunately, because of the pay in government, someone might not be willing
to accept the position,'' Mellow said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The controller earns $36,562. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow said the candidate should be ``independent but not outspoken.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``There's a major difference. You can be very independent but you don't
have to be outspoken and critical to the point of being slanderous,'' Mellow
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow would not say whether he was referring to Flood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I'm just glad I live in Lackawanna County,'' Mellow said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mellow said he felt a duty to explain the process to the public. He and
Rendell had breakfast together this week, and Rendell never mentioned any
plans to involve Flood in anything. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Flood said he didn't know of the change in law, but stood by his statement
that Rendell wants his input in the selection of a replacement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We sat at my house last year and had informal discussions about the
future of Luzerne County. He was very concerned if I should run as
commissioner about the future of the controller's office and said he wanted my
input,'' Flood said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

2003 Election 
Mellow Says He'll Pick Controller Replacement 
State Senate Democratic Leader Said Controller Steve Flood Won't Have A Hand
In Selecting A Replacement If Elected County Commissioner.

2003 Election Mellow Says He'll Pick Controller Replacement State Senate Democratic Leader Said Controller Steve Flood Won't Have A Hand In Selecting A Replacement If Elected County Commissioner.