Yolanda Bonomo

2 Col. Deep

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net
 Tuesday, February 25, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Luzerne County Commissioner Tom Pizano says that although his own poll
shows him to be electable, he will not seek re-election because he doesn't
want to invest the time and effort needed to prevail against a crowded field. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The other Tom, fellow Democratic commissioner Tom Makowski, announced last
month that he won't run because he has a baby on the way and wants to return
to practice law full-time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's the first time in recent memory that two majority commissioners have
both decided not to seek new terms, but county Democratic Party Chairman Joe
Mazur said he doesn't think it's unprecedented. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Said Pizano: ``Although our recent poll showed the election to be entirely
winnable, the amount of time required to serve as commissioner, while
conducting a vigorous campaign for re-election, combined with the shared
duties of being an invaluable, responsible parent in a family where both
parents work, is to say the least, stretched.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano, 51, acknowledges it was a tough decision because he loves politics
and said there's a good chance he'd run if the ballot wasn't so crowded. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Public service and politics, once in a person's `blood,' is not easily
quelled,'' Pizano said Monday. ``However, I must put my family's well-being
first.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano has two girls, Jessica, 16, and Melissa, 13. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And April and May - the height of the primary campaigning season - is peak
growing season for his family's greenhouse business in Exeter, he said. The
primary is May 20. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano won't release the findings of his polls. The buzz around the
courthouse and political functions is that he didn't fare too well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But at least two of his allies - attorney John Moses and Democratic Party
chief Joe Mazur - say the talk is wrong. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I've been made privy to some polling information, and it's clear to me he
could have regained his seat as commissioner,'' said Moses. ``Tom Pizano was a
dedicated and committed public servant, and I'm sorry to learn he will not
seek re-election.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mazur said he was also ``privy'' to Pizano's poll. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``His numbers were good. I think he could've won, and let me make it clear
that I'm in this to win. If Tom couldn't win, I'd be the first to tell him to
pack it up,'' Mazur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mazur said Pizano told him last week about his decision not to run, but
asked Mazur not to say anything until Pizano made his public announcement
Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I met with him at length over the weekend and tried to talk him into
running, but he was committed to his family,'' Mazur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano said he conducted his own poll after reading about a scientific
Times Leader/WNEP-16 poll about the effectiveness of county government and
approval ratings for top elected county leaders. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of the 511 Luzerne County residents surveyed for that poll, 21.1 percent
approved of the way Pizano did his job, while 38.6 percent disapproved. The
remaining 40.1 percent didn't know or provided no answer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In comparison, 48.9 percent approved of the way Democratic Controller Steve
Flood handles his job, against 15.5 percent who disapprove and 34.8 percent
who don't know or didn't answer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Flood said Pizano asked him twice to run as his teammate for commissioner,
but Flood said he respectfully declined. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano would have had no problem finding a viable running mate, Mazur said,
but added that the commissioner had to follow his instinct. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``If the burning isn't in your belly, it's better you don't go after it
because it's a lot of hard work. You're going all the time, and people call
you at all hours seven days a week,'' Mazur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``You can see it on him, he's just worn out. Sometimes you get that way.
It's just time to get out of it,'' Mazur said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Democrats lining up for commissioners seats are Flood; Todd Vonderheid,
vice president for economic development and member services of the Greater
Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry; former NFL lineman Greg
Skrepenak; David Wehrer, part-time Larksville police officer and school truant
officer; and former county commissioner Frank Trinisewski; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano's ``downfall'' is that he never shined independently of Makowski,
Flood said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``He never advanced his own ideas and own thoughts. Makowski gave him the
chairmanship in January. It was an ideal time for Tom to be progressive. The
challenge was before him, but he didn't have enough fortitude,'' Flood said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Flood said Pizano ended up voting with Makowski and letting Makowski
``still have the final say on everything.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said Pizano never got out of the box. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``He was beholden in loyalty to a few members of the party and vendors.
He's not bad as a person, but he has bad influences over him all the time.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Flood said Pizano could have done a lot more to improve accountability and
save money without impacting services. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``His years as a controller and commissioner really didn't show much
progress in the county. I wish him the best of luck in the endeavors he
takes,'' Flood said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano on Monday spoke with pride about his voting record and support for
area projects, including the Wyoming Valley levee, the Sterling Hotel, local
short-line railroad and the Hazleton Pine Street housing project. He said he
supported tax relief for residents in the Hazleton gas spill area and bond
issues to fund an array of capital projects. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Taxpayer Mary Kamp, a faithful attendee of most commissioner meetings, said
she was disappointed in many of Pizano's votes through the years. However, she
credited him with making a marked attempt to speak out more at public meetings
since becoming chairman. She said he does a good job presiding over meetings
and welcoming public comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano said he will serve out his term until the end of the year. He isn't
ruling out politics in the future but said he doesn't have his eye on anything
in particular. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pizano and Makowski have about $60,000 in their joint campaign war chest.
Pizano said they haven't talked about what they'll do with the money yet
because he just told Makowski Monday morning that he won't run. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at
831-7333. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`stretched' Pizano Pulls Out Of Race 
Citing Family Duties And Time That Campaign Will Take From County Commissioner
Work, Democrat Says He Won't Seek Re-election.

`stretched' Pizano Pulls Out Of Race Citing Family Duties And Time That Campaign Will Take From County Commissioner Work, Democrat Says He Won't Seek Re-election.