web1_TTL111515holena.bdy_.jpg

Happy birthday to Micheal John Holena III!

web1_TTL111515lord.bdy_.jpg

Happy birthday to Joshua Terrence Lord!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; He&#8217;s not gone yet, but supporters and friends of Mayor Tom Leighton are holding a gala tribute to him on Nov. 28 at the exclusive Westmoreland Club.</p><p>&#8220;They asked me if they could have a party in my honor and I said, &#8216;Yes,&#8217;&#8221; he said Friday, confirming the event.</p><p>A Democrat who served 12 years each on city council and as mayor, Leighton, 55, will leave office in January after three terms. Councilman and former police chief Tony George, 64, a fellow Democrat will replace him.</p><p>Leighton has said he&#8217;s left the city in better shape than when he took office in 2004. Back then, it had $10.8 million in unfunded debt and no credit rating.</p><p>He has credited his administration with turning things around, developing the downtown, improving the neighborhoods and securing an A-minus, positive outlook rating from Standard &amp; Poor&#8217;s Ratings Services.</p><p>He has proposed a $51.5 million balanced budget for 2016 that does not contain a property tax hike. It&#8217;s the second consecutive budget he&#8217;s submitted without a tax increase. The city council, which has approval power over the budget, set a public hearing for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.</p><p>Leighton said he is not involved in the planning of the party, but was aware of some of the details. It&#8217;s black-tie optional. The cost per ticket is $50, all to be sold in advance. None will be available at the door. Guests are being contacted by &#8220;word of mouth&#8221; and no invitations were sent out.</p><p>He disputed a claim made by a tipster that the party is being put on by contractors who do business with the city. Some of the contractors likely will attend, he said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL101515wbbudget11.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Leighton </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL101515wbbudget11.jpg</photo0><caption0>Leighton </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Friends and supporters throwing goodbye party for Wilkes-Barre Mayor Leighton