web1_Schools.jpg

Auditor General: Northwest might have ‘improperly inflated’ retirement benefit

web1_handcuffs.jpg

Woman locked up after allegedly allowing dog to starve to death

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner said his opponent can spend all the money he wants on television ads.</p><p>Wagner prefers to meet people face to face and listen to their concerns.</p><p>That&#8217;s why Wagner, 62, of York County, believes he can beat incumbent Democrat Tom Wolf in November.</p><p>Wagner was at D&#8217;s Diner in Plains Township on Thursday, shaking hands and talking issues with customers before he left for a political clambake and a RailRiders game. Wagner also intended to drive by the Arena Hub Plaza and other businesses damaged by last week&#8217;s tornado.</p><p>&#8220;Bob Tambur is a friend,&#8221; Wagner said, referring to the man who developed the Arena Hub Plaza, now owned and operated by Tambur&#8217;s son, Robert Tamburro, trustee and general partner of TFP Limited.</p><p>Pete Laurie, 89, a veteran of World War II and Korea, was at the diner with Phyllis Harrison, of Lackawanna County. They told Wagner they are voting for him.</p><p>&#8220;We like his personality,&#8221; Harrison said. &#8220;We think he will be a great governor. He&#8217;s for the people, especially senior citizens and veterans.&#8221;</p><p>Wagner said he learned of D&#8217;s Diner from his wife, Tracy, who read &#8220;The Great Revolt,&#8221; a book written by Salena Zito and Brad Todd. Daniel DeMellier, one of the owners of D&#8217;s Diner, said Zito was at the diner and came away impressed &#8212; so much so, that a page-and-a-half of her book is dedicated to that visit.</p><p>&#8220;When my wife told me about D&#8217;s, I decided I had to come here,&#8221; Wagner said.</p><p>Wagner sat in a booth with Mary McLaughlin, of Trucksville, and her two sons, Roman, 6, and Tobin, 4. Wagner gave each boy a &#8220;Scott Wagner for Governor&#8221; hat and told them to finish their macaroni and cheese.</p><p>&#8220;We talked about property taxes and the economy,&#8221; McLaughlin said.</p><p>When Wagner placed the hats on the boys&#8217; heads, he turned to the media and joked, &#8220;These guys are going to vote for me in Philadelphia.&#8221;</p><p>Wagner did address the media for a few minutes. He said the main issues on the minds of the voters he&#8217;s talked to are jobs, the economy, school taxes, the opioid crisis and education.</p><p>&#8220;Gov. Wolf has been in office three-and-a-half years and what has he really done?&#8221; Wagner asked. &#8220;People are looking for a change. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here to listen to the people. You won&#8217;t ever see Tom Wolf at D&#8217;s Diner.&#8221;</p><p>He also indicated he expects this area to play a huge role in the general election.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to win,&#8221; Wagner said. &#8220;Luzerne and Lackawanna counties will be the deciding factor in this race. I&#8217;ll win because I will outwork the governor.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Wolf camp responds</strong></p><p>Beth Melena, communications director for the Wolf campaign, issued this statement:</p><p>&#8220;Scott Wagner is the very worst of Harrisburg. He consistently puts lobbyists and special interests over hard-working Pennsylvanians. He&#8217;s leading the charge to block a commonsense severance tax to protect big oil and gas companies and wants to let corporations avoid paying their fair share of taxes at the expense of Pennsylvanians.&#8221;</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/2018/06/web1_TTL062218wagner2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scott Wagner, Republican nominee for governor, talks to customers during a campaign stop at D&#8217;s Diner in Plains Township on Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_TTL062218wagner2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scott Wagner, Republican nominee for governor, talks to customers during a campaign stop at D&#8217;s Diner in Plains Township on Thursday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_TTL062218wagner1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scott Wagner, Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, right, talks with supporter Jackson Gold, 21, of Shavertown, during a campaign stop Thursday at D&#8217;s Diner in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_TTL062218wagner1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Scott Wagner, Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, right, talks with supporter Jackson Gold, 21, of Shavertown, during a campaign stop Thursday at D&#8217;s Diner in Plains Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

At local campaign stop, Wagner expresses confidence he will win in November