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Marchetti receives 35 to 80 years in murder, assault

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Ex-congressman Marino now cites health for resigning

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The field for the District E city council seat increased to three candidates this week with Democrat John Marconi entering the race.</p><p>The district covers Parsons, Miners Mills and the North End neighborhoods.</p><p>District E Councilman Mike Merritt said he will not seek a fourth, four-year term and run in the May 21 primary. The council position is budgeted at an annual salary of $13,199 plus benefits.</p><p>Marconi, 55, said he and his family are lifelong residents of Wilkes-Barre and &#8220;truly invested in our community.&#8221;</p><p>He and wife MaryJo have been married 34 years. He graduated from GAR Memorial High School and studied hotel restaurant management at Luzerne County Community College. For 23 years, he has worked for the Golub Corp., the parent owner of the Price Chopper supermarket chain and is manager of Market 32 in Edwardsville. He was appointed to a five-year term on the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority in 2017.</p><p>Marconi said &#8220;the continued improvement and safety of our community&#8221; will be his focus as a member of council. &#8220;If elected, I assure you that I care, I will listen and I will follow up,&#8221; he added.</p><p>Marconi listed several issues he wants to address:</p><p>&#8226; The North Washington Street bridge project. Marconi said he &#8220;will move forward&#8221; to replace the bridge that was closed in 2013. &#8220;The bridge is structurally unsafe and greatly interferes with emergency vehicles. The area has become an illegal dumping ground for hazardous garbage and unsightly furniture.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; A new ordinance for landlords and tenants to increase the safety and integrity of neighborhoods. &#8220;I plan to enforce the two-year inspection program that is currently in place and implement the issuing of window stickers, creating a system that will confirm current inspections and licenses for each unit. In my effort to increase the safety of our residents, I will work closely with district magistrates to ensure that stricter fines are given to violating landlords and tenants.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; Public safety. &#8220;I will work closely with Crime Watch groups and city residents to improve the safety and security of our neighborhoods through funding for increased presence of the police and fire departments.&#8221;</p><p>Marconi also said he will &#8220;work with officials on a weekly basis to maintain our parks, roads, grounds, grass, equipment and to generally increase the quality of life for local families.&#8221;</p><p>The other Democrats running for the seat include Jessica McClay and Tony Thomas.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_John-Marconi-WB-city-council-District-E-1.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Marconi </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_John-Marconi-WB-city-council-District-E-1.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Marconi </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 @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Another Democrat enters race for Wilkes-Barre City Council District E seat