Biden adds to stable of endorsements in Pennsylvania

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Regulator cites failures at Geisinger facility

<p>Tim McGinley retained the Luzerne County Council chairmanship Monday with support from new colleagues Kendra Radle and LeeAnn McDermott.</p><p>The two other new council members &#8212; Walter Griffith and Stephen J. Urban &#8212; tried to put Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck in the leadership post.</p><p>In the scheme of council decisions on budgets and major contracts, the chairmanship is a minor choice of someone to preside over meetings, prepare agendas and serve as a ceremonial head.</p><p>But this vote was telling because it was the first for the four new Republican council members and shattered an expectation from some that the four would be voting as a bloc based on party affiliation.</p><p>Party registration has never played a role in which of the 11 council members align with each other on many issues since the county&#8217;s home rule structure&#8217;s implementation eight years ago.</p><p>McGinley, a Democrat, ended up receiving seven votes for chair. In addition to his own vote and ones from Radle and McDermott, the following council members chose to keep him: Chris Perry, Sheila Saidman, Robert Schnee and Matthew Vough.</p><p>Also a Democrat, McClosky Houck voted for herself and received support from Councilman Harry Haas in addition to Griffith and Urban.</p><p>McGinley has served as chairman since the last reorganization in January 2018. McClosky Houck had been chair before him, appointed in January 2015.</p><p>Perry, a Republican, was named vice chair with seven votes that mirrored those for McGinley as chair. Former council member Jane Walsh Waitkus previously served as vice chair. The vice chair handles meetings when the chair is absent and oversees the council committee that interviews citizens interested in serving on outside boards, authorities and commissions. </p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/web1_TTL101719Luzerne-County-Courthouse1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Courthouse </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/web1_TTL101719Luzerne-County-Courthouse1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Courthouse </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/web1_Tim-McGinley.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tim McGinley </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/web1_Tim-McGinley.jpg</photo1><caption1>Tim McGinley </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Tim McGinley remains Luzerne County Council chairman