Work Set For Area Roads 
The Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation Plans The Following Road Work 
This Week.

Airport Gets $200,000 Grant For Road Work

By LISA SCHEID; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, December 17, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





HAZLETON -- Hazleton Police Chief James Joseph, who joined the department
16 years ago, plans to run for district justice in 1995, seeking the seat
vacated in January by Michael Conahan, who became a Luzerne County judge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joseph, 41, has been police chief since 1988. He had been rumored to be
interested in the vacant Hazleton district justice seat but had declined to
talk about it publicly. He did so reluctantly this week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joseph said he had no immediate plans to announce his candidacy but said he
would file the appropriate petitions when the time is right. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Luzerne County Bureau of Elections has not been notified when the
petition filing deadlines are. Usually, candidates may start collecting
signatures in February. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since Conahan moved to the county bench, Senior District Justice Leonard
Harvey has served as temporary magistrate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The district justice position pays about $45,000; Joseph currently earns
about $40,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joseph faces at least one challenger and possibly a second. Hazleton Area
School Board member Ed Pane said Friday he plans to make a formal announcement
early next year. Pane, 42, declined to comment on Joseph's candidacy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In April, Gov. Robert P. Casey nominated Pane for the district justice
post. Pane is also president and chief executive officer of Serrento Gardens,
a drug-and-alcohol counseling agency. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pane, a Democrat, withdrew his nomination in May when he learned that his
confirmation was being blocked by Senate Republicans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In September, Gov. Casey nominated James P. Ferry Jr. to fill the remainder
of Conahan's term, which ends in January 1996. Ferry was not confirmed before
the end of the legislative session in November. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ferry, 37, was the Hazleton Area School District solicitor for six years.
He is a Hazleton attorney and the son of City Councilman James Ferry Sr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ferry could not be reached Friday for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor John Quigley said Joseph would not have to resign his post as chief
to run for district justice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That is his decision as long as it does not affect his work," Quigley
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley said because Joseph is in a management position, civil service laws
that forbid police officers from running for office would not apply. Quigley
said requiring Joseph to step down would be a violation of his civil rights. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley said he would not likely endorse Joseph or any other candidate for
district justice because he is friendly with Joseph, Pane and Ferry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think any one of them would do very well," Quigley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley has credited Joseph, a Hazleton native who joined the department in
1978, with bringing many changes to the department, including offering
officers more training and purchasing updated equipment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joseph was a military police officer who served in Vietnam. Under Joseph's
leadership the department has expanded the size of its offices. Joseph has
attended the FBI academy and was named to a Pennsylvania board that oversees
police officer training. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last week, Joseph's leadership came under attack during a Hazleton City
Council meeting. About 40 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, including
eight Hazleton officers, asked council to intervene to settle morale problems
in the department. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Quigley, who is expected to face a re-election campaign in 1995, dismissed
the accusations as political rhetoric planned to tarnish his image. Quigley,
who has not announced his candidacy, oversees the chief and police department. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joseph, Quigley and the Fraternal Order of Police attorneys plan to talk
about ways to resolve the issue. No date has been set. &nbsp;

Hazleton Chief Eyes Justice's Position James Joseph Could Face Two Challengers For The Post