`kindergarten Stuff' Leads To Grade A Feud At Meeting 
**see For The Record 1/15/98

Bar Scene Stealer: Watching Pittsburgh Lose 
After The Only Pa. Team 
In The Nfl Playoffs Lost, 
Many Area Football Fans 
Shifted Support To Denver And Qb John Elway

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, January 13, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- When Republican Gov. Tom Ridge comes here Thursday to launch
his re-election campaign, he will be escorted by the usual brood- with one
exception. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Democratic Mayor Tom McGroarty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first-term mayor will be on hand at the F.M. Kirby Center for the
Performing Arts to greet the man he has publicly thanked for spurring the city
toward an economic recovery. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty's spokeswoman, Shannon McNulty, does not see the move as an act
of treason against the Democratic Party. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Tom (McGroarty) has said he's the Republican mayor too. He got both
nominations," she said. Anyway, McNulty added, "Ridge is the governor of the
state, and he's been very good to Wilkes-Barre." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ridge's goodness is reflected in $7 million in state loans, grants and tax
credits to entice CallCenter Services Inc. of Maryland to open a facility in
Wilkes-Barre's downtown, creating up to 2,000 jobs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His goodness is revealed in his anticipated financial help to the city's
nascent health department. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His goodness is shown in stern anti-crime measures, including the State
Police's Operation Triggerlock, which sprung to action locally earlier this
year, leading to numerous drug arrests. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The governor has been very helpful to Tom. Tommy's a big fan of the
governor," McNulty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ridge, 52, is embarking on a two-day, seven-city tour beginning Wednesday
to announce his candidacy for a second four-year term. His stop in
Wilkes-Barre is the only one in the state's northeastern region. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Asked whether the choice of Wilkes-Barre is a snub to the larger Scranton
and its Republican mayor, Jim Connors, Ridge's campaign spokeswoman, Lynn
Lawson, said, "We don't look at it as one over the other. There's no real
science to it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Actually, there is a science, say Ridge sources. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Many of Ridge's key advisers reside in the Wyoming Valley: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Attorney Sandor Yelen sits on the governor's executive finance committee.
He and Ridge also sit on the Board of Trustees at Dickinson School of Law. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pat Solano, a former chairman of the Luzerne County GOP organization,
serves as the governor's senior counselor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State Sen. Charles Lemmond, R-Dallas, is one of Ridge's staunchest backers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ridge's local strength resulted in his impressive showing in the 1994
general election. In Luzerne County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by
3-to-2, Ridge lost by less than 6,000 votes, exceeding expectations to finish
within 10,000 of Democrat Mark Singel. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John Cardoni, facility director at the Kirby Center, said Ridge will make
his re-election announcement in the lobby, with a crowd of 200 to 300
anticipated. Lemmond will emcee the event, which expects to draw Republican
politicians throughout the northeastern region, including Pike, Susquehanna
and Bradford counties. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Besides touching on local development such as CallCenter, the former Erie
congressman is expected to highlight some of his more imp

Ridge Has Pal Crossing Party Lines 
Democratic Mayor Tom Mcgroarty Will Be Among The Well-wishers Thursday In 
Wilkes-barre When The Republican Governor Starts His Re-election Campaign

Ridge Has Pal Crossing Party Lines Democratic Mayor Tom Mcgroarty Will Be Among The Well-wishers Thursday In Wilkes-barre When The Republican Governor Starts His Re-election Campaign