`titanic' Sailed Sea Of Doubts To Triumph

Alfred Lencoski 
January 25, 1998 
Alfred A. Lencoski, 86, Of South Bound Brook, N.j., Died Sunday In The 
Greenbrook Manor Nursing Home.

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, January 27, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 7A 





SWOYERSVILLE- Incumbent Stanley Jarolin and John Yudichak are the big names
in the Democratic primary for state representative. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But in this race in the 119th legislative district, Richard Kamus isn't
thinking about size. He's thinking about people, regular people. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With only pocket change, Kamus readily acknowledges he will not win the May
primary by outspending the better-financed front-runners. He will win, he
says, because he best represents the common person. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Jarolin is backed by the party. Yudichak is backed by Kanjorski," Kamus
said of U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski of Nanticoke. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm just ordinary folk who will be backed by ordinary folk like me." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now 55, the former mechanical supervisor was forced into retirement after
being diagnosed with a severe case of diabetes in 1985- a disease that will
prevent him from canvassing his district and raises questions whether he can
handle the duties a two-year legislative term imposes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Can I handle the job?" the 6-foot-2-inch, 270-pound Swoyersville man
rhetorically asked. "I will do my God-given best. Can I handle the job? I can
do a better job than them." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kamus is not trusting political spinmasters or insiders to run his
campaign. For him, it's a family affair- his wife, Margaret, is his treasurer,
and daughter, Karen Martinelli, acts as his chairwoman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Long on enthusiasm, Kamus appears short on issues. He criticizes the Earth
Conservancy, which he mistakenly identified as "Conservaty," for tearing down
trees for a project in Hanover Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Asked about other issues, he responds: "Geez, where do you start?" After a
pause, he said he favors legislation to restrict influence from lobby groups
on legislation and would look to reform the state corrections

`ordinary Folk' Candidate Seeks The 119th Legislative Seat 
Swoyersville's Richard 
Kamus Says His Campaign 
Will Be Short On Cash, And 
That He Can't Canvass The 
Area Because Of His Health

`ordinary Folk' Candidate Seeks The 119th Legislative Seat Swoyersville's Richard Kamus Says His Campaign Will Be Short On Cash, And That He Can't Canvass The Area Because Of His Health