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Patrick Says.

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net
 Saturday, January 20, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 7A 





Luzerne County Chief Public Defender Basil G. Russin wants to create two
more part-time assistant public defender jobs in his office, and he has
someone in mind to fill one of them: the daughter of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
International Airport Director Barry Centini. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shelley Centini graduated from law school in May and recently passed the
Pennsylvania bar exam. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Russin said he picked Centini because she has experience doing summer
internships and pro bono work for his office. He wrote in a Jan. 16 letter to
commissioners that Centini ``is a bright, energetic person who will be an
asset to this office.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said Russin's request shows the need
for a fair hiring policy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Once politically connected applicants get a foot in the door, Urban said,
county officials use the per diem or summer job experience to justify their
hire as full-time workers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's all insiders. There is no fairness in the system,'' Urban said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The job provides a starting annual pay of $24,850 plus benefits such as
health insurance. The schedule also allows time for private practice. Centini
recently opened a law practice in Pittston with attorney Charles G. Ross Jr.,
a full-time assistant public defender. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin said the part-timers usually work at least 20 hours a week handling
a mix of minor and major cases, and average about three cases a week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's a difficult job, and not all lawyers like to do this type of work,''
Russin said. ``Public defenders have to be part psychologist, social worker
and lawyer.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Part-timers are assigned two or three cases some weeks, but other weeks
they handle none, said the office's Administrative Assistant/Chief
Investigator William R. Feldman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin said he selected Centini largely because she gained a lot of
experience working in his office several summers as a legal intern. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Centini's summer job application references included her father. County
officials have acknowledged that political connections help applicants land
summer jobs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Urban has pushed majority commissioners to eliminate benefits for the
county's 17 part-time public defenders. Majority Commissioners Tom Makowski
and Tom Pizano won't support the cut, saying the county must offer benefits to
attract the best attorneys. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Urban notes that Centini is fresh out of law school, and he questions how
Russin can deem her the best choice when the county didn't advertise the
position. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The job hasn't even been created, and there's already somebody chosen for
it,'' Urban said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin said he doesn't need to advertise because he receives and reviews
dozens of resumes that come to his office throughout the year. He said he met
Barry Centini 20 years ago and hasn't talked to him since. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin recommended that John Hakim be hired for the other part-time
position because Hakim has ``diligently attended to all his assignments'' and
represented his clients ``zealously'' as a per diem assistant public defender
since 1996. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neither Centini returned phone calls seeking comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin's request to create jobs comes at a time when commissioners have
pledged to reduce the county's work force in light of the recent 17.5-mill
county tax hike. The positions would cost $50,000 plus benefits and would be
funded by county taxes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Russin argues his caseload increases about 10 percent per year, and he
hasn't added employees the past five years. Without more help, Russin said, he
might have to postpone court appearances or delay meetings with clients until
he can free up one of his assistants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We may get the work done, but maybe not the same day. Some people will
get angry, including clients and judges,'' Russin said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at
831-7333. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Airport Boss's Daughter Eyed For Job On The Fast Track For A Position As A County Public Defender Is Recent Law School Graduate Shelley Centini.