Voters are going to the polls Tuesday across the area.
This is the first general election since two former Luzerne County judges were charged in a corruption scandal with taking money in exchange for sending young people to juvenile detention centers.
Three people are running for two open judge seats in Luzerne County and two other members of the bench are up for retention in Tuesday's election.
Judges Peter Paul Olszewski and Thomas Burke are up for new, ten year terms. Their task is to distance themselves from the cloud over the courthouse.
Judge Olszewski was the first to cast his ballot Tuesday morning. He arrived at a fire company hall near Dallas just after the polls opened at 7 a.m. Olszewski is confident he will be given the green light by the voters of Luzerne County.
"I think all the responses we've been getting from the public have been very very positive, so we're real encouraged about today," Judge Olszewski said.
If he wins retention, it will be the second ten-year term for the former Luzerne County district attorney.
"No, not worried. Like I said, very confident based on what we've seen over the past 30 days that we'll do real well," Olszewski added.
Shortly after he left his polling place in the Back Mountain, Judge Thomas Burke appeared at his in West Pittston.
"I've gone up and down this county, looked voters in the eye and assured them I've lived up to my oath of office and asked them to give me an opportunity to continue my commitment," said Judge Burke.
Like Olszewski, Judge Burke is confident he will retain his seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.
"I'm hopeful," Burke said. "I'm hopeful I'll have the opportunity to continue on the path of progress that we've made in the past ten months."
Judge Burke added he's encountered a lot of angry people on the campaign trail, angry over the corruption in county government, but he said people believe he is not part of the problem.
If either fails to win retention, Governor Rendell will appoint successors who have to be confirmed by the state senate.
This is the first general election since two former Luzerne County judges were charged in a corruption scandal with taking money in exchange for sending young people to juvenile detention centers.
Three people are running for two open judge seats in Luzerne County and two other members of the bench are up for retention in Tuesday's election.
Judges Peter Paul Olszewski and Thomas Burke are up for new, ten year terms. Their task is to distance themselves from the cloud over the courthouse.
Judge Olszewski was the first to cast his ballot Tuesday morning. He arrived at a fire company hall near Dallas just after the polls opened at 7 a.m. Olszewski is confident he will be given the green light by the voters of Luzerne County.
"I think all the responses we've been getting from the public have been very very positive, so we're real encouraged about today," Judge Olszewski said.
If he wins retention, it will be the second ten-year term for the former Luzerne County district attorney.
"No, not worried. Like I said, very confident based on what we've seen over the past 30 days that we'll do real well," Olszewski added.
Shortly after he left his polling place in the Back Mountain, Judge Thomas Burke appeared at his in West Pittston.
"I've gone up and down this county, looked voters in the eye and assured them I've lived up to my oath of office and asked them to give me an opportunity to continue my commitment," said Judge Burke.
Like Olszewski, Judge Burke is confident he will retain his seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.
"I'm hopeful," Burke said. "I'm hopeful I'll have the opportunity to continue on the path of progress that we've made in the past ten months."
Judge Burke added he's encountered a lot of angry people on the campaign trail, angry over the corruption in county government, but he said people believe he is not part of the problem.
If either fails to win retention, Governor Rendell will appoint successors who have to be confirmed by the state senate.
