Just one week until the general election and many eyes will be watching the race for Luzerne County judge. Tuesday night, the three candidates running for the two open seats explained why they're the one for the job.
Before a live audience and a table of panelists, the three candidates seeking a spot on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas took part in a debate at WVIA-TV studios in Jenkins Township.
Looking to fill one of two open seats were Republican Richard Hughes, an attorney from Mountain Top, and Democrats Tina Polachek Gartley, an attorney from Kingston, and William Amesbury, a magisterial judge from Wilkes-Barre.
Unlike most debates, the candidates did not point out their opponents' shortcomings but rather attacked the actions of former Luzerne County Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciaverella. Both are facing multiple counts of corruption charges.
"We're trying to restore confidence and trust. The scandal is wide, it is deep," said Amesbury.
"The breach in public that we're seeing throughout the scandal and throughout the county, and some of those people in other areas have pleaded guilty, has been devastating," said Hughes.
Most of the hour long debate focused on the corruption scandal hanging over the Luzerne County courthouse.
With accusations that former judges Conahan and Ciaverella sent juveniles to a privately owned detention center in exchange for kickbacks, the candidates were asked how they would prevent this from happening again.
"We need to form groups and panels and watchdog groups to make sure that nothing runs so far as it did previously so the community can watch and see that these things are not happening," said Gartley.
Also on the ballot in Luzerne County is a retention vote for two currently seated judges. Whether they hold on to those positions will be up for the voters on November 3rd.
Before a live audience and a table of panelists, the three candidates seeking a spot on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas took part in a debate at WVIA-TV studios in Jenkins Township.
Looking to fill one of two open seats were Republican Richard Hughes, an attorney from Mountain Top, and Democrats Tina Polachek Gartley, an attorney from Kingston, and William Amesbury, a magisterial judge from Wilkes-Barre.
Unlike most debates, the candidates did not point out their opponents' shortcomings but rather attacked the actions of former Luzerne County Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciaverella. Both are facing multiple counts of corruption charges.
"We're trying to restore confidence and trust. The scandal is wide, it is deep," said Amesbury.
"The breach in public that we're seeing throughout the scandal and throughout the county, and some of those people in other areas have pleaded guilty, has been devastating," said Hughes.
Most of the hour long debate focused on the corruption scandal hanging over the Luzerne County courthouse.
With accusations that former judges Conahan and Ciaverella sent juveniles to a privately owned detention center in exchange for kickbacks, the candidates were asked how they would prevent this from happening again.
"We need to form groups and panels and watchdog groups to make sure that nothing runs so far as it did previously so the community can watch and see that these things are not happening," said Gartley.
Also on the ballot in Luzerne County is a retention vote for two currently seated judges. Whether they hold on to those positions will be up for the voters on November 3rd.
