Pocono News Section

Blake "A Little Bit Surprised" by Victory

Blake "A Little Bit Surprised" by Victory - Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 04:01AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday May 19 2010
Blake "A Little Bit Surprised" by Victory 5.0000/ 5 rating ARCHBALD, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A little bit surprised, that's how a Lackawanna County native feels after winning the Democratic nomination to a state senate seat.

John Blake won after competing in a six-way race in the 22nd Senate District. That's the seat that Bob Mellow is leaving.

Blake got the most votes Tuesday, even though he was going up against some big names like Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty and State Representative Jim Wansacz. Now he says his attention is turning to winning in November.

Sitting in his Archbald campaign headquarters Wednesday, Blake had many emotions in his mind. Im overwhelmed. I'm humbled. I'm certainly honored for the honor to represent the Democratic Party as the nominee."

For only the last two months, Blake, a former state Economic Development official, quietly worked to get his message out. His strategic plan is even plastered on the wall, but he says the reason he won at the polls is his 30 years of experience helping boroughs and communities. Its where I cut my teeth in public life. Its where I began to understand that government can be responsive to needs and can make a meaningful difference in the quality of life of people."

John Blake will now face Republican Frank Scavo, a former Old Forge school board member in November. Scavo says he'll run a grass-roots campaign that will be pro-taxpayer. The taxpayer is being cheated because of the $4 Billion dollar pension crisis that Harrisburg doesn't even have on the books and doesn't even have a solution for. I have a solution to that," said Scavo.

Both men say they plan to focus on the issues and keep the campaign clean. Blake said, We have a spirited campaign ahead and I want to continue to work and not take anything for granted and to trust the voters and respect the voters."

I promise to have nothing but respect for John Blake. I promise to run on the issues and the records. John Blake is a soft-spoken, well-mannered man, but I feel we need a fighter in Harrisburg," said Scavo.

On the Democratic side, Chuck Volpe, the candidate who came in second to Blake, originally said he would ask for a recount. But late Wednesday morning he decided against making that request.