Pocono News Section

Key Races to be Sorted Out in Decision 2010

Key Races to be Sorted Out in Decision 2010 - Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 04:10AM EST

Reported by: Eyewitness News
Tuesday May 18 2010
2.0000/ 5 rating

Eyewitness News is covering a number of key races across the state on this Primary Election Day. Stay tuned to WBRE and PAHomePage. com for the latest Decision 2010 coverage.

One of the longest sitting U. S. Senators from Pennsylvania is facing the biggest political challenge of his career today. Senator Arlen Specter is in a neck and neck race with Congressman Joe Sestak.

The race the whole country is watching is Sestak versus Specter. The two have been neck and neck since their campaigns started.

Both Sestak and Specter will be sweating out the results tonight. Nearly every pre-election poll has them in a dead heat.

Senator Specter's 30 years in the senate is in jeopardy. He recently switched parties. For decades he was a Republican Senator.

Congressman and former Navy Admiral Joe Sestak has repeatedly criticized this move. He says specter only made the switch to get re-elected.

Specter has countered, saying he's willing to work on both sides of the aisle, disregarding party politics to get the job done. "He's been running a deceptive commercial, a fraudulent commercial that's really hitting below the belt," said Specter.

The winner of this Sestak - Specter battle will likely face off against former Congressman Pat Toomey. Hes on today's primary ballot. Toomey was a congressman from the Lehigh Valley area from 1999 to 2005.

Here's comment from Sestak about his possible future opponent. I'll do anything, morally and ethically, to beat Pat Toomey. Anything," says Sestak.

Moving now to now to the Pennsylvania governors race. On the Democratic side, the frontrunner appears to be Dan Onorato. He is the Allegheny County Executive. Yesterday he was on the stump in around our area.

The Republican Primary candidate who has separated himself in pre-election polls is state Attorney General Tom Corbett. He was rallying support yesterday in our area at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

The governor's seat is up for grabs because Governor Ed Rendell's two terms are up.

Two longtime state senators are leaving big shoes to fill with their retirements. Starting with Bob Mellow, six Democrats and one Republican are battling for his 22nd District seat. Mellow has held that seat for four decades.

Familiar faces in this race are Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty. He's on the Democratic primary ticket and so is current State Representative Jim Wansacz. Whoever fills this seat will have to replace 40 years of Mellow's state Senate service.

The race for the 14th District is up for grabs because State Senator Ray Musto is retiring after 27 years of senate service. A heated campaign is underway to fill his spot.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and State Representative John Yudichak are battling each other to be the Democratic candidate this November. They're campaigns have been on the attack both running ads against each other clearly showing a lot is at stake with today's primary election.

On the Republican side, Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen Urban is running unopposed.

And finally a referendum in part of Lackawanna County could increase taxes. If voters in Dunmore say yes to a special tax - they'll pay another $2-million for additional fire protection. That's a nearly 25 mill increase.

The issue was debated at an informational meeting last night. Borough officials say if the referendum doesn't pass the fire department will stay open but there will be cuts in other departments.