Amid shouts, boos, and the dying embers of months of dysfunction, Commissioner Brenda Sacco took her seat as Chair of the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners this week — a turning point that seemingly has brought to an end one of the most chaotic chapters in county government in recent memory.
Her ascension, joined by Commissioner Chris Chermak’s vote to reorganize the board, formally removed Bill Gaughan as chairman — a man whose tenure has been defined by courtroom losses, political tantrums, and a refusal to collaborate. The move, though controversial, was inevitable. It marked not just a shift in leadership, but a restoration of basic functionality to county government.
The meeting that will likely be remembered as a watershed moment, Sacco and Chermak voted to reorganize leadership, naming her Chair and Chermak Vice Chair. Gaughan, predictably, voted no and responded with characteristic hostility.
“I’d like to congratulate the new Republican majority in Lackawanna County — commissioners Chermak and Sacco — on their takeover of county government,” Gaughan sneered, his supporters clapping and howling in the audience.
But behind the noise, there was substance. What unfolded was not a “Republican takeover,” but the collapse of Gaughan’s long-manufactured illusion of control.
For nearly eight months, Gaughan weaponized the legal system to block Sacco’s rightful appointment following the resignation of Commissioner Matt McGloin. He challenged every ruling, ignored judicial orders, and turned a simple legal and administrative process into a constitutional standoff.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ultimately ruled against him, rejecting every one of his claims and clearing the way for Sacco to take her seat. That ruling exposed what insiders had long known — Gaughan’s crusade had nothing to do with ethics or governance. It was about control, plain and simple.
For months, Sacco endured personal attacks and legal intimidation. But on Monday, she delivered a composed, confident message to the public:
“Today is not about personalities or politics,” Sacco said. “It’s about ensuring that the direction of the board reflects the needs, priorities, and expectations of the public we serve. A fresh perspective and balanced leadership approach can help us move forward together, restore trust, and deliver better results for our residents.”
Sacco, a lifelong Democrat and respected professional, made clear that her appointment is rooted in competence, not partisanship. On her Facebook page, she reaffirmed her dedication to transparency and fiscal responsibility, citing her “decades of professional and financial experience” as the foundation for her approach to governance.
“I had to stand up for the rights of individuals that got bullied, which I was bullied by Commissioner Gaughan in the legal system,” she said later.
That sentiment — courage anchored in principle — stood in stark contrast to Gaughan’s performative outrage.
Chermak, the lone Republican on the board before Sacco’s appointment, played a quiet but critical role in the transition. He called for cooperation and reminded the public that all three commissioners would continue to serve:
“It almost seems like people think that Billy’s going somewhere. He’s not going anywhere,” Chermak said. “We’re here. There’s three commissioners now. We’re all going to work together.”
Chermak has long been frustrated by Gaughan’s behavior — his disrespect toward taxpayers, his habit of excluding colleagues from decision-making, and his inability to distinguish between leadership and theatrics. By aligning with Sacco, Chermak signaled that professionalism and stability, not ideology, will guide the board’s next phase.
The shake-up didn’t stop with the chairmanship. Within hours of the reorganization, the board dismissed Communications Director Pat McKenna, a move that Gaughan immediately decried as “a symptom of a disturbing pattern of political maneuvering.”
In reality, McKenna’s removal was the first step in what county insiders describe as a strategic realignment — an effort to restore professional standards to a government that had been operating under confusion and distrust. McKenna, the former Associate Editor of the Scranton Times, was appointed by Gaughan in what many described as a maneuver to curry favor with a political faction aligned with local media.
Sacco’s first actions as Chair included appointing attorney Paul James Walker, her longtime legal counsel and a respected professional in his own right, as County Solicitor. Critics, led by Gaughan, tried to manufacture a conflict of interest claim. But as Walker noted, “Commissioner Sacco’s interest has never been adverse to the county.”
The move was clean, legal, and, most importantly, competent — a word seldom used to describe Gaughan’s approach to leadership.
The irony of Gaughan’s “Republican takeover” accusations is that he has a long history of refusing to support Democrats himself. He publicly backed Republican Wayne Evans for Scranton Mayor and Independent Michael Cappellini for County Commissioner.
That pattern of political self-interest is what led to the current crisis. When Gaughan couldn’t control the process, he tried to destroy it. When he couldn’t control Sacco, he tried to delegitimize her. And when he lost, he resorted to the same inflammatory language that has defined his career: “Something stinks.”
Even in his final moments as chair, Gaughan couldn’t resist turning a professional proceeding into a circus. His supporters booed, heckled, and shouted “Shame!” from the gallery as he played to the crowd.
Sacco, in contrast, refused to take the bait. She spoke of unity, professionalism, and balance. Her demeanor underscored a truth that had become impossible to ignore: the problem wasn’t partisanship. It was Gaughan.
Her decision to abstain initially from voting herself chair, due to an ethics provision regarding pay disparity, reflected precisely the kind of integrity that has been missing from the board.
The reorganization of the board and McKenna’s dismissal signal the beginning of a new phase for Lackawanna County — one that prioritizes efficiency, accountability, and financial responsibility over ego and spectacle.
Sacco’s background — in finance, administration, and management — is precisely what county government has lacked. Her steady, professional temperament stands in stark contrast to Gaughan’s erratic style, and her ability to work with both parties offers hope for restoring the county’s credibility.
There are still questions to answer. Who will permanently fill key administrative roles? How will the new board approach the county’s looming fiscal challenges? Will Gaughan continue to obstruct, or will he finally accept that leadership requires collaboration?
But for now, one thing is clear: the reign of dysfunction is over.
What began as an act of desperation from Gaughan — suing his own county, attacking a qualified appointee, and throwing public tantrums — has ended in his isolation.
Brenda Sacco’s words at the close of the meeting captured the mood perfectly:
“This is not about personalities or politics. It’s about restoring trust and delivering better results for our residents.”
After years of courtrooms, chaos, and condescension, Lackawanna County finally has a leader who speaks like an adult, acts like a professional, and governs like a public servant.
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