Lackawanna County voters will head to the polls on November 4 to fill one of the most consequential seats in county government — the commissioner post vacated by Matt McGloin earlier this year.
What should have been a routine transition became an eight-month standoff that paralyzed county operations, triggered multiple lawsuits, and split the local Democratic Party. Now, three candidates — Thom Welby (Democrat), Chet Merli (Republican), and Michael Cappellini (Independent) — are vying to finish the remaining two years of McGloin’s unexpired term and bring stability back to a government that has spent most of 2025 fighting itself.
When McGloin resigned in February, Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan sought to replace him with Dunmore Mayor Max Conway, a move rejected by the county Democratic Committee. Instead, the committee followed the Home Rule Charter process and nominated Brenda Sacco, who was eventually sworn in after months of litigation.
Gaughan’s legal challenges failed in the county court, the Commonwealth Court, and ultimately the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which upheld Sacco’s appointment as lawful. But the prolonged fight left the county underrepresented and fueled voter frustration.
Sacco, a Democrat, has served as commissioner since October and joined Republican Chris Chermak to form a new working majority. However, Sacco is not running in the special election, and the winner of this race will determine whether that bipartisan cooperation continues or whether the county reverts to political stalemate.
Thom Welby, a familiar name in local politics, previously served as a state representative for the 113th Legislative District, filling the unexpired term of his longtime boss, Rep. Marty Flynn, after Flynn was appointed to the state Senate. Welby is running on experience and accessibility, presenting himself as the steady hand the county needs after months of turmoil.
He has sharply criticized how the county handled the property reassessment process, saying residents were confused and left without guidance. “People deserve clarity,” Welby said during an October debate at the University of Scranton. “We owe them straight answers and honest math.”
Welby has promised to focus on communication, affordable housing, and partnerships with state legislators to secure outside funding. He is backed by the county Democratic Committee, though that support comes amid a party still trying to heal from the internal battles over McGloin’s replacement.
Chet Merli, a retired utility manager from Blakely, entered the race emphasizing accountability and efficiency. He has taken a pragmatic approach to reassessment, arguing that while the process was needed, its rollout has been rushed and confusing. “We can’t fix confidence with confusion,” Merli said, pledging to review spending line by line and reduce costs through attrition rather than layoffs.
Merli presents himself as a fiscal conservative focused on restoring trust in county government. He says voters are exhausted by partisan drama. “People are tired of the infighting,” he said. “They just want results.”
His campaign message has resonated with residents who see the commissioner board’s dysfunction as emblematic of larger issues in local politics — too much talk, not enough follow-through.
Running as an independent and endorsed by Bill Gaughan, Michael Cappellini has made political independence his defining theme. A Jessup resident and brand ambassador for Toscano Cigars, he describes himself as a fiscal realist who believes government should function more like a business.
Cappellini argues the county must honor its reassessment agreement and warns that any delay could trigger fines and undermine credibility with state and federal agencies. “We can’t govern by delay,” Cappellini said. “Lackawanna County needs stability, not another round of politics.”
A former Democrat, Cappellini has attracted attention for his detailed grasp of the reassessment’s legal implications and for presenting himself as the candidate most likely to bring order to county finances. His stance contrasts sharply with both major-party nominees, who favor some form of pause in the reassessment timeline.
The special election will decide more than who sits in a single chair — it will shape how Lackawanna County functions for the next two years. The new commissioner will join Chris Chermak and Brenda Sacco (or her eventual successor, depending on legal challenges) on a board that controls budgets, appointments, and policy for more than 210,000 residents.
The next commissioner will also help decide how to navigate the county’s first property reassessment since 1968, manage lingering budget pressures, and restore public trust after one of the most chaotic political years in recent memory.
In a county where political lines have blurred — with Democrats endorsing independents and Republicans aligning across party boundaries — this election may hinge less on ideology and more on temperament. After months of litigation, turnover, and finger-pointing, voters seem ready for something simpler: stability.
Polls open Tuesday, November 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can confirm their polling places through the Lackawanna County Bureau of Elections website. The winner will take office once results are certified later in November and will serve through the end of 2026.
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