The November 4 special election for Lackawanna County Commissioner is set, with Democrat Thom Welby, Republican Chet Merli, and independent Michael Cappellini on the ballot — and reassessment is already the defining issue.
Welby says his “goal number one” if elected is to delay implementation of the county’s property reassessment, citing confusion among taxpayers and a flood of residents who didn’t fully understand their right to appeal. He argues families need breathing room before higher bills hit.
Merli who chairs the Blakely Borough Planning Commission and sits on the Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission, has taken a more cautious line. While acknowledging the county has little choice under the courts but to certify the reassessment, he says he is still reviewing the facts and wants to make “positive changes” to how county government handles major projects.
Cappellini has also acknowledged the legal risks of delaying the reassessment, warning the county could be penalized “even more so” if it balks at implementation.
The reassessment, the county’s first since 1968, must be certified by the commissioners so municipalities and taxing bodies can use the new values to set their tax rates for 2026.
Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak has also voiced support for a delay, but Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan blasted the idea as “untenable and completely impractical,” arguing the courts would have forced the county’s hand had it not acted.
Welby, a Scranton resident, brings his own history with special elections. In 2021, he won a House seat in a special election to replace Marty Flynn after Flynn moved up to the state Senate. Welby served out the term and honored his pledge not to run again in 2022. He says if he wins this commissioner race, he won’t seek reelection in 2027. “Honest to gosh I’m excited just about the opportunity to further some public service on my part with the other commissioners,” Welby said.
Merli, for his part, has long eyed a run for commissioner and said the county is “in need of help right now.” Cappellini, a Jessup native, cigar ambassador, and Gaughan ally, is campaigning as an independent.
With reassessment set to reshape tax bills across the county, the contest between Welby, Merli, and Cappellini promises to be a referendum on who will shoulder the political and financial fallout.
Spinderella says
Seriously Tom! Way to pander. Lackawanna County needed a reassessment yesterday. The property tax system is a joke and completely unfair. How about we talk about all the residents paying more than their fair share because of refusal to get this done? I have zero sympathy for political cronies that got their assessments reduced at the expense of everyone. Why dont we care about them? 🤬