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By P. DOUGLAS FILAROSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
Monday, January 16, 1995 Page: 1A
WILKES-BARRE — Until Mayor Lee Namey decides one way or another, City
Council member and mayoral hopeful Thomas McGroarty apparently will act as
though Namey is in the race.
Without mentioning him by name, McGroarty took shots at Namey and his
administration Sunday for their handling of the downtown, emergency services,
and other issues during a taped television interview.
A week after announcing his candidacy, McGroarty appeared on WBRE-TV’s
“Eyewitness Newsmakers,” questioning the city’s current “leadership” and
making bold proposals for change.
Namey has yet to announce his plans, saying only that he is leaning toward
not running for a third four-year term.
McGroarty predicted he will be elected to the $60,000-per-year post,
whether Namey, his fellow Democrat, runs or not.
“I’m going to be the mayor, and I think it will be a refreshing change in
leadership,” McGroarty told program hosts John Bendick and Tom Bigler.
McGroarty, who served alongside Namey on council from 1984-88, criticized
the mayor’s administration for its decision to make downtown improvements
without consulting downtown merchants.
“That’s not good leadership,” McGroarty said. “That’s not going to be my
administration.”
McGroarty then alluded to cuts by Namey in police ranks and the mayor’s
successful efforts to get approval for reductions in the number of
firefighters as part of Namey’s practice of trimming expenditures to stabilize
taxes.
“I think the public wants strong emergency services. They want strong
police services, and fire services, and less on the political side,” he said.
He also quibbled with Namey’s taking credit in the local media for an idea
to put city police on bicycle patrol, saying the idea was his own.
Namey could not be reached for comment Sunday night.
Later Sunday, McGroarty said his statements had more to do with touting his
own abilities than attacking Namey.
“I can’t just sit here. If I’m going to do some things differently, I’ve
got to say how they would be different from the current administration,” he
said.
During the 30-minute show, McGroarty appeared to have gotten carried away
at one point, though, over his plans to revitalize downtown.
He said the city is entertaining a developer interested in a corner block
of South Main Street buildings recently purchased by the city.
“We’re going to level that,” he said. “We have some people we are
entertaining right now.”
When asked about it later, McGroarty said there are no specific parties
being negotiated with. Also, plans to demolish the structures will depend on
the developers, he said.
“If I made a mistake, I’m sorry,” he said. “I meant I think there are a
number of people who would be interested in that property.”
In his final year as a council member, McGroarty said he has a number of
progressive proposals in mind for the city’s police department, including
using drug-sniffing dogs in schools.
He pitched his own record on successfully proposing a loitering ordinance
aimed at curbing prostitution and putting pressure on owners of rundown
buildings to clean them up.
McGroarty’s announcement last week drew support from all six fellow council
members. When asked if he hoped for Namey’s support, McGroarty said, “Sure, I
hope he jumps on the bandwagon.”
Thomas McGroarty