Click here to subscribe today or Login.
HAZLETON — Republican Jeff Cusat has won the Hazleton mayoral race with unofficial results showing he outpolled his nearest competitor by nearly 500 votes coming in with 1,556 votes to Jack Mundie’s 1,080.
Independent Scott Cahalane, made a decent showing with unofficial results showing he garnered 658 votes.
Cusat, a councilman and well-known business owner, campaigned on his willingness to make change when necessary and thinking outside the box.
Among his proposals are a land bank to provide a means of reclaiming tax-delinquent and blighted properties that would return them to the tax rolls.
He has said as mayor he would address both crime and government efficiency and promised to ensure elected officials take an increasingly proactive role in making positive change, reducing crime and building the tax base.
If elected, he has pledged to review city ordinances, making compliance with them, he said, more likely.
Addressing current city realities, Cusat has said, “I see hundreds of people every day, of all ages, races, ethnicities and genders.” In that spirit Cusat said he hoped to see an increasing Hispanic presence in city government.
He ran his campaign on a commitment to reducing crime with more “boots on the ground,” and innovative approaches to increasing police presence on the streets of the city.
In conceding to Cusat, Democrat and council President Jack Mundie, said he “felt good about the opportunity to continue to serve on council.”
If, however, Mundie had the race to run over again, he would have spent more money, with campaign funds a pivotal issue, he believed, on which the race turned.
Both Cusat and Mundie will participate in the drafting of the 2016 budget, both saying they are committed to fiscal responsibility and careful spending of taxpayer dollars.
Other results
Voters have returned Democrat Jean Mope to council and elected Democrat Robert Gavio to join that body in January.
Mope ran on platform of innovative sourcing of revenue, including a comprehensive plan of redevelopment that would include more areas of the city, enabling street paving and blighted properties.
“I would also like CD (Community Development) money made available for home owners that qualify for home repairs,” she said. “I believe we need to look and access all grants and funding available to equip the city departments so they have the tools to meet the city’s needs.”
Gavio ran his campaign based on a desire to “be the voice of the people.”
A newcomer, unofficial results indicate Gavio was the top vote-getter, coming in with 1,779 votes, to Mope’s 1,395.
Cusat’s departure from council in January will then leave a void to be filled by council appointment or decision of the Luzerne County president judge.
In October, the council asked the county court to make a determination as to the filling of a vacancy created on the council by Keith Bast’s resignation in September. When selected, that council member will serve for less then two months.
