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By JOE HEALEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
Sunday, August 31, 1997     Page: 4

HAZLETON- Hazleton Area School Board candidate Betsy Durso is fishing for a
debate, but challenger Tom Cipriano still isn’t biting.
   
Durso sent Cipriano a registered letter on Thursday challenging him to a
debate.
    Cipriano and Durso are the only board candidates who have not secured a
place on both the Republican and Democratic ballot in November’s general
election.
   
Candidates Gloria Pesock, Mark Johnson and Tom Scarpati are practically
guaranteed three of the four vacant board seats because they won on both party
tickets.
   
“Because of the importance of this election, I feel that the voters are
entitled to hear about the issues facing the school district. Therefore I am
inviting you to participate in a debate at a time and place of your choosing
to be sponsored by a non-partisan organization,” Durso wrote in a letter to
Cipriano.
   
Cipriano has said repeatedly and again said on Friday he will not debate.
He said he’s made a few mistakes because he’s been on the board for 14 years,
while Durso has not served in public office.
   
“I don’t understand why she sent me a registered letter. She already knew
my answer,” Cipriano said.
   
Durso said in a news release that she hopes Cipriano will reconsider.
   
“I feel Mr. Cipriano should explain some of the many decisions that he has
made during his 14-year tenure on the board,” Durso wrote.
   
“I hope that Mr. Cipriano reconsiders his past comments in which he
indicated that he does not wish to debate because for a democracy to work
effectively the voters must make an informed decision on who they want to
represent them,” Durso said.
   
Cipriano said he phoned Durso three minutes after he received the letter to
decline a debate.
   
“At least I didn’t wait around to the last minute,” Cipriano said.
   
Marsicano property sold to political ally
   
Hazleton Mayor Michael Marsicano has sold part of his Grant Street property
to the relative of a political ally.
   
The Grant Street property was subdivided early this year. Hazleton Area
School Board President Louis Rossi’s brother, Leonard Sr., bought the property
June 10 for $40,000, according to Luzerne County records. Louis Rossi and
Marsicano have been close politically.
   
Sources say Leonard Rossi’s son, also named Leonard, is living in
Marsicano’s old home.
   
The second half of Marsicano’s property, where a home has been built, was
sold to David and Georgi Anne Sandrock on July 2 for $21,200.
   
Part of the property formerly had several greenhouses on it. They were torn
down last year.