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Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis made it clear, on policing elections, she will take no part. How else can the recent decision not to indict Wilkes-Barre mayoral candidate Anthony George for lack of intent be taken?
Should we believe George, who admittedly completed his forms from memory, didn’t expect the resulting incomplete, erroneous forms? He didn’t see the obvious outcome?
Moreover, are we to believe Tony accepted his biggest donation check, signed it and then simply forgot who gave it, instead creating a fictitious donor because forms were complicated?
Perhaps Ms. Salavantis is more gullible than I, because it screams deception. Even if we accept “they were too complex” (which begs, “is Tony competent to be mayor?”), this decision destroys any incentive to follow campaign finance law. I predict we see more candidates filing erroneous reports, throwing their hands up and saying “I can’t be responsible, I did them myself!”
Matthew Ford
Wilkes-Barre