Editing Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (section)

==Government==
[[File:Luzerne County Courthouse flickr.jpg|thumb|[[Luzerne County Courthouse]] in [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]]]
[[File:Kings College Campus.jpg|thumb|The courthouse [[dome]] amid the [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] skyline]]

===Background===
Luzerne County voters rejected [[Home rule in the United States|home rule]] proposals in the past (once in 1974 and again in 2003). However, from [[Kids for cash scandal|2008]] to 2010, corruption plagued the county government. Three county judges, a [[Greg Skrepenak|county commissioner]], a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, and a director of human resources faced criminal charges. These events persuaded the voters of Luzerne County to adopt a new form of government. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, a [[List of Pennsylvania municipalities and counties with home rule charters, optional charters, or optional plans|home rule charter]] was adopted by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.<ref name="standardspeaker.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The following year (in 2011), the first [[Luzerne County Council elections#2011 county council election|election]] for the new government was held. On Monday, January 2, 2012, the previous government (the [[County commission|board of county commissioners]]) was abolished and replaced with the new form of government ([[council–manager government]]). The first members of the [[Luzerne County Council]] were sworn in that same day. The council's highest-ranking officer is the chair, who is also the [[Head of government|head of county government]] for ceremonial purposes. The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.<ref name="youtube1" /> The assembly consists of eleven elected members. They appoint and work alongside a full-time [[Luzerne County Manager|manager]]. The manager oversees the county's day-to-day operations. The first manager was Robert Lawton.<ref name="pahomepage.com" />

===County Council===
{{Main|Luzerne County Council|Luzerne County Council elections}}
Luzerne County Council is the governing body of the county. The council meets at the [[Luzerne County Courthouse]]. There are eleven members on the assembly – seven [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and four [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]]. Each member is duly elected by the voters of the county. The chair is appointed by their fellow council members. The chair is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes and sets the agenda for the council and administers the meetings.<ref name="luzernecounty1"/>  When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chair is John Lombardo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timesleader.com/news/1641456/john-lombardo-is-new-luzerne-county-council-chair | title=John Lombardo is new Luzerne County Council chair | date=January 3, 2024 }}</ref>
{| class=wikitable
|+ '''Current council members'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luzernecounty.org/437/County-Council|publisher=Luzerne County |access-date=January 28, 2024 |title=Luzerne County Council &#124; Luzerne County, PA }}</ref>
|-
! Council member !! Tenure !! Party !! Position
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| '''John Lombardo'''|| 2022–present || Republican ||[[Chairperson|Chair]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| '''Brian Thornton'''|| 2022–present || Republican ||[[Chairperson#Vice-chairperson and deputy chairperson|Vice Chair]]
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| Patty Krushnowski || 2024–present || Democratic ||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Kevin Lescavage || 2022–present || Republican ||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Lee Ann McDermott || 2020–present || Republican ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| Joanna Bryn Smith || 2024–present || Democratic ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| Jimmy Sabatino || 2024–present || Democratic ||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Chris R. Perry || 2018–present || Republican ||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| Brittany Stephenson || 2024–present || Democratic ||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Harry Haas || 2012–2022,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.timesleader.com/news/1600092/harry-haas-running-for-luzerne-county-council |title = Harry Haas running for Luzerne County Council &#124; Luzerne County, PA| date=February 17, 2023 }}</ref> 2024–present || Republican ||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|  Gregory S. Wolovich || 2022–present || Republican ||
|}
{| class=wikitable
|+ '''List of chairs'''
|-
!!! Chair !! Tenure !! Party !! Notes
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1||'''Jim Bobeck'''||2012||Democratic||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2||'''Tim McGinley'''||2012–2014||Democratic||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 3||'''Rick Morelli'''||2014–2015||Republican||
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 4||'''Linda McClosky Houck'''||2015–2018||Democratic||First female chair
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 5||'''Tim McGinley'''||2018–2022||Democratic||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 6||'''Kendra Vough'''||2022–2024||Republican||
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 7||'''John Lombardo'''||2024–present||Republican||
|}

===County Manager===
{{Main|Luzerne County Manager}}
The executive branch is headed by the Luzerne County Manager. The manager supervises the county's day-to-day operations. According to the home rule charter, the manager "shall serve at the pleasure of county council."<ref name="luzernecounty1"/> In other words, the council has the power to appoint and remove the manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-s-manager-search-1.1262279|title=Luzerne County's manager search|first=System|last=Administrator|website=citizensvoice.com|date=January 24, 2012 }}</ref> Each ordinance, resolution, and policy established by county council should be faithfully executed by the county manager. The manager may make recommendations to the council; however, the manager does not have the authority to vote on or veto any legislation originating from the assembly.<ref name="luzernecounty1"/> The current county manager is Romilda P. Crocamo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/county-manager |title=County Manager |website=Luzerne County, PA {{!}} Official Website |access-date=December 16, 2022}}</ref>

===Other county officials===
* Controller: Walter L. Griffith, Jr.
* Director of Human Resources: Angela Gavlick
* District Attorney: Samuel Sanguedocle
* Chief Public Defender: Steven M. Greenwald
* Sheriff: Brian M. Szumski

<gallery mode="packed" widths="180px" heights="120px" style="text-align:center">
File: LuzerneCountyCourthouseRiverCommons.jpg|Luzerne County Courthouse
File: Luzerne County Courthouse2.jpg|Luzerne County Courthouse, October 2009
File: Wilkes-Barre with Susquehanna River.jpg|The [[Susquehanna River]] and the [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] skyline with the Luzerne County Courthouse in the background
</gallery>