Lackawanna County faces legal disputes over commissioner vacancy

Since Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin left office, there has been significant activity surrounding his replacement. His exit has led to political and legal disputes regarding how to fill his vacant seat. McGloin resigned on February 21, and his departure triggered a process for selecting a new commissioner. The Lackawanna County Democratic Party's executive committee was charged with providing a list of three potential candidates to the county court. However, disputes over this process quickly arose. On February 24, Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan held a press conference to endorse Dunmore Mayor Mark "Max" Conway Jr. as his preferred successor. Tensions escalated when Gaughan accused the party's chairman, Chris Patrick, of not being transparent about committee member names and attempting to control the selection process. The controversy continued as McGloin resigned from his new position at Boston College on February 26, raising questions about his intentions regarding his former commissioner seat. On February 27, the county Democratic Party narrowed a pool of 18 candidates down to three finalists for the vacancy. On March 5, Gaughan and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak formally accepted McGloin's resignation. Gaughan criticized the appointment process for lacking transparency, stating it undermined the court's authority in handling the situation. A court order on March 6 reset the selection timeline, allowing the Democratic Committee another five days to submit candidates. By March 19, the process was paused due to Gaughan's legal challenge against the validity of the appointment method. The legal dispute centers on whether the county court or the Democratic Committee should oversee the appointment. The court has yet to rule on the matter while a panel of senior judges prepares to address the legal issues raised by Gaughan and the county.