Two candidates disqualified from May primary ballot

Two candidates will not be on the ballot for the May 20 primary election after a court ruling found issues with their paperwork. Anthony Margavage, running for magisterial district judge in Kingston and Edwardsville, and Austin Blank, a Republican candidate for Newport Township commissioner, were both disqualified. The Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas ruled that Margavage failed to file a required financial statement with the county manager’s office. He had submitted one with his nomination papers but did not meet the necessary "two-filing" rule, which is essential under Pennsylvania's ethics law. The judges stated they could not make exceptions to this requirement. Margavage argued he was not given proper instructions and believed he had followed all requirements since he filed forms with the election bureau. However, the county manager confirmed Margavage had not submitted the necessary paperwork by the deadline. Blank faced a similar issue. He filed a financial interest statement for 2025, but not for 2024, which the law requires. A registered voter in Newport Township challenged his papers, but Blank was not present to defend himself during the court hearing. Another candidate, Bill Hardwick, had his paperwork challenged as well but withdrew his candidacy before a ruling was made. The challenges were initiated by local voters with legal representation.