LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News has an update from the court on Commissioner Gaughan's petition to change the process of how former Commissioner Matt McGloin's vacancy gets filled.
The three candidates chosen by the Lackawanna County Democratic Party for the court's consideration were expected to be interviewed Wednesday, but that process is now on hold because of Commissioner Gaughan's petition.
On Wednesday, the court ruled that the Lackawanna County Democratic Party has until April 7 to argue why Commissioner Gaughan's petition should be denied.
Gaughan wants the court to follow a 2019 State Supreme Court ruling instead of the county's Home Rule Charter.
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Under the Home Rule charter, the Democratic Party chose three candidates from a pool of applicants and submitted them to the Court of Common Pleas.
However, Gaughan argues that the court should follow Rule 1908, which allows any Democratic resident of Lackawanna County to apply for the position.
In response to Wednesday's court order, Commissioner Gaughan released the following statement:
"We are aware of the order. We respect it. It is an important legal issue on which the courts should have the final word. We respect the judicial process. Won't comment any further while the judicial process unfolds."
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan
The three candidates chosen by the Democratic Party were set to be interviewed on Wednesday, but now it's unclear when, or if, those interviews will happen, depending on how this process plays out.
