Thread: HAZELTON mayor, Lou Barletta, wins 3rd term by landslide

CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR BARLETTA!!!

A clear mandate for Barletta
Friday, 09 November 2007
If there were any doubts about the popularity of Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and the course he has set for the city, Tuesday’s election results should have erased them.

The mayor couldn’t have hoped for a more ringing endorsement. He had only token opposition, having captured both major parties’ nominations in the May Primary. Not only did he capture the Republican nomination, as expected, he won the Democratic nod in a stunning write-in victory over former Mayor Michael Marsicano. On Tuesday, Barletta reaped 3,530 votes, while Libertarian opponent John Medashefski collected 405.

His Republican running-mates on city council, Joe Yannuzzi and Evelyn Graham, collected more than twice as many votes as challengers Dickie Cusatis and Maureen DeCosmo-Pozzessere. The incumbent Republicans rolled up those impressive totals in a city where registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans.
The reason for the sweep is clear. Voters in Hazleton like the way Barletta is talking about illegal immigration. The mayor built a statewide and even nationwide reputation after the city adopted a law that would penalize employers who hire illegal immigrants and landlords who rent to them.

The federal court decision that overturned the ordinance last summer hasn’t diminished Barletta’s reputation.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, who beat Barletta to win his --- term last year, has taken notice. He’s stepped up his anti-illegal immigration rhetoric lately. On election day, Kanjorski co-sponsored legislation that aims to tighten the borders, require employers to verify work authorization before hiring new workers and enforce existing immigration laws.

Concern over immigration – both the legal and illegal kind – continues to resonate with voters across the country. Hillary Clinton found that out last week when she refused to criticize a proposal to give illegal immigrants drivers’ licenses in New York state.

The overwhelming mandate Hazleton voters gave to Barletta and his City Hall colleagues demonstrate their support for a number of issues, including the river dredge proposal and the Republicans’ commitment to maintaining ownership of Hazleton Municipal Airport.

Barletta, however, has worked hard to identify himself with the immigration issue and the election results show that voters remain very concerned about the subject.

www.standardspeaker.com

CONGRATS MAYOR BARLETTA!!!