By DAVID J. RALIS
Times Leader Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE - Nearly half of the campaign funds Luzerne County commissioner candidates Tom Makowski and Tom Pizano raised this year came from county employees and people doing business with the county, records show.

Makowski, an incumbent Democratic commissioner, says there's nothing illegal about those contributions and he sees nothing wrong with accepting them.

"It has no bearing on any decision I will make on behalf of the taxpayers of this county," he said Friday, adding his record in office proves contributions have "zero influence" on him.

Other Democratic contenders find that hard to believe and a state-wide advocate for good government said, "There are grounds to be concerned."

Commissioner candidate Phil Struzzeri, of Jenkins Township, called the largess county workers and vendors bestowed on Makowski and Pizano, the county's controller, "obscene" and "highly immoral."

A campaign finance report for the Makowski-Pizano campaign says the candidates raised $256,000 since Jan. 1. But that includes a $75,000 loan the candidates took out plus $50,000 Makowski raised in previous years.

Of the $131,000 in actual donations this year, $21,200 or 16 percent came from 31 county employees. At least another $43,000 or 33 percent was given by 22 county vendors.

County records show those vendors, which include lawyers, engineers and a chemical supply company, were paid $1,755 to $1.07 million last year by the county for providing goods and services.

Their donations to Makowski-Pizano this year ranged from $250 to $5,000.

Incumbent Republican commissioner Joseph "Red" Jones and his running mate, Johanna Yendrick also received $3,700 from some of the same vendors and $840 from six county employees.

"This is like the days of (Mayor Richard) Daley in Chicago," said Democratic commissioner candidate Stephen L. Flood. "It doesn't look good. In today's age, I wouldn't have expected to see such large amount of money from companies associated with the county."

Flood issued a press release on Thursday critical of some of the donations, but admitting he has not had time to review all contributions to Makowski-Pizano campaign.

Among the 34 employees who donated are 15 administrators. One of them was Children & Youth Services Director Gene Caprio, who gave Makowski-Pizano $200 and Jones-Yendrick $100 in April.

Caprio said he gave the money because he supports the work they've done and wants to see them re-elected.

But Beth O'Hara, who launched a petition in March to have the commissioners fire Caprio for his agency's failure to protect the life of Dominique Thomas, said the timing of the donations is "absolutely" more than coincidental.

The 18-month-old, whom O'Hara cared for, drowned in a bathtub after the agency left her in her mother's care, the mother went out drinking and the babysitter allegedly smoked marijuana and let a 9-year-old bath the little girl. A report on a state investigation into the agency's role in the death has yet to be disclosed.

"This is sickening," O'Hara said. "They're showing the public just how filthy they are. They think the public is stupid."

Caprio said he has given to other candidates in the past and he didn't think about it or how the checks would be misconstrued before he sent them this time. He also said he was "insulted" at the insinuation he was trying to curry favor.

Makowski called the idea he could be swayed "ludicrous." He has repeatedly denied O'Hara's requests to widen the probe of the dead child into a full of investigation of the agency, but said it was because he has confidence in Caprio.

He also said he sees nothing wrong with accepting Caprio's $200 check.

"If I was one of the people in the decision making process, I would return it," said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause, an 11,000 member group advocating better government. "I wouldn't want it to be perceived as if it influenced my decision in any way."

Makowski said he sent campaign letters to people who previously contributed to his war chest, but he twisted no one's arm to get them to give. "They give me money because of what I stand for," he insists.

Struzzeri said Makowski "could have refused the money and run on his record. But if he did that, he would not have a chance."

Makowski said state election law should prohibit the largess county workers and vendors have bestowed on him and his running mate. But until the law is changed, he's not going to turn down the cash.

"It would just not be a smart thing to do," Makowski said.

Employees who contributed

The following Luzerne County employees contributed to commissioner campaigns this year:

Veterans Affairs Director Arthur A. Bartolai gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on March 23; Solicitor Bernard Kotulak II gave $250 to Makowski-Pizano on April 10; Retired Valley Crest Administrator Robert Reed gave $100 to Edd Brominski and $1,000 to Makowski-Crossin after May 3; Assistant District Attorney David Aikens gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on April 6; security guard David M. Macekura gave $100 to Makowski-Pizano on March 26; Public Defender Basil G. Russin gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on April 19; Dorothy Bach, Shickshinny, gave $200 to Makowski-Pizano on April 21; Deputy Chief Clerk Elizabeth M. (Pasquinelli) Linskey, gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 8; Children & Youth Services Director Eugene N. Caprio gave $100 to Jones-Yendrick on April 14 and $200 to Makowski-Pizano on April 23; Human Services Director Joseph Loftus-Vergari gave $600 to Makowski-Pizano on April 9; County Weights & Measures Director Frank J. Pizzella Jr. gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on March 25; Jacqueline Orkisz, Makowski's executive secretary, gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 8; James M. Torbik Sr., the county's public relations director, gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on April 9; Acting Chief Solicitor James Blaum gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 13; Mental Health/Mental Retardation Administrator James P. Gallagher gave $200 to Makowski-Pizano and $100 to Jones-Yendrick on April 15; Recreation Department Director John J. Charles gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on March 19 and $200 to Jones' Committee on Jan. 29; John Glushefski, the county's assistant engineer and director of Road & Bridge Department, gave $90 to Jones' committee on Feb. 12; John P. Moses, a solicitor for various county departments and the Hospital and Higher Education Authority, gave $5,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 14 and $2,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 26; Joseph G. Seaman, a county field assessor, gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on Apil 21; Property Manager Louis Pugh gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on April 26 and $250 to Jones' committee on Feb. 1; Moon Lake Park Director Lovelia Livezey gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on March 25; Marianne Svab, executive secretary to Commissioner Frank Crossin, gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 8; Marilynn Allabaugh, a secretary to Chief/Clerk Administrator Gene Klein, gave $200 to Makowski-Pizano on April 13; Tax Claim Bureau Dirctor Mary Virginia Augello gave $100 to Jones-Yendrick on April 7; Treasurer's Office Solicitor Michael Butera gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 14; Security guard Michael Habib gave $100 to Makowski-Pizano on April 15; Michael R. Kostelansky, Makowski's law partner and solicitor to county Board of Assessment Appeals, gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on March 24 and $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano after May 3; Michael Hudacek, deputy clerk in the Office of the Register of Wills, gave $1,000 to Makowski-Pizano on April 21 and $100 to Burns-Struzzeri on April 23; County Solicitor Neil O'Donnell, Pittston, gave Makowski-Pizano $1,000 on March 19; Custodial worker Salvatore Farinella gave $500 to Makowski-Pizano on March 23; Data Processing Director Stephen Englot gave $100 to Makowski-Pizano on March 29; Drug & Alcohol Specialist Thomas Cesarini gave $100 to Jones-Yendrick on April 10 and $200 to Makowski-Pizano on April 15; Deputy Controller Thomas Dugan Jr. gave $300 to Makowski-Pizano on April 23; Vough & Associates, the law firm of Assistant District Attorney Michael T. Vough, gave $250 to Makowski-Pizano on April 22.

David J. Ralis covers Luzerne County government.

Sunday, May 16, 1999