The Luzerne County Council is the governing body of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The council meets at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. There are eleven members on the assembly (eight Democrats and three Republicans). The chair is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes. When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chair is Jimmy Sabatino.

History Luzerne County voters rejected home rule proposals in the past (once in 1974 and again in 2003). However, from 2008 to 2010, corruption plagued county government. Three county judges, a county commissioner, a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, and a director of human resources faced criminal charges. These events persuaded the voters of Luzerne County to adopt a new form of government. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, a home rule charter was adopted by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.Voters say 'yes' to home rule - News. Standard Speaker (2010-11-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.

The following year (in 2011), the first election for the new government was held. On Monday, January 2, 2012, the previous government (the board of county commissioners) was abolished and replaced with the new form of government (council–manager government). The first members of the Luzerne County Council were sworn in that same day. The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.

In 2025, voters were presented with a proposed charter amendment to reduce the number of seats on county council from 11 to 9 and make other changes to council government, including giving council more direct control over the elections board. The amendment was broadly rejected by voters: nearly 61% of voters and 179 out of 186 precincts rejected the changes.

Election process

The Luzerne County Council is elected by the voters of the county. Nearly half the council is up for election every two years. It rotates between five and six seats. Each council member is elected at-large (to a four-year term). They are limited to three consecutive terms. In the May primary, the major political parties (Democratic and Republican) select their top candidates for the general election. For example, those who place in the top five or six become the nominees of their party. Third party (or independent) candidates may also join the race. In the November general election, all political parties/candidates square off on the same ballot. Those who place in the top five or six will be elected or re-elected to council.

Current council members The following members have been duly elected to county council by the voters of Luzerne County: Council member Tenure Party Position Jimmy Sabatino 2024–present Democratic Chair Brittany Stephenson 2024–present Democratic Vice Chair Patty Krushnowski 2024–present Democratic Joanna Bryn Smith 2024–present Democratic Denise Williams 2026–present Democratic Dawn Simmons 2026–present Democratic Steven Coslett 2026–present Democratic Chris Belles 2026–present Democratic John Lombardo 2022–present Republican Lee Ann McDermott 2020–present Republican Harry Haas 2012–2022, 2024–present Republican

List of council chairs The following chairs were elected by council: List of council chairs Tenure Party Notes 1Jim Bobeck2012Democratic 2Tim McGinley2012–2014Democratic 3Rick Morelli2014–2015Republican 4Linda McClosky Houck2015–2018DemocraticFirst female chair 5Tim McGinley2018–2022Democratic 6Kendra Vough2022–2024Republican 7John Lombardo2024–2026Republican 8Jimmy Sabatino2026–presentDemocratic

Former council members NameTenurePartyNotesElaine Maddon Curry2012–2014DemocraticShe did not seek re-election in 2013.James Bobeck2012–2016DemocraticBobeck served as the first council chair in 2012. He did not seek re-election in 2015.Kathleen M. Dobash2014–2018RepublicanShe did not seek re-election in 2017.Eileen M. Sorokas2014–2018DemocraticShe did not seek re-election in 2017.Rick Williams2012–2018IndependentWilliams did not seek re-election in 2017. He remains the only independent councilor.Edward A. Brominski2012–2019DemocraticHe resigned in January 2019 due to health issues. Council appointed Patrick Bilbow to serve out the remainder of his term.Eugene L. Kelleher2012–2014, 2016–2019RepublicanKelleher lost re-election in 2013. He won a second non-consecutive term in 2015. Kelleher resigned in July 2019 due to relocating to Lancaster County. Former Councilman Rick Morelli was appointed by council to serve out the remainder of Kelleher's term.Patrick M. Bilbow2019–2020DemocraticIn February 2019, council appointed Bilbow to serve out the remainder of Edward Brominski’s term. He lost re-election in 2019.Rick Morelli2012–2016, 2019–2020RepublicanMorelli served as the third council chair from 2014 to 2015. He did not seek re-election in 2015. In August 2019, council appointed Morelli to serve out the remainder of Eugene Kelleher’s term.Stephen A. Urban2012–2020DemocraticHe did not seek re-election in 2019.Jane Walsh-Waitkus2016–2020DemocraticShe lost re-election in 2019.Walter L. Griffith, Jr.2020–2022RepublicanGriffith vacated his seat after becoming Luzerne County Controller in 2022.Linda McClosky Houck2012–2022DemocraticHouck served as the fourth council chair from 2015 to 2018. She was ineligible to pursue a fourth consecutive term due to term limits.Sheila Saidman2018–2022DemocraticShe lost re-election in 2021.Robert Schnee2016–2022RepublicanSchnee vacated his seat after winning a special election for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022.Matthew Vough2018–2022DemocraticHe lost re-election in 2021.Carl Bienias2022–2024RepublicanBienias was appointed by council in 2022 to serve the remainder of Walter Griffith's term. He lost his party's nomination in May 2023.Tim McGinley2012–2024DemocraticMcGinley twice served as council chair from 2012 to 2014, and again from 2018 to 2022. He was ineligible to pursue a fourth consecutive term due to term limits.Matthew Mitchell2022–2024RepublicanMitchell was appointed by council in 2022 to serve the remainder of Robert Schnee's term, who vacated his seat after winning a special election for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Mitchell lost re-election in 2023. Stephen J. Urban2012–2016, 2020–2024 RepublicanUrban served two non-consecutive terms. He lost re-election in 2015 and again in 2023.Kendra M. Vough2020–2024RepublicanShe served as the sixth council chair from 2022 to 2024. Kendra Vough did not seek re-election in 2023.Brian Thornton2022–2026RepublicanDefeated in the 2025 general election.Gregory S. Wolovich2022–2026RepublicanDefeated in the 2025 general election.Kevin Lescavage2022–2026RepublicanDefeated in the 2025 primary election.Chris R. Perry2018–2026RepublicanDid not run for re-election.

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