WILKES-BARRE -Luzerne County's plan to fix the fouled-up primary elections for Hazleton Area school board will cost $2,300, down from an initial estimate of $10,000, county chief solicitor David Pedri said.
Luzerne County failed to inform Schuylkill and Carbon counties that Steve Hahn withdrew as a school board candidate, and Hahn received votes that could have gone to other candidates. Attorney Bill Vinsko said he has filed a petition in court in all three counties to nullify the Republican and Democratic results. Vinsko is representing a group of 25 petitioners.
According to Pedri's proposal, the Luzerne County results from May 21 would not change because Hahn was not on the ballot in Luzerne County, and Luzerne County would print and mail absentee ballots to voters from the May 21 election in the portions of the school district in the other counties.
The $10,000 estimate was based on sending absentee ballots to all registered voters in the Schuylkill and Carbon portions of the school district.
A court must approve the Pedri's proposal. Luzerne County has filed a motion to intervene in the Luzerne County case.
A majority of voters in the school district are from Luzerne County. A court hearing in Luzerne County is scheduled for June 20.