3 seats, 4 winners: Court orders invalidation of election certificate for West Hazleton Council
WILKES-BARRE — A panel of three judges in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday directed Luzerne County’s Bureau of Elections to invalidate the election certificate issued to Bruce Hunsinger indicating he won a four-year term on West Hazleton Council when there were only three seats available, due to a “clerical error” by the borough.
This will not change or de-certify the results of the November 2025 municipal election. All results of that election remain valid.
Instead, it will invalidate the certification issued to Hunsinger, who was incorrectly identified as a winner by the election bureau due to what was described as a “clerical error” made by West Hazleton Borough Manager Jim Schweitzer.
The decision was rendered by the Hon. Lesa S. Gelb, Hon. Richard M. Hughes III, and Hon. Tina Polachek Gartley of the Court of Common Pleas during a hearing on Tuesday at the Luzerne County Courthouse regarding a civil complaint brought against Husinger and the election bureau by West Hazleton and Borough Council Vice President Thom Verrastro.
https://www.timesleader.com/news/1728624/3-seats-4-winners-court-orders-invalidation-of-election-certificate-for-west-hazleton-council