Lackawanna County Board of Elections declares Nov. 4 special election for clerk of judicial records; vote 2-0-1

The Lackawanna County Board of Elections voted 2-0-1 Wednesday to place a special election on the Nov. 4, 2025, municipal general election ballot to fill the vacant office of Clerk of Judicial Records.

Judge Neilan, a member of the Lackawanna County Board of Elections, introduced the motion (motion 25-2010) and outlined the legal basis for adding the race to the November ballot under section 1-2.206(c) of the Lackawanna County Home Rule Charter. The board approved the motion with Judge Neilan and Commissioner Gaughan voting yes; Commissioner Schirmack respectfully abstained.

The vote followed a legal review by Chief Solicitor Donald Fredericksen and a discussion of the board's authority to declare special elections without a separate directive from the county's governing body. Fredericksen told the board that Clerk of Judicial Records Marie Kelly's retirement took effect “on the second, which was yesterday,” and that the office is currently vacant. He said President Judge Gibbons had scheduled judicial interviews…