ELECTION 2025: 2 known Luzerne County government figures seek controller seat

Two known Luzerne County government figures are competing for the county controller seat in the Nov. 4 general election: Republican Walter Griffith and Democrat Tim McGinley.

Griffith, the incumbent, is seeking another four-year term. The Kingston Township resident started his term in January 2022. He also served on county council in 2020 and 2021 and was previously county controller from 2010 until August 2013.

McGinley served three elected terms on county council, or a total of 12 years, from the 2012 start of home rule until the end of 2023. A Kingston resident, McGinley is a Wyoming Valley West School Board member but stayed involved in county government as an elected member of the county Government Study Commission that drafted a revised home rule charter, also on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Griffith and McGinley each obtained their party nominations with no opposition in the May primary election.

The controller receives $64,999 annually to be the independent watchdog over county fiscal and management activities.

Under the home rule charter, the controller must have “unrestricted access” to records and the authority to conduct financial, performance, and compliance audits of any county department and the county’s authorities, boards, and commissions.

Home rule eliminated the controller’s ability to stop payments — a power now in the hands of the county budget and finance office. While holding up checks gave the controller more authority before home rule, arguments were made that the practice had the potential to be misused for political purposes and grandstanding without just cause.

Griffith

Griffith, 71, owned and operated an auto repair business for 30 years prior to becoming controller.

He said his 15 years of immersion in county government as both an elected official and citizen watchdog are valuable because he understands mandates and what warrants monitoring.

Griffith said his office has completed 150 audits in his current term to date, maintaining that none of his predecessors followed such an aggressive schedule.

This includes auditing the accounts of all county tax collectors to ensure they are forwarding the correct amount of money and also complying with all required documentation, bonding and training.

All 16 magisterial district judge offices were also audited, as encouraged by the council, Griffith said.

Beyond audits, his office has invested significant resources in helping the county administration to assess and improve programs and procedures, he said.

One example is the office’s work in 2023 to help the election bureau with campaign finance tracking and reporting, which had lapsed for years. He said this allowed the bureau to get back on track in enforcing fines against candidates and committees that fail to file required reports.

The controller’s office also worked with the county human resources department and other offices to implement a new employee time and attendance system that is saving the county $125,000 annually, he said.

While he is willing to assist in such matters, Griffith said he has demonstrated he is independent. He regularly points out issues during public comment at council meetings, saying he wants to be open with the public and all council members instead of operating “behind the scene.”

Griffith said he strictly follows the charter requirement to independently audit all departments to verify they are in compliance with the charter and county ordinances and resolutions.

“The independence of this office is very important, and I am independent,” Griffith said. “I have a reputation of being someone who will identify when people are doing things that are in violation of county codes and also highlight when their operations are efficient and providing adequate service to the county.”

McGinley

McGinley, 78, had worked as the administration director at the nonprofit Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) prior to serving on the county council — a position that involved supervision of agency programs and workers, and duties related to the organization’s contracts, bidding, budget and facilities. Before his decade of employment with that social service agency, he worked in public education for 30 years, advancing to high school and elementary school administrator at Wyoming Valley West.

He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wilkes University, a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Scranton and completed continuing graduate studies at multiple higher education institutions.

McGinley, who also previously served as county council chair, said his professional career and experience on council have prepared him for the controller post because he understands the complicated county government structure, including finances, legal requirements and contracting.

He said he also learned much about auditing serving on council’s Budget, Finance and Audit Committee throughout his council tenure.

“I have a pretty good background,” McGinley said. “The controller must do a lot of auditing, watching contracts and making sure all provisions are fair and being followed.”

McGinley said his first focus would be on all departments that handle money, particularly cash.

“We have to make sure procedures are followed to ensure the county receives appropriate revenue,” McGinley said.

He said he would concentrate on the duties and responsibilities of the office and “not get into other areas that I think crop up.”

McGinley said he believes in transparency and public disclosure and would remain independent. He also wants to work with others to remedy audit findings.

“I think most people view me as a problem solver — someone who works to make things better and not just work to cause issues,” McGinley said. “I think most people would recognize and agree with that.”

If he is elected controller, McGinley would have to step down from the Wyoming Valley West School Board because the county home rule charter prohibits the controller from holding any other elective public office.