Gerald J. Hudak Sr. has resigned from the Luzerne County Election Board in light of an inquiry about his eligibility to serve.

“If there was a disparity in my being appointed to the county election board, I will correct it!” the Nanticoke resident wrote to county officials on Jan. 18.

His letter said he was resigning immediately and wished the four remaining board members and his successors good luck.

Former county councilman Stephen J. Urban recently discovered Hudak had received more than $10,000 in county government payments from 2010 through 2015 for performing sewer treatment work at Moon Lake Park before the county transferred ownership of the Plymouth Township recreational facility to the state in October 2015.

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The county’s home rule charter prohibits the county council from appointing citizens to the election board if they served as a paid consultant for the county or were compensated by a county contractor at the time they were appointed, for a period of at least four years prior to appointment or during their election board term, Griffith told the board.

Hudak was appointed by the council in March 2014. He has said he was certain he disclosed the Moon Lake payments to county officials at the time he applied for the unpaid seat, but several county officials denied any knowledge of the payments.

His resignation came before the county obtained a legal opinion on his eligibility to serve. County Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo said Monday her office has determined the Moon Lake payments would be a conflict under the charter.

The council is set to vote Tuesday to declare a vacancy on the board, a step necessary before a replacement can be appointed.

Council Vice Chairman Tim McGinley on Monday urged interested Democrats to apply for the board seat because there are no eligible applicants. The application is available on the authorities/boards/commissions link at www.luzernecounty.org.

Hudak filled one of two required Democratic board seats. The charter also requires two Republican members and a fifth with no required affiliation who must be selected by the other four members.

The board, which oversees elections, is starting preparations for the May 16 primary, which will contain an estimated 891 ballot nomination slots, said Election Director Marisa Crispell.

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http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Hudak_Gerald-cmyk.jpg.optimal.jpgHudak

By Jennifer Learn-Andes

jandes@timesleader.com

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.