Lackawanna County Republicans nominate Chet Merli, Democrats choose Thom Welby as special election commissioner candidat

Lackawanna County Republicans on Thursday selected Chet Merli as their nominee for a Nov. 4 special election for county commissioner as county Democrats chose former state Rep. Thom Welby.

Merli, a former utility company official, was chosen from among six people who applied after another dropped out, county Republican chairman Dan Naylor said after the meeting at party headquarters in South Scranton.

Republicans also chose Susanne Green as their nominee in a separate Nov. 4 special election for clerk of judicial records.

After a meeting at the Dickson City Community Center, county Democratic Party chairman Chris Patrick confirmed the party executive committee chose Welby, now a legislative aide, from among four people and incumbent Lauren Bieber Mailen as its clerk of judicial records nominee.


https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2025-09-11/lackawanna-county-republicans-nominate-chet-merli-democrats-choose-thom-welby-as-special-election-commissioner-candidates