“Our campaign is about giving voters a real voice and a real choice,” Lake said in the release. “That starts with open, honest debates about the issues facing our communities, from rising costs to the unchecked growth of data centers. Voters deserve to hear directly from both candidates.”

I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the elected Democrats who attended the protest. State Reps. Bridget Kosierowski and Kyle Donahue were there. State Rep. Kyle Mullins skipped it for a family commitment, but attended previous “No Kings” rallies. Jeffrey Lake was also in the crowd, as were former Sen. Bob Casey and his lovely wife, Terese.

Petition challenges are standard elements of any election season, but melodrama starring the campaigns of incumbent state Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, and Democratic newcomer Jeffrey Lake had just enough backstage intrigue to capture the audience’s attention.

Attorney Kevin Greenberg, Wynne’s lawyer, said he withdrew the challenge over the weekend.

“I withdrew it over the weekend when our full pre-trial workup convinced me that the court was likely to find he had between 502 and 509 valid (signature) lines,” Greenberg wrote in an email Monday. “Close doesn't count so we didn't want to make the court or Mr. Lake waste his time.”

Lake announced Monday in a press release that he’d secured a place on the ballot despite the “bullying, Trump-style machine tactics” aimed at knocking him off.

“Marty Flynn and the insiders think they can play by a different set of rules,” Lake said in the release. “That’s exactly why people feel like their voices don’t matter. But we proved that this campaign can’t be pushed aside.”

I’ve learned to pay attention to people’s actions, not their words. Which is why I feel compelled to acknowledge what is now circulating online with photographic evidence — calling into question the integrity of Sen. Flynn’s own nominating petitions. I’ll leave legal determinations to the appropriate authorities. But a candidate who challenges a voter’s name change while his own petitions are under public scrutiny for possible irregularities is not protecting election integrity. He is selectively wielding it.

I’m on that petition. I’ll be there on Election Day casting my vote for Jeffrey Lake, who doesn’t just talk like a Democrat, but acts like one.

Newcomer Jeffrey Lake of Clarks Summit, who announced late last year plans to challenge Flynn in the Democratic primary, is one of two local residents to challenge petitions filed by Flynn, a Dunmore Democrat who’s served as a state senator since 2021.

In his challenge, Lake argues Flynn left the “voting precinct name” line blank on his candidate affidavit. Candidates sign the affidavits to confirm they can legally seek an elected office.

State Sen. Marty Flynn, a Dunmore Democrat who has represented the 22nd state Senate District since 2021, is running against Jeffrey Lake, a special education aide from Clarks Summit, in the Democratic primary.

The Independent Democratic Coalition of NEPA is hosting a petition signing at 1 p.m. March 8 at Bettelli’s Villa, 560 Kidder St., Wilkes-Barre.

Petitions will be available for Governor Josh Shapiro and candidates Paige Cognetti (D-8), Fern Leard (D-120), Jeremy Benscoter (D-117), Jessica McClay (D-121), Jeffrey Lake (D-20), and more.

The Independent Democratic Coalition of NEPA is hosting a petition signing 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Keeley’s Alehouse, 199 Division St., Kingston.

Petitions will be available for Gov. Josh Shapiro and candidates Paige Cognetti (D-8), Fern Leard (D-120), Jeremy Benscoter (D-117), Jeffrey Lake (D-20) and more.

Jeffrey Lake made what he called “a pivotal decision” to run for the Pennsylvania Senate because he said he believes that the hardworking people of the community deserve full transparency and real accountability from their leaders.

Jeffrey Lake has entered the race for state office, framing his campaign around affordability, mental-health support, and environmental concerns that he says are pressing issues for residents in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Following his recent announcement to run for state office, new political candidate Jeffrey Lake has officially entered the 22nd Senatorial District in the race against Senator Marty Flynn.