SCRANTON, Pa. — A panel of Lackawanna County judges plan to appoint a third county commissioner Thursday, Judge Terrence Nealon told members of the county election board Wednesday.

However, a last-minute filing from the county and Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan seeks to halt that vote and calls into question whether or not the county will end the week with a new commissioner.

The announcement from Nealon, an election board member, came nearly seven months after former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin vacated his seat, setting off a protracted battle between Gaughan, the county and the party's executive committee over how to temporarily fill that spot.

Gaughan, Nealon and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak sit on the election board.

The county's Home Rule Charter tasks a

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