Northampton County Executive Race Pt. 1

It's the week before Pennsylvania's municipal elections and we are about to elect a new County Executive.


Republican, John Brown seems to be following almost the same approach against Democrat, John Callahan that the two men he defeated with over 50%  of vote in the primary.  If it did not work before why would it work now?

The the big difference between the primary and the general is that Mr. Brown is attempting to not be entirely negative.  He has a positive message on one side of his mailer whereas the other Democrats only sent out negative mailers.

The most patently untrue claim is that John Callahan voted to raise his own salary 4 times.

That is against the law in Pennsylvania...It is illegal for office holder to raise their own salary while they are in office.

What Mr. Callahan may have voted to raise the salary of the people who would win office in the next election.  If he was to be the winner of that next election so be it but it would be a different term and therefore he is eligible to receive that raise.

Mr. Brown claims in his mailer that:
He NEVER raised taxes as during his tenure as Mayor of Bangor 
He Cut taxes, balanced the budget and streamlined government operations
Turned the borough's projected into a nearly $1 million SURPLUS

These really are some "fuzzy math" claims about about his record and I am trying to figure out how he accomplished them since the Mayor of a Borough in Pennsylvania has no real authority to govern.  The day to day operation of a borough falls to the Manager and the he/she reports directly to the Borough Council via the Council President.  All financial decisions are made through council and that includes taxing and spending.  The Mayor has no vote on any of these issues he can participate in the discussion if he so desires.

When problems arise in the Borough it up to council to resolve them, in fact if the Mayor is made aware of a problem he is required to report the issue to the council.  A Borough Mayor can only vote on an issue before council if there is a tie and he presides over the Council meeting when the members gather to elect new officers.

I have no doubt Mr. Brown is a good guy and everything I have read and heard about me leads me to believe that he has a bright future in politics if he so chooses it.  But, when I read these claims of his campaign they raised a red flag and I had to research them to find out the facts.

I have attached Borough Mayors Manual created by the Governor's Center for Local Government Services.
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It Is My Destiny!

Callahan Endorsed by E-T - My Own Endorsement Coming Soon

I am not convinced that newspaper endorsement have an effect on the outcome of an election or that people take it into consideration when voting but getting an editorial board endorsement is better than not getting one.

The newspaper of record for Northampton County The Express - Times / LehighValleyLive has endorsed my friend and excellent Mayor John Callahan for Northampton County Executive.

I will be blogging this week about who I am voting for and why and we all know that my endorsement is the kiss of death so important to the masses that I am sure you will all be waiting on pins and needles for my inspired pronouncements.

Since I have been accused of thinking I am better than most people, I am compelled by my own sense of over blown grandeur & self importance to tell you all how to vote.

Congressman Dent Leading - Glad to See It!

Could this be the act of leadership from Congressman Charles Dent that I have been looking for his entire career?  According to reports and his office our GOP Congressman is urging his colleagues to go along with the Senate and fund the government through a truly clean continuing resolution.


As you know the government is set for a partial shut down at midnight tonight unless a bill makes it through both chambers and is signed by the President.  The Democrats in the Senate will only pass and the President will only sign a free and clear straight forward spending bill.  The House is being held hostage by it's extreme right wing and the Speaker is so weak and powerless that he is unable to lead.


So, into the vacuum steps my Congressman Charlie Dent.  I have not always been kind to Mr. Dent but I do always acknowledge when he does the right thing.

Everyone always says what a great guy Mr. Dent is and how nice he is.  I don't really care if he is nicer than what Pope Francis appears to be what I want and expect from our Congressman is leadership.  Mr. Dent has always seemed to be happy being a back bencher and going along to get along.  My theory is why enter politics unless you are ready, willing and able to lead.  To this date the Congressman has shown little inclination in that direction.  I may not always agree with where Mr. Dent is headed but I just want him to show some guts and stand up for what he thinks is right.

Last week Mr. Dent issued a statement claiming he was from the governing wing of the Republican Party and was opposed to shutting down the government, even as he went along with legislation that would have in the end done just that.  But, I didn't comment about it because I was hoping he would be a man of his word.

I am pleased to see that Congressman Dent is just that; a man of his word and is working to ensure the federal government does not shut down.

Good on you; Congressman Dent

The Future of Bethlehem Concerns 80 Year old Couple

At this years Bethlehem's Memorial Day parade and remembrance ceremony City Councilman Bob Donchez the winner of the Democratic Primary for Mayor was a no show.  I don't know of any politician who misses a Memorial Day event but Bob Donchez did.

Just this past Monday I attended Bethlehem's Labor Day parade, twice.  It is so small that I was able to walk a few blocks and catch it again. Bethlehem Mayor & County Executive candidate John Callahan was there front and center, most of the City Council members and Democratic candidates for City and County Council were marching along side the party's biggest ally, organized labor.  Even a Superior Court Judge, a Palmer Township supervisor, and someone who ran for City Council in Allentown were there. 

But, I did not see Democratic nominee for Mayor Bob Donchez in the parade.  I sent a text message to someone who was walking with the elected officials to confirm that I did not see Mr. Donchez and it was confirmed; he was not there.  

I do not know why Bob Donchez chose not to attend these two events.  I can't read his mind nor can I look into his heart to figure out why the next Mayor of Bethlehem would choose not to honor this nation's war dead nor why would the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Bethlehem choose not to support the Steelworker's union during their annual parade.

Were the parade routes too long?  Did he have some other pressing family issue to attend to?  Did he forget that these holidays were significant to large sections of the public?  Does he think because he has a clear path to the Office of Mayor he did not have be among the people?  Was he so embarrassed by his primary campaign that he could not face the public without the protection of the rules of decorum of a council meeting?

Or, does he just not care?

I have no idea really.

Is this what we have to look forward to for the next four years?   An absent Mayor.

My 80 year old parents can't believe this vibrant and exciting city is about to turnover it's leadership from John Callahan to Bob Donchez.  Even they are worried about the city not moving forward.

I wish the voters of Bethlehem had somewhere else to turn 

Charitable Gay Porn, Oprah's Oscar, Maureen Dowd & More

Remember a few months ago when Little Ricky Santorum announced he was going to head a movie studio?  This week I read a story that a new gay porn studio will use some of it's profits to support LGBT charities.  I got all excited I thought maybe Ricky has moved on from his hot Man on Dog fetish to a more main stream boring old hot guy on guy action.  But, alas my hopes were dashed.
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Maryland Delegate Don Dwyer must really hate  marriage equality because he is busted again for a DUI - You may remember the first time he was busted he blamed The Gays getting married.  He is a drunk he needs help and hopefully he has hit bottom.  If not, put the drunk bigot away for awhile.
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A case is made for Oprah Winfrey winning an Oscar .  Just imagine how superior and sanctimonious her acceptance speech will be!  It's not that I disagree with Oprah's point of view it is the fact that she has made millions and billions of dollars exploiting peoples weaknesses that I find objectionable.
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Maureen Dowd sits down for a conversation with the NYC Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio & his more interesting wife but spends much of the column discuss the other leading candidate Christine Quinn.  It's an interesting column (of course).

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I'll be escorting my friend and Mayor (& Candidate for County Executive)  John Callahan  around a huge Clambake sponsored by Nazareth-Bath Chamber of Commerce  Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce  and Lehigh Valley Elite Networking Group.  I've been attending this event for a few years and this year a record breaking 235 people will be attending.  I wonder if it's because Mayor Callahan said he was attending.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Google Glass  launch date has been pushed back to 2014
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Jazz legend & NPR host  Marian McPartland has died
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Is it me or is this kinda weird and almost creepy?  The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs hold a contest and the winner gets their funeral paid for.  I guess you have to try everything you can to get bodies in the seats but a Win A Funeral Contest just seems a tad odd to me.  I could be wrong.

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Bethlehem No Longer has a Race For Mayor

And, then there was one.

Bethlehem now has a one person race for Mayor.  Independent Bob Sigmon has withdrawn from the race citing health concerns.  It is now too late for someone to get ballot access as an independent.  I can't imagine a scenario where Councilman Donchez is not elected Mayor.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/08/bethlehem_independent_candidat.html

Hopefully Mayor Callahan will work extra hard over the next few months to set things in motion that will keep the city moving forward for the next 4 years.

Jim Gregory is apparently still planning to launch a write in campaign.  I am not going to comment on Jim's attempt out of respect for almost 30 years of friendship.

Pennsylvania Taking Center Stage in The Battle For Marriage Equality

It is nice to see the state that James Carville once described as Philadelphia on one side. Pittsburgh on the other and Alabama in between (or something similar) is active in the fight for marriage equality.

First the ACLU and others have filed lawsuits to overturn my states "Donald Flad is not allowed to be a full citizen law".

Then the Register of Wills of suburban Montgomery County, with the full support of county government began to issue marriage licenses to all couples.  The Commonwealth's Health Department has taken him to court to stop him because the Attorney General will not defend a law that discriminates against me. (I am so influential).  Please note; The Governor of Pennsylvania is forcing the Health Department to use funds to deny me my full citizenship.  The Health Department of Pennsylvania is spending money to discriminate against me.

The Health Department - the ones who are supposed to spend their time, effort and my tax dollars to ensure we are all a little healthier seems like an odd choice to defend discrimination but what do I know.

Now, we learn that John Fetterman, the Mayor of Braddock is about the business of marriage equality. Braddock is a borough 10 miles north of Pittsburgh. Through most of the 20th century it was a center for steel making.  Since steel's collapse it has fallen on pretty hard times and even though it was a union town it is/was politically pretty conservative.  Mayor Fetterman is a huge, burly, tattooed man with a Masters degree from Harvard and he has decided that he could not discriminate against the citizens of his Borough even though the Governor of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania thinks that he should.

I have been pretty pessimistic about Pennsylvania ever granting me full citizenship - I once said that I would not live long enough to see marriage equality in Pennsylvania but, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling - I actually have some hope.  I don't think either the State Legislature nor the worst Governor in the nation..... You know, Tom Corbett, (the guy who refused to prosecute Jerry Sandusky because he was afraid it would cost him votes) are going to allow me full citizenship so I am hoping the courts will act.

Because I am now cautiously optimistic I've asked Bethlehem's Mayor John Callahan (my Mayor) if he would officiate at our wedding ceremony and much to my delight he said he would be honored to do so.  The only problem is come the first of January he will no longer be Mayor.

Does anyone know if County Executives can officiate at marriages?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fetterman_(politician)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock,_Pennsylvania


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/pennsylvania-mayor-gay-marriage-_n_3713598.html

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An Independent Files for Mayor of Bethlehem

We now have a race for Bethlehem Mayor this fall, at least on paper.  It is tough to get elected if you are not a Democrat but it is not impossible.  Four years a Republican was elected Controller.

Former Moravian Academy teacher Bruce Sigmon has filed petitions to run as an Independent for Mayor.  Running as an Independent may actually make more sense than running as a Republican in the city of Bethlehem.

Mr. Sigmon seems to be off to a languid start.  He said he will not really begin active campaigning until sometime in August.  I have no idea what his positions are but I am willing to listen, given my disappointment in the Democratic Nominee.

But, first and foremost I care about moving this city forward and I will vote for the candidate who meets or comes close to my expectation of the type of leadership I want for my city.

I am open and ready to listen to both Mr. Sigmon & Mr. Donchez and if both disappoint me I will write in myself.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/07/bethlehem_independent_files_fo.html

John Callahan, Hope, Willie Reynolds and Me.

I waited a week to review this past local primary because I wanted to be sure I calmly thought things through.  Something I did not always do during the heat of the campaign. 

Part 1

This was the most I allowed myself to be engaged in a campaign since State Rep. Bob Freeman's Campaign for the State Senate in 1994.  I dabbled, I commented, I worked the polling places or did some election day GOTV but I had not jumped in feet first since then.

So, why did I do it this year?
John Callahan
Hope.
And, somehow Willie Reynolds took over.

John Callahan:
If John Callahan would stop running for office I would stop wanting to ensure he was elected.  I can't resist wanting to help the single best politician I have met in years and more importantly one who lives up to his potential and tries with everything he has to make the lives of the people who entrusted him with public office better.

Hope
I have discussed this before - Election day gives me hope and even when the results do not go the way I wanted I never give up in my belief in this great republic.

Willie Reynolds
I was willing to sit back - work for the sure bet (John Callahan) and vote for Willie because he was not the establishment, good ole boy network chosen one.  At first I ended spending more time and thought and effort on Willie's campaign because of the disgusting campaign against him but the more I got to know Councilman Reynolds the more I came to believe he had the vision, the vigor, the stomach and the energy to keep my city moving forward.  I still do.

Councilman Reynolds and a couple of other young guys who wanted to make their communities better lost and I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed.  The voters missed an opportunity to elevate the conversation about the issues facing our area.  Alfonso Todd in Allentown and Frank Hesch in Northampton County were the type of candidates who should run for office and the type of young people who we need to serve in public office.

But, I still believe in a place called hope... As far as Bethlehem is concerned  I believe that there is so much momentum that things will keep moving forward and opportunities for growth will keep happening.

To be continued
Part 2; I love politics but campaigns bring out the best and worst in me.

But, Not Bob Donchez

There is a long tradition in American politics that has candidates end their campaigns on a high note they make their final pitch to the voters by talking about their vision for the future.  It's called their closing argument.

These closing arguments are usually the only positive moments of the campaign. Campaign operatives hope the final weekend of positive messaging will erase the stain of months of negative campaigning thus improving their chances on the following Tuesday.

But, not Bethlehem Mayoral Candidate Bob Donchez. He has decided to keep his loathsome campaign going and sinking it even deeper into the muck with yet two more misleading mailers.

Early polling must have shown Mr. Donchez some pretty shocking numbers and he knew the only way he could win was to destroy Willie Reynolds, he must have figured out that he could not win by being the Councilman Bob Donchez we have all come to know over the last 16 years.

What does that tell you about the last 16 years?

Something Silly From Bob Donchez

The latest Donchez campaign mailer claiming that J William Reynolds is not a TRUE Democrat and Bob is The Real Democrat is so laughable and may be the silliest campaign flier of the season.

It is yet another example that there is no limit to how low Bob Donchez will go. There is clearly nothing beneath him and mailer smacks of desperation.

Is this really the man we want to be our Mayor as the city moves into a new era?

Is this really the man we want to succeed John Callahan?  Clearly he doesn't think so.

Bethlehem...We can do better - We need to continue moving forward. We need a Mayor who will unite us to face the challenges of the future.

 And, that is not Bob Donchez.

It is Willie Reynolds.

Older = Better Mayor

I am more mature!

What exactly does that mean? 

Does being older ensure you are going to make the best decisions?

What evidence is there to support the argument that older means wiser? 

Does a lot of experience guarantee that you will make the best choices?

The answer is of course no.

*I could end this here because I have made my point but I will continue.

Have you learned from your mistakes or do you still insist you were right and just misunderstood?

Do you live with your past glories or do await new opportunities?

Are your best days behind you or have they just prepared you for this moment?

Will you embrace change with open arms or hold it back because that is not the way we did it?

If you are in the last third of your life span are you as concerned about the future as you would be if you were in the first third?

Some would say that the more mature you are the less likely you are to be open to new ideas, that you are set in your ways and that change is more difficult for you.

Does a more mature person have the same level of energy and stamina as a younger person?

*I know I am asking a lot of questions here but my point is coming.

In my various jobs throughout the years my best bosses the ones I learned the most from have been younger than me.  There was often a trade off of learning.  I would be a calming influence on them and my age and experience was a good sounding board for them to bump ideas against. But, what I learned from them about technology, how to survive and thrive in a corporate setting and some basic people management and time management skills helped me to grow as a person and they opened my eyes to new ways of thinking to new ideas.  I was constantly shifting my paradigm.

In 2008 John McCain claimed his age and experience to be an advantage over the younger and untested Barack Obama.  Mr. McCain chose Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency and Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.  I will leave up to you to decide whether the older more experienced man made the better choice. 

It is true that Obama did choose an older and more experienced man to be VP and he chose him for those very reasons.  But, the younger Barack Obama is the one in charge.

Bethlehem Mayoral candidate Bob Donchez is claiming to be more qualified to hold public office because he is more mature than the other candidate in the race.

Older = Better Mayor

Being Mayor of Bethlehem is not a retirement job.  Maybe in the past you would have had your career and now that you have the time and a pension you can give your full attention to the city and serve as Mayor.  The office of Mayor has changed since Mr. Donchez’s self professed role model for the office left in 1987.

Mr. Donchez and his benefactors have run a negative and disgraceful campaign and one they should not be very proud of.

I want a Mayor who will work hard to unite this city; Mr. Donchez is running a campaign that is trying to divide us.  If this is an example of how Mr. Donchez’s mature leadership will lead this city I say bring on the youthful J. William Reynolds.

Bethlehem Councilperson Dolan Takes A Stand For Her City

Like many voters in my fair city Ms. Dolan is disgusted with the tone the Bob Donchez for Mayor campaign has taken.

What makes this statement even more significant is that Karen Dolan is running for re-election.  She has the integrity to stand up for her city and stand firm to her convictions even though it may cost her votes from the Morganelli/Leeson/Donchez old boys network wing of the Democratic party.

Bethlehem needs a mayor with vision, it needs a mayor with ideals and it needs a mayor for all the people - Bob Donchez is proving that he is not going to be that mayor.

This is the statement from Councilperson Dolan, few people in the city could have said it better or with greater clarity or from greater experience.

http://www.jwilliamreynolds.net/index.html?entry=city-councilwoman-karen-dolan-reacts

Every time I discuss the mayor's race with someone I hear but "Bob Donchez is such a nice guy".  Is he?

Bethlehem Conversations About Bob Donchez

I attended the annual Bethlehem Library fundraiser at the Sand's Mall last night and as usual I spent a lot of time listening in on other peoples conversations.

Bethlehem is in the midst of a hot and heavy Democratic Mayoral Primary and since there is no Republican candidate the Democratic Primary is the election for our next Mayor.

I heard these two conversations

"I really hate that the Mayor's race is so nasty"
"It's only nasty because of Donchez"

Another one

"I don't know what happened to Bobby  (Donchez) but this campaign is so not like him"
"He is taking orders from Morganelli and Leeson"
"But, Bobby has never been like this it is so strange to see this coming from him"
"It is a typical Morganelli nasty campaign"
"So, will Donchez be Mayor or Morganelli?"
Shrugs

You Are Not Jeanette Reibman

A debate was taped the other night for the 3 Democrats running for Northampton County Executive, the debate will air on WFMZ 69 on Monday night.

According to the report in yesterdays newspaper Glenn Reibman is taking credit for all the good things that have happened to Bethlehem.  Our Mayor John Callahan (also a candidate for County Executive) had nothing to to with it, he was just lucky to be in office when these good things happened.  Glenn Reibman as Northampton County Executive made these things happen.

OK

John Callahan was elected Mayor of Bethlehem 10 years ago.

Glenn Reibman was thrown out of office in the primary 8 years ago.  The voters in his own party were so disgusted by his time in office that they said enough! 

But, according to Glenn Reibman he is responsible for Bethlehem's successes.  I guess it all happened in the two yeas he was County Executive & John Callahan was Mayor. Callahan had nothing to do with this - it is all Glenn Reibman.

Let me note here that John Callahan has always acknowledged that the support of the county and the hard work done by the Mayors before him.  He has never taken credit for the city successes alone but you cannot deny that his leadership enabled them.

But, according to Glenn Reibman the two years he was in office during the beginning of the Callahan era in Bethlehem are the reason Bethlehem is successful.

On another issue Glenn Reibman during a forum broadcast on local NPR this week inferred that he was the political heir to his aunt the late State Senator Jeanette Reibman.  Sen. Reibman is one of the best people I will ever know. She is a woman who transformed this Commonwealth.  She was a public servant  untouched by scandal and admired by even her opponents.  Senator Reibman was my friend, she is my hero and she is someone whose memory I am determined to keep and share.  Glenn Reibman benefited from the last name his aunt made great, but once in office himself....The voters of the Democratic Party, her party said enough.

Why would we want to return Glenn Reibman to the office we threw him out of 8 years ago.