Allentown Mayor candidate Tony Phillips is inviting EVERYONE to his campaign kickoff tonight.WHERE: THE PALACE CENTER, 623 HANOVER AVENUE, ALLENTOWN, PA. 18109. Directions can be found here. Refreshments will be served.
WHEN: Tonight! Doors open at 6:30 PM.
WHAT: Tony Phillips will explain why Allentown should choose this city council member and former police officer over a Chicago "pay to play" carpetbagger whose solution to Allentown's crime problem is ... fine dining.
Phillips now has a web page, which you can view here. He has already outlined some of the more glaring problems with Ed Pawlowski's reign, which you can read here.
39 comments:
Why, will you be there?
The real prostitute is a P2P mayor who has consistently sold the city to the highest bidder. Perhaps you should be paying attention to that instead of an incident at a park that was investigated and resulted in no charges.
It's gonna be tough for all who challenge Pawlowski.
AJC -
You are correct.
But the question that Allentown voters have to ask themselves, will it be tough to beat Pawlowski because city Democrats enjoy a huge registration advantage, or because he plays dirty politics (i.e. pay-to-play, back room deals, etc.).
It certainly isn't because he has the city heading in the right direction. Under his seven years (4 as CED Director and 3 as Mayor) the poverty level has soared, businesses have left and Hamilton Street remains a failure - despite huge amounts of time and tax dollars being spent there.
Worse still, he has failed miserably in the basic areas of public works and public safety.
Pawlowski may well win, but he sure isn't the best person for the job. That is nothing new in Allentown.
I hope Tony took that "hooked On Phonics" course I sent him.
I can't wait for the debate. Tony makes Elmer Fudd sound coherent
Go Tony! Given the mayor's stunning record of achievement, his defenders should welcome a vigorous debate. Instead, they've begun with personal attacks. Makes you wonder about the record. Just saying.
irony: without pawlowski's landslide in 2005, phillips would not likely be sitting on city council. He brought nothing to that campaign but was certainly happy to reap the benefits of a political machine doing his bidding.
now, he has nothing. Heck, people are begging Varkony to run b/c they know Phillips brings no skills to this job.
BTW, the carpet-bagger argument was tried in 2005. How did that work? When running against an incumbent, it helps to have a different label. How about "city hall insider".
Another non-issue attack in lieu of a defense of the mayor's record. A pattern is developing here.
Tony is not all that well spoken, and not a very good candidate, but I believe his heart is on the right place. There aren't many candidates you can say that about.
Dick Nepon has no chance.
Say, why doesn't Sam Bennett run, we could use the entertainment!
Lets bag the Keck park incident, okay? No Charges, no story, let it rest.
"BTW, the carpet-bagger argument was tried in 2005. How did that work? When running against an incumbent, it helps to have a different label. How about 'city hall insider'."
2005 was a very different time. At that time, Pawlowski had trhe support of a lot of people, including Phillips. Nepon worked for him. We've had four years to watch his Chicago-style politics. He is a carpetbagger.
Dude, if it doesn't bother you to see that just about every city contractor has a big Pawlowski donation, vote for the guy. If it doesn't bother you that Pawlowski has routinely thumbed his nose at campaign finance laws, vote for him. If you like the fact that he has ruined the city web page, vote for him. If you like the idea of city officials pounding on your door and invading your home to conduct systematic inspections, then he's your guy. If you love being mugged or seeing shootings, then King Edwin is the man for you.
On the other hand, if you want a mayor, you'll need someone else. Most Dems know this.
You know, we could always shock the world, and start a campaign to write in Pam's name.
Unconfirmed but last night about 8p.m. two simultaneous robberies.
"9:16 Anonymous said...
"but I believe his heart is on the right place."
agree.
"If you love being mugged or seeing shootings, then King Edwin is the man for you."
That's right Bernie. Vote Pawlowski for more muggings. He loves criminals you know.
Damn lawyers.
How about this: if you love poorly-spoken coat tail riders who don't understand municipal finances, vote for Phillips. If you love pissed off political hacks who don't get their own way, vote for Nepon.
how about this: they are all idiots. This Dem would switch parties to vote for Pam Varkony. The rest of the stated candidates won't get my vote. I'll just skip over them and vote for city council.
"That's right Bernie. Vote Pawlowski for more muggings. He loves criminals you know."
What other conclusion can there be. During his first three years in office, he tried to deny A-town's crime problem, calling it a "perception" problem. His solution to crime has been fine dining, places like Johnny Manana's (closed) or the publicly supported ABW.
Tony Phillips is poorly spoken? So ios Ron Angle. You're not electing English teachers. Aren't you looking down your nose at him? And I care a little more about how someone listens as oppopsed to someone's ability to speak.
Pawlowski has actively discouraged dialogue. You can talk to either Tony or Dick. As for Pam, she's great but not interested.
your giving us the lesser of three evils argument.
I choose none.
allentown deserves better and it's not getting it from these three.
If Pam won't run, maybe Donovan will. he's smart, listens and knows muncipal management. He's kind of "blah" but so what.
Oh, I wouldn't vote for Angle either. You're man crush on him gave you a very poor example of an elected official.
"You're man crush on him gave you a very poor example of an elected official."
Now Tony is criticized for his poor English skills but you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're."
And this constant reference to a mancrush makes me wonder whether you are homophobic, too.
So we start off with "Will there be prostitutes?"
Now that is classic! Probably another over weight intellectually challenged middle class media addicted Viagra taking repressed male coronary candidate feeling they are making a political statement!
Lehigh Valley Nobody is the site for you. Cross the velvet rope - aiyh!
So you do not like the way he talks but like the way Kumbaya Donovan does? Do the Polowski fearing gumbas all go by the name Anonymous?
So there are more democrats than republicans? Polowski is that influential that he scares the valentines day panties off of what the anonymous seem to refer to think of as the minions (Joe voter) in the city of Allentown?
Some real delusional twisted thinking. I am not going to even suggest that you should give the guy an opportunity to make an effort. Reality is he has more cajones than most of us and deserves our respect.
He is doing something. Most of the sorry a**es that visit these blogs do nothing except gripe and complain about those who do do something?
Often I find an inordinate number of the self proclaimed knights of equal opportunity and fairness are some of the most bigoted and biased individuals living among us.
What exactly is wrong with Chicago style P2P?
Our current president has made it all the rage, but Pawlowski gets skewered for the same thing?
Obama/Emanuel et al illustrate that it's just the way things are done.
When I was an undergraduate at Moravian College, I had a class where Mr. Phillips was also a student. He asked well thought out questions and always seemed to be prepared. He seemed professional and appear to be very intelligent.
He was also one heck of a wrestling official.
I wish him the best of luck. Next time I see you at Seward's, cheese-steaks are on me.
Peace be with you, ~~Alex
Why does every thread disintegrate into insults?
Tony Phillips, nice guy, good heart, can't win.
Dick Nepon, bears grudge, no chance in hell.
Ed Pawlowski, has the money and the power, will probably win.
Why can't either party put up a viable candidate to challenge the mayor?
What is Mike D'Amore's future agenda?
If he challenged Ed, he might win. Would he put the good of the city above his own political safety?
That's what a true leader would do.
If there is free foods, then O'hare is there!
I would vote for D'Amore, but won't criticize him for not challenging Pawlowski. King Edwin has raised well over $200k in the 3 years betweern elections, and the reality is that facing an opponent like that with no money is a gamble. But I am thankful that Tony Phillips and Dick Nepon have challeneged Pawlowski.
"If there is free foods, then O'hare is there!"
True enough, but tonight I was at a Norco council meeting.
Bernie,
You are a one man band with this donation shit. The public doesn't give a shit or the guy who raised $100.00 would be Mayor. Do you remember who that was in Philadelphia two years ago. No one does. Money is needed an in the end people hire those who helped them. Call it what you want. Pay to play or what dumbass would hire their enemies. It is the way it is and your friends Cunningham, Panto, Baron, and so on are not exceptions to the rule. Look at Cunninghams report and look at County Contracts lists. Thats after you done dreaming about him in an inappropriate way. Get off of the high horse after all those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and your is made of pretty thin glass.
After a week away, I'm more than a little surprised, and okay I admit it, flattered too, to find my name mentioned in the mayoral discussion.
You know what they say..."Timing is everything", and that ship has sailed.
But while we're on the subject, I do have one question: Where the hell were all of you when I WAS running 8 years ago, or when I was WILLING to run again 4 years ago?
Don't answer that; it's a rhetorical question.
Because Cunningham is considering running for governor, he needs millions, so he needs to take his money where he can get it. I view statewide candidates differently than I view local candidates.
Let's look at local candidates. Did you know Panto refused to take any PAC money during the primary? I wrote about it. Barron ran on a shoestring, and ended his campaign in debt.
As a rule, I don't believe that people who do business with a municipality or who work there should be permitted to contribute to candidates for office.
Most pols do it because it's easy, and businessmen don't give a shit about good government - they want business.
But what Pawloski has done is, quite frankly, obscene. He makes Glenn Reibman look like a piker. We don't need people like him to corrupt the Lehigh Valley.
Anon 10:12,
Perhaps you can explain how Pawlowski "understands municipal finances"?
Hmmm, let's see...
Pawlowski borrows more than $25 million, then brags about having a $14 million "surplus" while adding almost $100 million in future costs to pay off the debt.
Who doesn't understand "municipal finances"?
Hmm... $25 million minus $14 million means AT LEAST $11 million in operating deficits over two years. If we factor in the raids of surplus funds, the deficits are even larger...
Hmm... he refinanced bond debt from a LOWER interest rate to a HIGHER interest rate. What kind of idiot approves that? Anon 10:12, would you refi your home mortgage from a lower to a higher interest rate?
Sounds like a financial giant to me. Or is it about borrowing enough to get to the next election cycle and the future be damned?
Pawlowski will have a Dem challenger in 4 years.
The links BO is supplying for Tony Phillips information don't give any input to who he is or wants to be as a mayor - just what Pawlowski did wrong. I need to see a plan before he can get my vote.
Anon 10:08,
Fair point. Alfonso Todd sat down w. Tony a shot as video interview, which I was going to load here. Unfortunately the audio is not so good. I understand they will try a do over and that might ansdwer some of your concerns.
Retired ASD teacher here.
Tony Phillips is an interesting option. It's true, I can't vote for him because I am no longer a resident. I did, however, speak with Tony at an IronPigs game this summer and found him to be a refreshing point of honesty about the problems with the current Allentown.
Maybe, such frank and honest recognition of such problems is EXACTLY what that city needs at this time!
There is little doubt many Allentown residents have exclaimed to the current mayor "Woah! Are we both living in the same city?"
Sadly, it seems to me, the Morning Call has been ignoring many obvious problems with the direction its city is taking. I AM certain, the Morning Call will be all over Tony Phillips when the time comes.
I also believe, Tony is the kind of guy who will respond "Listen, shut-up with the usual dailogue and LET'S GET TO WORK!
Maybe Tony really IS what that once grand city needs at this time. It might not be pretty, but it sure won't be status quo.
I simply cannot understand the people in this city. Pawlowski is running this city into the ground. Allentown wake up and "take your city back". Tony's administration will be transparent. You want an answer to a question, you will be able to simply ask him. Whether you like him or not, for whatever reason, he is honest and intelligent.
If I hear Varkony's name mentioned again I think I will scream. Any voter, and republican or democrat that says they will not vote in the election, as she has said, shouldn't run as a dog catcher. Tony has tried to talk to her and has not received any reply.
Again, you may not like Tony but at least he has the guts to run, not like some people (maybe they are afraid of losing in a primary).
Criticize all you want, but let's see where Tony is in August.
By the way there were about160 people at Tony's kickoff not 50 as reported in the Call.
"Again, you may not like Tony but at least he has the guts to run, not like some people (maybe they are afraid of losing in a primary)."
Is this the same Tony that changed party so as not to lose in the Primary that we are talking about?
I see a post regarding the unelectibility of Varkony has been deleted. The same thing is occurring to those who support the Villa's. Better drink the O'Hairy kool-aide.
You were deleted, not because you said Pam Varkony is unelectable, but because of the ad hominems that accompanied your remarks. Be civil or be deleted.
Is 'pay to play Pawlowski' going to win? Probably. You cant run the lollypop gang against that much $$$$$. Should the Blogovich of the Lehigh Valley win, no. But that is because good candidates are hard to find.
What I have seen of Allentowns mayor is mostly sad. He seems like a strange guy with no social skills, shame, or real friends. That is fine unless you want to be taken seriously.
Word is he is the laughing stock of Pennslyvania. Politicians around the state chuckle a little when he walks in a room. He will have the last laugh though, because the promises he decides to keep are all netting him 5 and 10 thousand dollar donations.
BO - why dont you list his top contributers and the top contracts awarded in the city.
That should be a good read.
"BO - why dont you list his top contributers and the top contracts awarded in the city."
I did do that last year, but it's time to work on some updates.
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