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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, December 23, 2013

Can You Say Councilman Jim Gregory?

Several sources tell me that Jim Gregory, who currently is receiving the hospitality of our state correctional system, is among the applicants for Bob Donchez' job on Bethlehem City Council. The policeman of love, Gregory had the book thrown at him for repeated contempt of a Protection From Abuse Act Order. Over the Summer, both his sister and his ex-girlfriend had to seek judicial protection from physical abuse. At that time, he was also a write-in candidate for Bethlehem Mayor.

After his third contempt conviction, which amazingly included appeals to his ex on a radio show that he purchased, Judge Leonard Zito imposes a 15-month sentence. He found Gregory to be both arrogant and manipulative, even to the point of using county inmates to send letters to his ex. She was even contacted by one of them after his release. Gregory was kind enough to provide her home address.

Gregory believes he is a political prisoner, incarcerated as a result of some scheme involving Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, DA John Morganelli, the Bethlehem police and yours truly. I may have missed a few of my co-conspirators, but you know who you are.

Gregory has appealed the sentence imposed by Judge Zito.

He did receive four write-in votes in November.

If Council appoints Gregory, they'll have to wait awhile.

I will try to get a copy of his application today.

On a more serious note, here's what I'm hearing. (I have not yet spoken to Council members, who likely are unwilling to discuss this for a blog)

Outgoing DCED Director Joe Kelly already has three votes lined up. His candidacy is apparently being pushed by Bethlehem City Council member Mike Recchiuti, who also chairs the city Democratic committee. Rechhiuti needs four votes, including his own. If he gets that fourth vote, the possibility of an anti-Donchez Council is very real. Incoming Mayor Bob Donchez decided against keeping Kelly in his administration.

You might think that fourth vote would come from J.Willie Reynolds, one of Mayor John Callahan's biggest supporters on Council. But Reynolds apparently is opposed to the idea. Maybe he is concerned that the Council could easily become anti-Callahan. Or maybe he's worried that Kelly is a potential Mayoral rival.

I personally feel Joe should take a sabbatical from City politics. My reason has nothing to do with his qualifications or his attitude, which I've always admired. I just feel he needs a break, and don't see a position on Council doing him any good. He took the Callahan loss hard, and that's the wrong frame of mind to have coming into government.

Is there another interested person?

I'm told Sonia Vazquez, principal at Donegan Elementary School on the City's Southside, is interested. She has devoted her life to children, families, and her community.

I know some may actually dislike seeing another teacher in public office. But she has deep roots in Bethlehem and obviously understands the plight of many struggling families on the South side. She also adds some sorely needed ethnic diversity.

Mayor elect Bob Donchez is reportedly staying away from the decision over his replacement on the board, believing it is Council's call.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

ethnic diversity, bah humbug...

Anonymous said...

I have heard this. Mr. Gregory has a great deal of experience in Bethlehem city government. He was the city council president at one point.

I am sure many would agree the court should at the very least place him on probation pending his re-trail so he can apply and speak in person.

He will no doubt run and win in two years for Bethlehem city council, so he might as well be put on now.

Given his support and help to John Brown some have speculated that he may end up working for the Brown Admisntration later next year.

Many on the community are waiting to see what develops.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Cuckoo.

Anonymous said...

Do you know for a fact he will not work in the Brown Admisntration? Mr.Gregory was an early supporter.

Jim would know how to shake thing sup. Especially in Human Services. Who would be better??

Bernie O'Hare said...

Cuckoo.

Anonymous said...

please - not another wacko teacher concerned about the so called plight of the poor

Gregory actually was a pretty good council person but that was when he was a tad more sane

Anonymous said...

council is much more likely to be anti-donchesz under Reynolds than under kelly

Anonymous said...

Vazquez is being pushed by dolan. This is at least 3rd woman she is pushing. Deb hunter was one of the others but dolan dropped her like a bad habit for reasons unknown. Dolan does not care who gets it as long as it is a woman. I heard from reliable sources she is trying to get support against Kelly and even went negative on him in an email to council.
Kelly is pushing himself and is meeting with council members.

Big Ten Inch said...

He actually received five votes. Mine was not counted for Jim because I misspelled his name "Dirk Diggler."

Anonymous said...

Diversity on council should come from the voters. You can't force it. Remember Izzy Arcelay?

Anonymous said...

Same on BASD school board and look at the attendance of such diverse appointed / gerrymandered individuals, dismal at best.

Right up there with Lamont McDumbass

Anonymous said...

Gregory was known as the "Tripod" in the Bechtel building because he was very steady and reliable, traits that will serve him well both on council and in Ridge St.

Anonymous said...

There are more than 2 candidates. I have heard that 8-10 already applied, and some of the rumored candidates (Lumpy, Hunter, Kelly, Vazquez, Heckman) have not yet applied.

Anonymous said...

It is sad that city council has probably already decided who they want. Would serve the public better if they waited until after they reviewed all applications and then heard the people out and made a choice.

Problem is you have no real common sense anymore just a young bunch of Callahan clones. Sad for Bethlehem.

Anonymous said...

When Jim Gregory has his conviction tossed in appeal he will be back and in charge. His lawsuit will make him wealthy and he will probably be the next Mayor of Bethlehem.

Wait and see. You can bet on it!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Like we could bet that Gregory was going to beat the PFA? Or that he was going to beat the contempt? Or that he was gonna' have sponsors for his defamatory radio show? Or that he was going to win the Mayoral campaign?

Anonymous said...

Hrmmm Interesting thought... what a crazy world it would be... Gregory as Mayor or inside Browns Administration.... and that crazy lady Mezzaapsycho as Council President in West Easton as Ron Angle declares war against Upper Mount Bethel Township and holds the community hostage as the largest sludge turd of all time is threatened as an enema bath to against the entire Slate Belt

Anonymous said...

@ 6:01 - Did they legalize marijuana and I missed it?

Anonymous said...

No crazier than city councils current reprehensible policy of picking the replacement before the deadline for applicants has even hit.

Everyone knows that Kelly is being pushed to keep the anti-Donchez forces intact.

Enough lawyers and teachers. how about some relevant skills. Please!!!

Anonymous said...

Still the creepiest picture of Gregory. I guess the only thing left to ay is,

"Free Greggy". We need the show to go on.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Gregory wishes everyone a "Merry Christmas". How do all of you feel knowing he must spend Christmas in a state prison?

Very Sad!

Bernie O'Hare said...

How do you feel? It is your enabling that helped put him there.

Anonymous said...

"How do all of you feel knowing he must spend Christmas in a state prison?"

Safer. Especially the women in his life!

Anonymous said...

Dave "Lump" Sanders and Ron Heckman have both applied, as have several excellent and qualified citizens who are less well-known in city politics. Sonia Vazquez is expected to apply; she has been working with the city clerk's office on coordinating a physical application packet for each council member as well as sending a virtual one through email. No word yet from Joe Kelly, although he states that he is not 100% sure what his future holds, and being a council member would limit his options. The CRIZ announcement today is a great accomplishment for him. The idea that council has reached a decision in advance is totally untrue. Council members have had their favorites, some have lobbied, but good applicants dropped out --- Deb Hunter, for example, and highly-qualified new applicants are changing the game. No consensus has been reached. The interview process will decide who replaces Mr. Donchez.

Anonymous said...

Add to my 5:49 post: Jim Gregory sent a rambling, hand-written letter to the city clerk stating that he would apply for the open seat, but he has not followed through with an actual application.

Anonymous said...

Pease!! Deb Hunter the creation of the Callahan Clan has run in two elections and lost both. worst each time. Even with tons of Callahan money she went down in flames.

Callahan Dem's love her but she is a fly by night and not much of a candidate for anything except tax and spend school boards.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Gregory's letter should count as an application. He can seek and would probably get a temporary release from prison to make his presentation to city
council.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see Gregory escorted into city hall in shackles with a police escort in order to make his appeal to be appointed. That would get Bethlehem national news coverage.

Anonymous said...

"FREE GREGGY"

Shirts available at UNITY-PAC. Proceeds go tot he "free Greggy" defend fund. Or not!