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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, May 07, 2015

250 NorCo Retirees Have Lunch With Judicial Candidates



After last year's mass exodus, there are now 1143 retired Northampton County employees. Nearly 250 of them packed into Northampton Memorial Community Center yesterday for lunch with judicial candidates Abe Kassis, Sam Murray and Vic Scomillio. Former Executive Gerald "Jerry" Seyfried, who is a master at putting together these kinds of events, was still amazed at the number of people who appeared. In addition to Seyfried, former Executives John Stoffa and Glenn Reibman attended. Recently retired employees like Marie Cunningham and Frank Flisser came. So did former workers who have been gone a bit longer, like Annie Stofko and Maurice Dimmick.

How do they like their new lives? "I love it," stated Regina Mugavero, who retired recently from the Court Administrator's office.

You're not going to believe this, but I was seated at a table with Stoffa, Jerry, Mike Corriere, the three judicial candidates and  Ken Kraft, who was County Council's delegate.

Kassis, Murray and Scomillio are in the middle of a race against each other, but they have remained on friendly terms and kidded each other during the lunch. All three were gentlemen, which reflects well on each of them and their profession.

Executive John Brown was invited, but did not appear. He sent no representative from his Administration, either.

Judges Emil Giordano, Paula Roscioli and Anthony Beltrami were busy being judges and sent their regrets.

Stoffa, sporting a new hat that he tells me comes from Spain, is the retiree representative on the Retirement Board. He reports that the total pension plan stands strong at $361 million. It is 84.3% funded, compared to just 50% in 2008.

Here's what the candidates had to say in the time allotted to them.

Abe Kassis. - Like everyone else, he was surprised at the turnout, and feels like he's among family when with workers and retirees. If elected, this veteran prosecutor pledged to treat everyone with respect "the way we respect each other in this room." He promised he would go that extra mile.

Sam Murray. - Sam joked that when he walked into the community center, he saw so many friendly faces that he felt like he was back at the courthouse. He discussed his commitment to his wife and three choildren, his 32 years of experience as a lawyer and his time as both a Custody Master and Juvenile hearing Court Officer. He mentioned his Little League coaching experience, which took a Bethlehem team to the World Series. But the topic he feels most passionate about is his work with Easton's Community Center, which feeds children in Easton's West Ward, where he grew up, both before and after school.

Vic Scomillio.- He is running to help "protect values we all share." he started as a Clerk to Judge Robert Simpson (who now sits on the Commonwealth Court) and has 15 years of experience representing businesses, big and small, as well as ordinary people. An Eagle Scout, he volunteers with North Penn Legal Services and would like to see more problem-solving courts like a court for veterans who run afoul of the law.

Before the lunch ended, retirees paused to remember former Northampton county employees who passed on in the past year. They include Mary Cantalupo, Sigfriedo Diaz, Thomas Fenstermacher, Dominic Fimiano, Henry Heil, Tom Marchetti, Joanne Miller, Harold Smith, Pat Repsher, Alan Fowler, Pat Hannon and Rae Moyer.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent post.

Silver Sow Award winner Les Nesmann would be green with envy.

-Clem

Anonymous said...

So were all these public trough feeders begging for more? Will you list some of the people who eat off the county dime?

All my tax dollars going to these people getting to hang out at a luncheon on a fat pension.

Concerned taxpayer

Anonymous said...

"All my tax dollars going to these people getting to hang out at a luncheon on a fat pension"

how much food can 27 cents buy?

Anonymous said...

It was wonderful to see all my former friends and fellow employees. Thanks to all who put this event together. I never made more than twelve dollars an hour working for the County. I started back in 1966 and earned one dollar ninety six cents. If not for the promise of a pension and benefits I would never have stayed thirty years. Thank you to all for caring enough to plan such a nice event.

Anonymous said...

Former county workers deserve to know how their pensions are invested. Nice article, however It is unnerving to think VIC SCOMILLIO would show his face to these people after he resigned just to run for this race. He was the BROWN MENTOR to force a lot of these workers into retirement. I hope they don't forget when they vote this year.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Vic's former boss, John Brown, was a no show who drove many of the people at that luncheon into retirement. I don't think Vic was in friendly territory. But he was treated politely and with respect by everyone there.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:24, It's hard to believe there was a time when people where paid just $1.96/hr to work for the county.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:28, You are not concerned, but a troublemaker. Nobody was eating off the county time. That luncheon cost every retiree who attended $25 out of their own pockets.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Vic deserves credit for facing that crowd. His former boss is universally despised by the employees. Unfortunately come election time, Vic is a marked man- marked by a Brownstain that just won't wash off.

Bernie O'Hare said...

My guess is that he wins the R nod. Rs are very loyal, and the appeal to the RATs by Abe will fail. I believe the race betwween Abe and Sam will be verty close for the D nomination.

I am rooting for Sam. It is his time, and I honestly think he would make the best judge of the three. But all three candidates distinguished themselves yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Your election predictions are historically suspect. But I believe you have this one nailed. It's good to have solid choices, regardless. Voters have already won this election.

Peter J.Cochran said...

Bernie I like ABE personally -but I also like Sam too. Vic, well I have never even talked to him but it seems to me he gave advise to the Executive of this county that in my mind was not on key ,I.m I wrong ? Sam is low key and as I have known him and viewed him as very conservative as a person integrity and thoughtful.Abe I view,as more aggressive,not that is bad but he is younger very smart and integrity also and I view Judges as older.Am I wrong? We are very lucky to have this kind of selection in this county for judge.Good luck all.

Peter J.Cochran said...

I differ with you Bernie on some things But Now I say I have to agree with you ,'It is Sam's time now .' Next election for somebody else LATER.

Anonymous said...

Why were you at the retirees luncheon? You are not a retiree or some cnadid8ate. I will retire soon and don't think it is right to have you there. I have been told they are nice get togethers and now we will have to be under a microscope with your blog. You will stifle comment and pick good people and bad people. We don't need your political blog reporting on a group of old friends.

Leave the retirees alone and don't come, you have no right to be there. Neither Jerry
Seyfried nor John Stoffa have the right to invite you. The retirees are a group not the personal property of your two friends.

It was wrong of you to attend.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Go take your drg cocktail, Mezzacappa. STAY OFF THIS BLOG. Your bail conditions require that.

Anonymous said...

anon 2:44 has appoint. Why were you at the luncheon, you are not a county retiree or a candidate.

Anonymous said...

For those of you who are on Benie about his attending the lunch, GET OVER IT. Without his intrest and his blog county employees and taxpayers would be in the dark about most of the dirty dealings at the county. He uses his time and reasources to inform us about happenings that affect us. THANK YOU BERNIE

Bernie O'Hare said...

Because I was invited to cover the event and publicize the 1143-member group. That is a huge number, is directly related to NorCo government, and it would be irresponsible to ignore this invitation. It's called reporting.

Anonymous said...

Who invited you? This is not Stoffa's and Seyfrieds private club. The association runs itself and you are neither a candidate nor a retiree. You aren't even a real reporter.

They should have asked the membership first.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I don't think the question, "Should we invite Bernie O'hare" is one that requires a full membership vote. They obviously trust the leadership to make some decisions on their own. Also, I have won Keystone Press journalism awards for the past three years in a row. You are full of hatred and jealousy.

Anonymous said...

Scumillio: hand me the barf bag.--that was the empty rhetoric, meaningless platitude recycled "I want to be a senator speech" someone else wrote.

In one short year, he violated the US Constitution, the PA Constitution, the Northampton County Constitution, fomented a record number of actual or threatened lawsuits and damaged people's lives--and with indifference because scumillio wants something for himself.

Anonymous said...

Trust the leadership?? The Gracedale retirees despise Stoffa. They are none to happy that Jerry invited you. The soon to be Gracedale retirees can't believe he represents them and figures it was a backroom deal. After the hatchet job you did on Gracedale when you tried to help Stoffa dump it and the attacks on county employees, you are not welcome. Also we can see through you recent "love" of employees, since it is just a tactic in your hatred and war against Brown.

You are not someone retirees especially Gracedale retirees want at their luncheon spying on every conversation and discussion.