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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, August 17, 2015

NorCo Dems Are in Trouble

Ron Angle's departure from the NorCo Controller's race, followed by the likely entry of Council member Hayden Phillips, may very well change the outcome of several races, and not in a good way if you happen to be a Democrat. It is entirely possible that this time next year, there will be a seven-person Republican majority on Council, along with Controller Phillips and Judge Vic Scomillio. This is in spite of a Democratic edge in Northampton County. In Presidential races, Democrats flock to the polls. But they tend to stay home in municipal races. Why does this happen, and how does it portend victory for the GOP in Northampton County this year?

There are no contested city races in Northampton County this year. Sal Panto had no opponent, Democrat or Republican, in Easton's Mayoral primary. Bethlehem's City Council race was decided in the primary, where only Democrats ran. To many who live in these urban cores, and they are heavily Democratic, the election is over. Though county government is vital and has a big impact on their lives, most people have less interest than they do in a city government, where parking meters or garbage can become hot-button items.

When Ron Angle was in the race, that generated interest among Democrats. He's the Republican they love to hate, more than anyone. But now that he's out, and it's likely that Hayden Phillips is in, some Democrats will go back to sleep.

When Hayden Phillips first ran for Northampton County Council, I took him lightly. After all, he's a tea party conservative, and some of his ideas on the campaign trail sounded a tad extreme, like his concern about the UN and Agenda 21. But he worked tirelessly, had a good organization and won. As a member of Council, he's often been the only one from his own party willing to challenge Executive John Brown. So he's independent. And he has done nothing as a member of Council that I consider irresponsible. In fact, his focus on capital projects has been sorely needed. Even the Democrats on council refer to him as the "Colonel," in homage to his service as a Marine. If the party names him as their Controller candidate, I expect to see Phillips give it everything he has.

Democrats in Bethlehem will likely be split over Steve Barron. His suit against Bethlehem City Council is no way to gain votes in what should be his base. He has sparred with Easton Mayor Sal Panto over the commuter tax, and Panto has grown increasingly thin-skinned about criticism. Barron can count on the Northampton County workforce to back him strongly. I am sure they will, but question whether it is enough. One third of the NorCo workforce does not even live in the County. Of those that do, I know for a fact that many of them fail to register. This is a big problem, and though there was one rally to register voters before the primary, it was mostly for show with no real effort.

Barron is the Democrat that Republicans love to hate. He has matured and has actually managed to look like a voice of reason next to Executive John Brown. His audits probably have saved millions. But his side-show antics have earned him their enduring animosity. A controller really should think twice about marching on a call center like T-Mobile, and threatening them with some kind of official retaliatory action because they are non-union. His part-time teaching job was a mistake, too. He is vulnerable, unless Democrats come out in force.

Scott Parsons, who is running in the Slate Belt, has deluded himself into thinking that he will be re-elected because he does a good job and is the NorCo workhorse. When he defeated Ron Angle four years ago, he made no attempt to contact voters. When he did make voter contact in his race for the state senate, he was defeated. So Parsons is running next to no campaign in a heavily Republican District, which is insane.

Parsons' opponent, Matt Dietz, appears to me to have a lot to learn. His knowledge of county government is so flawed as to be laughable. But he's learning, he's everywhere and is extremely affable. People like to be asked, and Dietz is asking while Parsons is not.  

In the district race that includes Republican strongholds like Williams, Lower Saucon and Bethlehem townships, John Cusick is largely unknown despite his two terms on council. But because an R follows his name, he will draw a lot of votes from Republicans. He also knows how to run a campaign, and has hired Cheryl Corsa and Kathy Roberts. Democrat Lori Vargo Heffner is a psychotherapist and I've seen her smiling face at several Council meetings. She has no experience running for anything, but may turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

The most important of the races is the judicial contest between Sam Murray, son of a steelworker, and Vic Scomillio, who as Solicitor fired a county employee just two days before Christmas with no due process. So far, the County has been assessed nearly $300,000 for that mistake. Scomillio also advised Executive John Brown that he could hire a media consultant. He even told Brown it's legal to balance the budget with borrowed money.

This is more than a race between Democrat and Republican. It's more like the forces of light and darkness.

Sam Murray is the one Democrat who is actually out there, campaigning. He is going to events and knocking on doors. He is clearly the better candidate, especially if you believe in goofy things like the Constitution. But how many Republicans will split their ticket and vote for him? Not many. How many Democrats care enough about their country and county to come out to vote?

That's the big question. I rarely believe in voting straight Democrat, but this is one of those times. John Brown is hurting this country and county in a big way. By reducing staff sizes at the jail and in other departments like children and youth, he is putting human lives at risk in the name of the Almighty Dollar.

Just last week, the Republicans on Council stuck it to 14 Magisterial District judge workers who simply wanted Brown to honor his word and give them a raise he proposed and Council accepted. They went back on their own word simply because that is what their Republican Executive wanted.

Democrats need to get their act together. They need to forget past differences with Barron. They need to encourage Lori Heffner and hammer Scott Parsons until he starts reaching out to the voters. Sam Murray's promise of due process and fairness needs to be heard.

Unless they do, it will be a seven-person Republican majority, a Republican Controller and a Republican judge.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please., Ron Angle dropped out because he is not only the Republican Democrats love to hate but he is also the Republican many Republicans love to hate. The numbers were run and he actually was so bad he threatened to drag down all the other Republicans.

However, you basic premise is correct. Democrats are lazy and only vote in Presidential elections and city primaries. For all their bluster and anger on your blog, the employees are impotent and Brown and company know it. They like to piss about everything but have no ability to figure out how to vote.

District three Republican. District four, probably will go Republican.

If Phillips runs and wins, county council will have to replace him. Who will they pick. Will it be the next highest vote getter in their race, whoever that was? Or will they get instructions from Party central and be given a name?

Anonymous said...

anything outside of bethlum in Norco is simply Hicksville.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately this story is basically right on the money. Hard truths and county Dem's need to wake up and get going. Lazy and uninformed about politics in general. How to overcome this ignorance? No idea but civics appears to be a lost art indeed. Lousy attitude by the non voting electorate. You get what you don't vote for. The my vote doesn't matter mantra in BS! Get off your butts and get to the polls!

Anonymous said...

Wait, there is a group called the NORCO Dems? Really? I've lived here all my life and never heard of them

Anonymous said...

I'm still trying to see if head-Dem Matt has a personality.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Don't much care for him.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"anything outside of bethlum in Norco is simply Hicksville."

completely untrue.

Anonymous said...

There once was any attorney named Scomillio;
Who now seeks judicial “Officio”;
When his acts as Solicitor;
Caused judgments well beyond his size;
He said "it’s not my problem", only one for the Taxpayer.

Anonymous said...

Let Ds vote for Hayden. He voted to raise taxes unnecessarily. While that makes him look like a good D, he's already lost the Tea Party/fiscal conservative vote. That's why you say nice things about him. But it doesn't mean he'll get elected. He alienated his base by voting to raise taxes when it wasn't necessary. Ask Dean Browning how that worked for him.

Anonymous said...

Point on tax increase vote: all CC Dems voted against the increase while the five R's voted for it.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely right, the tax increase was a Republican tax increase, so much for your base argument 11:28

Anonymous said...

Democrats are lazy and Republicans are stupid. The Democrats will whine and cry and not vote. The Republicans demonize the "taxing" Democrats and vote straight Republican. The first thing their teaboys do is raise taxes. Of course the Republicans then cry that the Dem's would have raised them higher and will re-elect the same tax-raisers they now condemn as long as they are republican tax raisers. The county like the country is going to Hell due to apathy and stupidity.

More tea please.

Anonymous said...

Bernie you're an honest man, I liked you better when you didn't pick sides. How come you haven't touched on the connection between candidate Sam Murray and developer Abe Atiyeh. Please comment on donations and fundraisers between the two. Also have you heard a rumbling about Sal Panto and Mike Fleck collecting pocket change from Boyle?

Bernie O'Hare said...

You mean you like me better when I pick your side. I am not really following much of Panto's finances bc he is running unopposed, but the fact that Boyle contributeds to him is no evidence of anything improper. Nor is an Atiyeh contribution to Murray. Both were also made long before the federal investigation became public, and before either candidate would have any reason to suspect anything is amiss. Even now, there are no charges against Boyle or Atiyeh. To his credit, Murray fired Fleck after three months. He figured something was wrong and exercised good judgment, a quality we shoul seek in a judge.

Anonymous said...

"Absolutely right, the tax increase was a Republican tax increase, so much for your base argument 11:28"

The base argument seemed to be that Phillips, who is mentioned in this post, voted to raise taxes and has lost favor with those who voted for him. His fate may well be shared with the other tax raisers. But this post wasn't about them. D voters think raising taxes and increasing spending is awesome. Perhaps they'll vote across the ballot for the R tax raisers. Birds of a feather ...

Anonymous said...

Atiyeh + Any Politician = dirty, dirty, dirty

Atiyeh + Murray = dirty, dirty, dirty.

Anonymous said...

Scomillio + blue blood corporate captains of industry =s 0 justice for the diminishing middle class. Due process? Thats only for his Republican masters.

Anonymous said...

Well, I like reading your blog, Bernie, but I've only ever been moved to post a comment once before because a lot of what you write about is politics which, admittedly, is not a strong suit of mine. But, I am a registered Democrat and, after reading your comments about the judicial election, felt compelled to add my two cents. First, it amazes me that the Democrats will come out in force for City elections where the positions are, as I understand it, mostly for four years. A judge is elected for a 10-year term and, to me, I don't understand how that is not a more critical race. Second, I did have a chance to look at the literature of both candidates in the Spring and, to be, there is such a stark contrast in the two, the Judge race should be a no-brainer, especially after all I've been reading about what Mr. Scomilio's "judgment" in firing that (I think) Assistant District Attorney is going to be costing the taxpayers. What really amazed me, though, was a flier that one of my relatives got and part of it read "No one has more experience than Victor Scomilio". Now, I'm not a math whiz either but I remember seeing both candidates literature and thinking that Mr. Murray has about twice the experience that Mr. Scomilio does. I also remember seeing that Mr. Murray was appointed by the Court twice for positions where he was making judicial decisions for about 10 years or so when Mr. Scomilio has never done anything like that....so, how can he make the above claim? Doesn't seem very judge-like to me.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Do us all a favor. Get three people registered to vote. get their contact information and give it to me or better yet, I will try to establish a contact person in these races.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the crazy attorney lady that hates Scomillio

Anonymous said...

"D voters think raising taxes and increasing spending is awesome."

So that is why every, I mean every Republican on county council voted for a tax increase and not one Democrat, not one Democrat voted for it.

Show me a snowball and tell how climate change is impossible.

You got to love teabagger logic.

Anonymous said...

If voters wanted taxes raised to support wasteful spending, they could swing a dead cat and hit 20 Democrats who'll do so gladly. Republicans raised taxes and will be held to account for acting like Democrats.

Anonymous said...

Since when did taxes and democrats become synonymous? Every major spend and increase in size of federal governments come to you via a republican president (bush) and the Obama care is also a mess because republicans wouldn't allow single payer, because their cronies who own all the medical hospitals, insurance companies would have lost too much money , so tell me again why you keep perpetuating this Lie? oh, I know, you watch FOX news and you believe it. Go cash your welfare check and live in your trailer and blame everything on the Ds

Amazed at how stupid America has become.

Anonymous said...

6:53. Show me the wasteful spending at the County level, show us all in fact what you are talking about

Anonymous said...

With all due respect, Mike Flecks reputation as a sneak and a dirt bag has been well known for many years. Just as an example wasn't he cited for illegally dumping his campaign signs? I find it hard to believe that Sam Murray didn't know his reputation before he hired him. Bad judgment or desperate to win? Either way, not the sign of an educated candidate.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Translation: I am a Republican.

Anonymous said...

Bernie's educated retort: I am a disbarred Democrat.