Northampton County Executive-Elect Tara Zrinski yesterday announced the formation of a transition committee that she calls the "start of a new era for county government built on transparency, accountability, and inclusive community engagement."
“Elections mark the beginning of change, but real leadership is about thoughtfully and transparently shaping what comes next,” Zrinski said. “Residents expect innovative ideas backed by a careful transition and strong follow‑through on the promises they supported this fall.”
Members include a mix of experienced leaders like former Exec Glenn Reibman as well as participants who have never held a major role in county government. They include Brandon Faust, Nazareth School Board; Anita Erdős Forrester, Professor at Northampton Community College; Margie DeRenzis, retired Supervisor at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20; and Steve Goudsouzian, a well-respected attorney and Solicitor for the Controller’s Office.
She has identified seven targeted areas:
● Healthy Families & Human Services: Public health, social services, and family support.
● Housing for All: Affordable housing, homelessness, and development policy.
● Economic Development & Jobs: Small business support, workforce training, and job access.
● Infrastructure & Capital Projects: Roads, public works, and other capital projects.
● Public Safety & Justice: Policing, emergency services, and criminal justice reform.
● Opportunity for All: Racial, economic, gender, and disability inclusion practices.
● Environmental Planning and Sustainability: Land use, open space preservation, infrastructure, and county operations.
County government is very limited. It exists primarily to run elections, 911, build county bridges and provide the court services that handle the back end of crime as well as civil matters. It provides no policing. It builds no roads. There is no health department. It does provide for human services like child protective services, but this function is largely paid for by the state. It does maintain a nursing home but is one of only about six or seven counties that still have a nursing home.
Having said that, I have no problem with exploring how a county government can help with many other issues that transcend municipal boundaries.
I would suggest that Zrinski's biggest problem, and it's one she can fix, is a fractured relationship with both County Council and employees. Hopefully she would include county council members and current employees to help guide a smooth transition and make her aware of what the "boots on the ground" see.
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