"Pop Up" Voter Service Events Proposed as a Pilot in NorCo

Every election cycle, Northampton County's elections office conducts what amounts to three elections. First, mail-in balloting enables a voter to apply for and either mail in his choice for various offices or drop off his ballot at one of seven secure ballot boxes throughout the county. Second, ballot-by-demand enables a voter to appear at the elections or a satellite office, request his ballot and complete it on the spot.  Third, there's traditional in-person voting at precincts on election day. Now, elections registrar Chris Commini is proposing a fourth election. At a special meeting of the elections commission yesterday, he sought a blessing for "pop up voter service events to expand access for voters in Northampton County ahead of the 2026 primary election."

Commini said that pop-up voter services are the same as that provided with ballot-by-demand at the county or satellite offices, but at different locales. People can register to vote, complete a mail-in ballot application, receive their ballot and either drop it off or take home for review. A $40 drop box will be available and will be returned to the elections office by deputy sheriffs. These services would exist until May 12, the last day on which mail-in ballots can be requested. 

The two locations under consideration are Lafayette College and Northampton Community College. While this might make it easier for students to register and vote, it will be difficult for the elderly or handicapped to walk the rather large parking lots at Northampton Community College or to find convenient parking at Lafayette. So it's really no service to the elderly. But if the pilot program is successful in this year's primary, Commini noted that these services could be offered at numerous fairs and festivals with a more diverse audience. I'd suggest that it be offered at area nursing homes and senior housing as well. Solicitor Michael Vargo and Commini both noted that Montgomery County uses a van as a satellite office for ballot by demand at different events. 

The sole Commissioner to vote No to this proposal was Scott Hough. "I'm worried about security and I'm worried about fairness," he said. Since the pop-up event would be manned by existing staff and the mobile drop box would be transported by deputy sheriffs, it appears that this is secure. But fairness? In a primary, pop-up services that target two colleges might adversely impact more conservative Democrats. And in a general election, pop-up services that are limited to colleges would be a boon to Democrats and would hurt Republicans.  For that reason, it would be important to have locations that attract Republicans. 

On top of this concern is Murphy's Law. If something can go wrong, it will. In recent years, we've had machine failures, ballot issues and voters who have received ballots for the wrong district. I am far from confident that this is the right time and would be more comfortable with this laudable effort to increase access if we could first pull of one or two elections without too many issues. Perhaps that is never possible.  

According to Commini, NorCo would be the first county to offer pop-up voter services. Solicitor Michael Vargo and Commini both noted that Montgomery County uses a van as a satellite office for ballot by demand at different events. 

Cycling Season Cometh

As the days get a bit longer and a bit warmer, you may have noticed those double-wheeled contraptions on the road known as bicycles. Not ebikes, Not motorcycles. I am referring to the machines that move only through leg power. I hope those of you operating cars and trucks can be as forgiving as you have been through the years. While it's hard to feel pity for a bottom-feeding blogger, motorists have almost always been exceptionally courteous to me. 

At this time of the year, I usually stay off roads because of the school buses. They tend to make people impatient and a little angry, so I try to stick to the trails as much as possible except for midmorning or weekend rides. But I actually prefer the roads and the hills. 

Of course, the real cycling season started months ago in Europe, where there are cycling and cyclo-cross races starting on January 20 and ending only in October. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, three-time winner of the Tour-de-France, is indisputably the best cyclist in the world right now. 

Come July, Pogacar will square off against my favorite cyclist, two-time Tour-de-France winner Jonas Vingegaard in this year's Tour. Before becoming a professional cyclist, Jonas earned his living by cutting up cod in a fish factory. Over the course of 21 racing days, Tadej and Jonas will race for 3,333 km (2,071 miles) with a total elevation gain of 54,450 meters (178,642 feet). They get two rest days. 

In contrast, my first big cycling event this year is the annual 22-mile ride from Temple's main campus in downtown Philly to its Ambler venue, with a total elevation of about 1,000 feet. But hey, we have to ride thru downtown Philly. 

Tadej Pogacar is a thoroughly likable guy and seems to really have fun during his races. But the reason Vingegaard is my favorite is because of what happened three years ago, when he and Tadej were battling for the lead (maillot jeune) in the TDF. On a descent, they were both roaring down a mountain at top speed when suddenly, Pogacar went into a slide and wiped out, giving Jonas an easy win. But Jonas actually stood up on his bike and waited for Tadej to catch up to him. That's pure class.

It happened again last week in Spain's seven-stage Volta Catalunya race. Jonas was going head to head with the Belgian Bullet, Remco Evenepoel. Those two were way ahead of the peleton (the main group of riders) and poised for a stage win. Remco was pissed because Jonas was right behind and drafting off him instead of going in front to give the Belgian a break. He was waving his arm at Jonas, who just stayed glued to Remco. With 400 meters to go, in a sharp turn before the finish line, Remco hit a pothole and did a header over his handlebars. Instead of taking advantage of this mishap to a rider that was already upset with him, Jonas held up again and actually let the peleton catch up and pass him. "I didn't want to win that way," said the Dane, and added that he hoped Remco was alright. That's pure class again.  

By the way, all these guys speak English. The annual salaries for top riders is below the NFL minimum. But they can teach a lot about good sporstmanship.  

Is JD Vance Worse Than Trump? Governor Beshear (and I) Think So

Although I agree with Trump's decision to attack Iran, I've always been bothered by his chaotic approach to everything he touches, from the way he bashes our democratic allies to how he embraces our autocratic frenemies. On a domestic level, he has actually made pocketbook issues worse. But I think I finally understand him. He doesn't really take himself seriously, so neither should we. He knows that at least half of what he brays is utter bullshit, and I can almost see him laughing as he says it. Believe it or not, the one person who scares me more than Trump is his VP,  JD Vance. 

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a popular Democrat is a red state, has this to say about Vance: " JD Vance looks down on rural America. He did it in his book where he called the people of my state lazy, blamed them for poverty, even blamed them for the opioid epidemic that has taken so many lives in Kentucky. His administration’s policies also look down on rural America. The big ugly bill threatens to close 35 rural hospitals in my state; lay off 20,000 healthcare workers; kick 200,000 Kentuckians off their coverage. And when the largest payroll in a community shuts down, which is that hospital, the coffee shop closes, the restaurant closes, the bank closes, the insurance company closes. Look at their tariff policy and what it’s done to soybean farmers in my state and others. This is a guy that thinks he is better than everyone else, but his policies are certainly the worst we’ve seen."

I've always thought that Vance, who though Trump was despicable but now gushes all over him, is a complete hypocrite. So does Beshear. "This is a guy who’s changed his name multiple times and talks about his childhood as his origin story. JD Vance has reinvented himself multiple times in the pursuit of wealth and of power."

Trump's train-wreck presidency has assured Democrats a huge victory in the midterms. But that will primarily be a referendum on Trump, not an endorsement of Democrats. 

Here's the Beshear formula. First, Democrats need to spend most of their time on issues that matter most to voters, like putting food on the table and paying for their kids' medical bills. Second, talk like a normal human being. "The Democratic Party at different times has talked at and not to people. It’s even talked down to people, which is wrong. Our words have to have meaning." Third, intead of taking about what you plan to do, explain why you plan to do it, why it's the right thing.

Commonwealth Court Schedules Hearing on Objections to Taiba Sultana's Nomination Petition For State Senate

Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court scheduled a March 25 hearing on objections to the nomination petition filed by Taiba Sultana for the state senate. She hopes to face incumbent State Senator Lisa Boscola in this year's primary. 

Representing objectors Patti Hitzel, Pam Panto, Patti Bruno and Cleste Dee is Allentown Attorney Ray Lahoud, who grew up on Easton's south side. In addition to is challenges to specific signatures, Lahoud has raised the novel argument that Sultana has deceptively claimed to be "self-employed" without explaining precisely what she does as a self-employed person.

The Pa Supreme Court has in the past stricken a nomination petition filed by a law school graduate who held himself out as a lawyer while awaiting bar exam results. So I could see a court ruling against Sultana on this basis alone. 

Lawyer Who Allegedly Left Cocaine at Courthouse ... Twice ... Is Temporarily Suspended

Easton-area Attorney Stan Margle, who is well known as both a family and municipal lawyer, has been temporarily suspended by the Pa. Supreme Court. 

A per curiam (unsigned but unanimous) order dated March 26 imposes a temporary suspension based on a pending criminal proceeding. It was granted pursuant to a joint petition, indicating that Margle himself was a party to the request. 

Margle faces two sets of criminal charges as a result of cocaine and drug paraphernalia he amazingly brought to the courthouse inside his satchel. Unfortunately for him, he left his bag behind when he left on both occasions. 

Most recently, Margle was receiving in-patient treatment for what certainly appears to be an addiction. 

My hope is that he is getting the help he needs. 

UPDATED: The Hubris of Zach Cole-Borghi

When Lehigh County Comm'r Zachary Cole Borghi was charged last year with participation in a still mysterious interstate marijuana ring, he loudly protested his innocence from his perch in Lehigh County's meeting room "I am an innocent family man. I am a leader in the community, and I am a dutiful public servant who has been damaged by the mishandling of this investigation,” he asserted, adding that "I intend to identify and bring suit against anyone who maliciously conspired to destroy my reputation.” Not only did he retain his position as Chair of the Courts and Corrections Committee, but he cruised to re-election with 69% of the vote.  Yesterday, his hubris ran headlong into reality. In four separate and detailed criminal complaints (you can read them below), Cole-Borghi has been charged with more than 100 criminal charges related to the sale and purchase of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms over a period of roughly two years. He was still able to participate in last night's meeting of Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners but did so from the county jail. His bond is set at $500,000.

Cole-Borghi is accused of 89 counts of criminal use of his cellphone to arrange drug deals, 14 counts of delivery of cocaine and 1 count of delivery of psilocybin mushrooms. Incredibly, the text messages show that he arranged drug deals from his cell phone during Commissioner meetings, from his job at Bethlehem City Hall (where he complained that he was running late because Mayor Willie Reynolds talks too much) and even during a "Peace and Justice Symposium" conducted by the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute and attended by Lehigh County DA Gavin Holihan. 

Cole-Borghi's arrogance in the way he allegedly conducted drug deals and his reaction to the marijuana charges is simply stunning. When he was first charged, Comm'rs John Irons and April Riddick quickly played the race card, noting that black men like him are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. 

While that may be true in some instances, Cole -Borghi's fatal flaw - hubris - has nothing to do with his race. "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud." He may have felt he was above the law because he is an elected official but is learning the hard way that he must face the consequences of his own actions. 

I suspect the circumstances concerning this prosecution is fertile ground for defense motions, but if this case goes to a jury, I doubt Cole-Borghi gets any sympathy. His refusal to resign his position as a Comm'r could enhance his sentence, as it did to disgraced former Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski. If he were smart, he'd resign now. But as of now, he just looks like someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone. 

Oh yeah, he is presumed innocent. 

UPDATED: 11:40 - Cole-Borghi was absent at last night's meeting of LC Comm'rs. My evil Republican brother told me he was there but was joking with me. He called me to inform me of my error and then laughed maniacally.

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 1 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 2 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 3 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 4 by BernieOHare