Keegan's Insensitive Remarks Land Her In Hot Water

I closed out last week by reporting insensitive comments made by NorCo Council member Kelly Keegan about the murder of far-right influencer Charlie Kirk. Since then, I've received equally if not more offensive remarks from her before she shut down her Facebook page. I could post them, too, but the point has been made. Some of you have taken me to task for drawing attention to her remarks, but she is both an elected official and a nursing director at Easton Area School District. You should know what she said.

As an elected official, she can be censured by Council, which means nothing. County Council has no authority to do anything else. The only way she can be removed from office is if she is impeached and convicted or is convicted of an infamous crime.  She will remain in office unless she herself resigns. Should she choose to seek re-election two years from now, voters can oust her then. Or re-elect her. 

To be sure, she is political kryptonite at this point to other Democrats running for office. They will likely avoid her. She was a no-show at the Eston Democratic Blue Gala on Friday. She was sent home from Forks Community Days on Saturday. 

Her real problem is her continued employment at Easton Area School District. Superintendent Tracy Piazza has noticed what she said. I never spoke to Ms. Piazza but am told she's been inundated with complaints from parents and staff. As a result, she has sent this "Message to Our School Community Regarding Recent Social Media Post."

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,

I am writing to you today to address a deeply concerning social media post made by an individual associated with our school district regarding the recent passing of Charlie Kirk. The statements made were deeply insensitive, without merit, and in conflict with all that we stand for as a district.

As your Superintendent, and on behalf of the Board of Education, I want to be unequivocally clear: this individual’s personal opinions and statements do not, in any way, represent the values, mission, or beliefs of our school district or those of the Board of Education.

Our schools are founded on principles of respect, empathy, and compassion. We believe in fostering an environment where every individual is treated with dignity, even in disagreement. We believe in the inherent value of every individual, and the unwavering importance of family. While we recognize that, as individuals, we all have our own opinions and beliefs, as a district, we also believe that public statements that diminish the value of human life or are indifferent to the importance of family are without basis. The social media post in question stands in stark opposition to everything we teach and stand for as a district.

As the Superintendent, I expect that all employees display respect and compassion, both in their professional roles and lives. Anything less is unacceptable and not representative of the conduct we expect from individuals associated with the Easton Area School District.

The administration and Board of Education are dedicated to ensuring that our actions and communications consistently reflect our fundamental beliefs and uphold the trust placed in us by the community, regardless of one’s political views.

We will not condone or tolerate such behavior. We are actively reviewing the situation and will take appropriate action in accordance with district policies and laws. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our school community remains a safe, respectful, and supportive place for all.

Thank you for your continued partnership in upholding the values that define our school community.

Do I think she should be fired? No. But I do think she owes an apology to the public she serves, both as an elected official and as a public-school nurse. She also owes an apology to her colleagues on county council. She has been County Council's most divisive member, attacking Republicans and even other Democrats who refuse to go along with everything that Executive Lamont McClure would like to accomplish before leaving office. At meetings, she has publicly attacked Council member John Goffredo over his numerous online comments, but she and Goffredo could both learn a thing or two from another Council member, Tom Giovanni. He only speaks when he needs to make a point, not to hear the sound of his own voice. 

How Did NorCo Exec Candidates React to Charlie Kirk's Murder?

Tom Giovanni, GOP candidate for NorCo Exec: "Please join me tonight in praying for Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika, and their beautiful children following today's tragedy. Enough is enough with political violence. We must come together."

Tara Zrinski, Democratic candidate for NorCo Exec: "I had not planned on posting anything about Charlie Kirk’s assassination because I just didn’t have the words, but, I have read many posts and watched the reactions from the news, the President, talking heads on podcasts and it is all vile.

I mourn not for Charlie Kirk but for human decency. A man, who I did not know, has died, he had a wife and children and probably friends, although none I would align myself even in polite conversation. The proper, respectful and decent thing to do is to say, “sorry for your loss. I pray for the friends and family of this lost soul that he may rest in peace.” Yet, we have lost all semblance of decency in this polarized and charged political landscape.

I mourn for the hope that people can come together, even when they disagree, for mindful political discourse. I grieve for the future so uncertain for our country and the world. I am bereaved by the loss of kindness in the hearts of people.

I want to drop some Buddhist wisdom here that I have been thinking about. As the Dhammapada states, "An ignorant person takes pleasure and delight in killing living beings". Taking a life, even that of someone who you deem a wicked, or evil, person, creates new negative karma for the killer. It doesn’t remove that victim’s karma, either, and creates more suffering that, for some, will give birth to violence out of their vindication and condemnation of the act for others.

The goal is to break the cycle of violence, not to perpetuate it, even against those who may seem deserving of harm. We cannot break it if we keep perpetuating it. Charlie Kirk, for sure, had an agenda. I did not agree with him but, I do not wish him or his family suffering. I pray for peace. I pray for the end of suffering and the end of violence. I pray his death is the last."

Both Tom and Tara have reacted to this senseless killing with empathy and compassion. What Kelly Keegan said is the exception, not the norm. 

NorCo Council Member Kelly Keegan Celebrates Murder of Far-Right Influencer

Unlike many of you, I studiously avoid most of the talking heads that routinely appear on television. Up until the day of his unfortunate murder, I was completely unfamiliar with far-right influencer Charlie Kirk. From what I've since learned about him, I have little in common with him and disagree strongly with nearly all of his views. But like every one of us, he is entitled to the same respect and dignity that we all owe each other. I disagree strongly with my brother's political views, but he is still my brother. Some of my closest friends are ardent Trump supporters. We can still talk, and we're even able to talk about politics. There is no need to hate someone simply because he is Republican or Democrat. The whole point of a democratic republic is to encourage differences. And the First Amendment protects speech that you or I might find totally repugnant. Unfortunately, there are people who fail to understand this. The worst of these are people who are willing to use violence to suppress views they detest. And there are others who will actually celebrate this political violence. Unfortunately, one of these cheerleaders of political murder sits on Northampton County Council. 

Kelly Keegan is the District member of NorCo Council, representing the Easton area. She is also employed by the Easton Area School District as a nurse. She reacted to the senseless murder of a relatively unknown far-right influencer on Facebook with "IDGAS (I don't give a shit), his life isn't different than anyone else's. Karma." She didn't like his insensitive comments about children and adults who were killed in a mass shooting. 

She did not stop there. She also said, "He was a monster and his wife and kids are better off without him as is the rest of the world. Hopefully her next partner will respect women and children." 

If Kelly Keegan respected human life, she would not have said these things. I think a person like her has no place representing the people of Northampton County or being near the children at Easton Area School District.

UPDATE 9/14/25 AT 11:45 AM: I have received some comments claiming that they are unable to see the newer comments. That is because they are on a new page. If you scroll to the bottom, you can open up the new page. 

UPDATED: Attorney Facing Drug Charges Is Latest Focus of Lawsuit Brought By NorCo's Former Custody Master Against the Judges

Over the weekend, I received a packet sent anonymously to me, including a filing in the federal case that former custody master Lisa Tresslar has filed against Northampton County's court. In that case, Tresslar has argued that she was constructively terminated by the courts because of her vocal opposition to changes in the way custody cases were being handled. Instead of being concerned about the lives of children, her argument was that some judges were instead focused on insulating themselves from information that could raise red flags, giving themselves plausible deniability in the event a child was abused. Discovery has apparently concluded, and before competing motions for summary judgment are filed, the matter has been referred to a federal magistrate to see of the parties can settle. So I was a bit surprised that anyone would want to send me anything related to the case. I was, however, even more surprised about what it reveals. Stan Margle, the very attorney who is facing multiple drug charges, has apparently become a key witness.

What I was sent was a motion filed by defendant Judge Craig Dally and Court Administrator Jermaine Greene. [I will refer to them collectively as defendant judges, since most of what Tresslar complains about involve other judges, not Judge Dally]. Though this defense was never raised before, they now contend they made changes in the way custody cases were being handled because Tresslar, as custody master, was biased in favor of Margle. Instead of acting as a "neutral court employee," she engaged in numerous conversations about pending cases with him without the knowledge or consent of opposing counsel or the court. In one text message, she is quoted as saying she "wanted to have [Attorney Margle's baby]." 

Defendant judges now want to use this apparent bias as an affirmative defense. And someone on their side of this dispute wanted to make sure I was aware of this favoritism. 

After receiving this packet, I went on PACER to see for myself what is going on in this case. True enough, the defendant judges do want to muddy Tresslar up as some sort of harlot cavorting with an attorney who is also a criminal defendant in two separate drug cases involving cocaine or paraphernalia he left behind at the courthouse. But Tresslar has a response to their motion. 

She points out that Margle was her attorney when she had her own custody dispute 16 years ago, and they became friends. She said that President Judge Steve Baratta, who hired her, has testified that her relationship with Margle presented no conflict and she had no duty to disclose it. She nevertheless disclosed her relationship with Margle in every matter in which he was involved.

As far as ex parte conversations go, Tresslar was acting as a mediator and was specifically directed to engage "in ex parte communications with custody litigants and engage in back-and-forth shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to bond with litigants and get them to trust her recommendations."

As if this were not enough, former President Judge Michael J. Koury, Jr. sought and obtained an opinion from the Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, stating that Tresslar's ex parte communications with Margle were perfectly permissible as long as Tresslar disclosed that she regularly engaged in ex parte communications with litigants as part of the court's mediation process. Judge Baratta and numerous attorneys have testified ... that Tresslar fully disclosed that she regularly engaged in ex parte communications with litigants, including Margle, as part of the court's mediation process."

It appears to me that Defendant Judges are simply trying to slur Tresslar for doing precisely what she was authorized to do. 

Amazingly, what I also learned from looking at the PACER docket entries is that, in addition to being Tresslar's former attorney, Margle also represented Defendant Judge Jennifer Sletvold. According to Judge Sletvold, Margle represented her in "various matters." She was so concerned about her own relationship with Margle that she actually made sure she had yet another attorney present when Margle was deposed so that he could assert attorney-client privilege if Margle was questioned in detail. 

So Margle, an accused drug defendant, represented both the former custody master and one of the very judges about whom Tresslar has based her lawsuit. 

Since Margle represented one of the judges in "various matters," I wonder whether an outside jurist should be asked to handle his case. Since our judges are so concerned about the appearance of bias, perhaps they should look at themselves.  

UPDATED 10:45 AM: I have learned that, in fact, a full bench recusal is being sought in the Margle prosecution. This is not just because of a potential conflict involving one of the judges, but because several county employees could be involved as witnesses. 

First Time DUI Offenders No Longer Eligible For ARD in NorCo

There's been a recent change in the NorCo DA's office concerning a special program for first offenders called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. (ARD). Under this program, a first offender for a minor crime can avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction by agreeing to probation for a period of months and any other conditions deemed appropriate. After successful completion of the program, charges are dismissed. This program is administered by the District Attorney, and eligibility is at his discretion. The crime of Driving Under the Influence has typically been among the kind of offense considered appropriate for ARD. It's been a moneymaker for the county, too. The ARD fee for DUI in NorCo has been $2,675. But this is changing. According to an August 26 Memo from DA Steve Baratta to President Judge Craig Dally (you can read the memo below), ARD will no longer be available to DUI defendants. This new policy will start September 15.  

This change was brought to my attention by a reader who chided me for failing to report it. I was unaware of the change. 

Baratta's new policy is a reaction to a recent Pa. Supreme Court ruling that considering ARD as a prior offense for purposes of sentencing enhancement is unconstitutional notwithstanding that the Vehicle Code specifically provides that participation in an ARD program must be considered a prior offense. 

Instead of accepting ARD applications for first time DUI offenders, the DA will allow most defendants to plead guilty to DUI at its lowest level, called general impairment. Defendants who plead guilty will be sentenced to six months of probation and a $350 fine. They can keep their driver's license. They will have the stigma of a criminal conviction, but that can be expunged after seven years. 

The DA notes that, in some ways, this will be less onerous than ARD. It will cost a Defendant far less than ARD and he will still be able to drive. But the plea must be made at the time of arraignment. 

DA Memo on New ARD Policy for DUI by BernieOHare

NorCo Council Tables Routine Budget Amendment, Goffredo Wants Fiscal Boss to Resign

At last week's meeting, NorCo Council voted to table a routine budget amendment ordinance by a 7-2 vote, with Council members Jeff Warren and Kelly Keegan dissenting. Council members claimed they were never provided with enough information even though the administration had previously provided a 46-page explanation of the changes. This budget amendment also went through Council member John Brown's Finance Committee. They had plenty of information from which to make an informed decision. Yet Brown and Council member John Goffredo added they would oppose the amendment as a protest "until the administration gets in line and recognizes the power of this body ... ." They are completely willing to allow county government to grind to a halt unless Executive Lamont McClure cedes his administrative authority and lets them run the county. And when Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron attempted to answer questions that President Lori Vargo Heffner had about the amendments, most of which were answered to her satisfaction, Goffredo said Barron should resign. He also shut Barron down when he attempted to defend himself, telling him to sit down.

Budget Amendments are routinely presented about two or three times a year. They are discussed in a Finance Committee. The administration supplies Council with written explanations of every change. So it is actually dishonest for them to claim this was suddenly sprung on them. 

They complain that the Executive and Fiscal Affairs Director are failing to do their jobs, or more precisely, failing to do it the way they want it done. But are they doing their job? They had all the information they needed. They also had time to ask for further explanation at a committee meeting in advance of the vote. They just failed to do their homework and then tried to blame it on the administration. They'd rather just shut the government down and attempt to make political points in advance of an election. 

Though budget amendments are routine, they fund important human services to protect our children and elderly from abuse and neglect. They fund remediation that help our children from getting lead poisoning in some older homes, especially in the slate belt.   

As powerful as a County Council might be, it has no power to administer. Though Council controls the purse strings, it has no power to decide how the elections office is run. It has no authority to instruct the Executive about how Gracedale should be administered or how many homes should be remediated for lead. That is the province of the Executive branch. 

Goffredo denied politics has anything to do with his willingness to cripple county government. " I don't give two flying whatevers about political season. I'm not running for h ---. This is an inconvenience at this point cuz I feel like we come here, and all we do is sling stuff at the wall. I don't care about anybody's electoral race."

Really?

Goffredo donated $1,000 to Tom Giovanni's Executive campaign. That's pretty amazing for someone who doesn't give two flying whatevers.  And as Council member Jeff Warren reminded him, Goffredo is himself on the ballot. 

Brown and Goffredo like to complain about the administration's failure to communicate, and in some instances, they could be correct. But not here. They had a 46-page explanation and a Finance Committee meeting. They just failed to prepare.