In his losing campaign for Northampton County Council, Lamont McClure relied heavily on campaign contributions from within the District Attorney's Office, where his wife is employed as an Assistant District Attorney. DA John Morganelli alone gave him $1,500, to say nothing of $500 that allegedly was provided by one of the DA's detectives and other money from staffers in the office. After McClure was roundly rejected by the voters, DA John Morganelli was among those who lobbied hard to make sure that Lamont was appointed. And that happened in a back-room deal that violated the Sunshine Act.
Now it's payback time. Last night, McClure voted to transfer the county's DUI Central Processing Operation from the Sheriff's budget to the DA's budget, effectively voting to increase the budget.
Now this is a minor matter and relatively noncontroversial. The resolution passed unanimously. McClure's vote was not needed. But it disturbs me McClure did not recognize the glaring conflict of interest that exists when he votes to increase the budget in the very office where his wife is employed. The state ethics act tells us it's an illegal conflict of interest when a public official uses his official office to benefit either himself or a member of his immediate family. When he votes to increase the size of the DA's budget, doesn't that necessarily benefit his wife?
I think it's a very close question, don't you? I don't believe this was an intentional violation, but McClure really should abstain from any matter involving the DA's office.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Friday, July 21, 2006
11 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Bernie you crack me up, I sit down to eat my lunch, and there you go again, poking Lamont McClueless with a hot poker again.
ReplyDeleteHe can't help himself, being an ignoramus comes naturally , hell just look at him, you could tattoo doofus on his forehead, and he would look in the mirror, and ask his wife what "sufood" means. She would probably reply "Future congressman, honey".
It bothered me last night, but I was going to let it go until I heard him on the radio today, bing called a "breath of fresh air." With fresh air like that, no wonder we've got global warming.
ReplyDeleteTake the kid gloves off with Morganelli.
ReplyDeleteForget the Marquis of Queensberry Rules.
Even the head of the PA'd Democratic Party, PA Guv. Ed Rendell, just today gave the DA a stinging slap over his overzealous, and overly ambitious and politiclly motivated, pursuit of illegal immigrants - especially those of Hispanic ethnic origin.
I only hope Morganelli's face os red, not only from Rendell's slap. but also from embarassment - though I'm afraid the DA is too insensitive to show any kind of emotion.
I just read the Guv's remarks. That's the guy I remember. He just made me feel proud.
ReplyDeletePlease don't forget that Lamont ran Morganelli's unsuccessful campaign for state Attorney General (and did a piss poor job. of course).
ReplyDeleteMcClure is too closely tied to the DA's office to provide the oversight required of a Councilman.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
O'Hare has sworn to "get" McClure because McClure criticized O'Hare's lawsuits against Northampton County as causing the taxpayers money needlessly.
ReplyDeletewww.progressivemajority.org/stateprograms/pa
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:23 & 9:13c (same person),
ReplyDelete1) I've heard McClure caled lots of thing. Progreessive is not one of them. I just heard him say tthat he has not problem with cramming prisonersd into cots in a gym.
2) I'd like to know where you can find any evidence that I've ever said I was going to "get" McClure. My blond litigation saved the county approximately $20 MM in debt service, by the way. But don't let facts get in the way.
Actually, your "blond" litigation did not save the tax payers any money. In fact it cost them excess attorneys fees, and your lawsuit slowed construction down. Materials, like steel became more expensive, and you are in part responsible for the two million in overruns at the courthouse. Your foolish lawsuit, which you lost, also created a roadmap for other counties on how to properly float a "megabond." Nice work.
ReplyDeleteBullshit. First, I won the first round and the county had to do it over. Second, fallinfg interest ratesds did actually save the county $20MM when that bond was floated. True, steel prices did go up, but the savings far outweighed that increase.
ReplyDelete