This November, Bethlehem voters will choose either Meg Holland (CPA/ABV, CVA, CIA) or the less qualified David DiGiacinto as their next controller. Although Meg is clearly the better candidate, she's missing three very important letters from the litany of initials that follow her name - DEM. In the Christmas city, that's going to hurt her.Yesterday, one of Meg's twin daughters, Maureen Holland Schaeffer, made a pitch for her mom. It's pretty good, and I want it with the rest of you.
It will be a shame if someone with Meg Holland's qualifications and experience does not get elected in the City of Bethlehem even though she is a republican... she is in the city's best interest.
Note Meg Holland's Website (www.hollandforcontroller.com):- You’re a registered Republican, how do you expect to get elected in the Democrat dominated City of Bethlehem?
It is my understanding that the ratio today is more than 2 to 1 Democrats to Republicans. People can look at me as a Republican-Democrat. I was a registered Democrat for over 25 years and my parents (Bob and Marie Holland) were active Democrats. My father was very involved in Congressman Fred B. Rooney’s campaign and President John F. Kennedy’s campaign. I remember wearing the JFK campaign hat during the late night election results with my brothers and sisters in 1960. I changed parties six years ago to support my brother-in-law, David Donio, who is Republican. He was running for State Representative and I was his Campaign Finance Chair.
Since I always vote for the candidate who is most qualified for the position, I did not see a need for a particular party alliance. As I said before, the Controller position should be non-partisan, a “watchdog” of the finances for the taxpayers. Actually, with a Democratic Mayor and a majority Democratic Council a Republican Controller would be a more appropriate watchdog.
13 comments:
She should have changed parties as the voters in Beth. aren't capable of looking at candidates in any fashion but party affiliation. Such a shame.
The fact that she switched parties, in my opinion, will not change the views of the Democrats in Bethlehem, especially the elders.
It's a shame how party affiliation in Bethlehem truly controls the polls. And even more sadly, I don't believe that the majority of voters in Bethlehem understand how the government works, especially pretaining to partisan issues. (Note: This is through my own views and experiences, and is not based on anything more.)
Regardless of what party she belongs to, she (probably) has my vote.
Although I agree that her party affiliation does hurt her, Bethlehem has elected two Republican mayors in recent years.
I have been researching her opponent. Look for a post in the next few days on my blog. He is not as unqualified as I first believed. I also will shed some light on the reason some big time Dems will be quietly supporting Holland.
Her daughter is brave to come on here and support her mother. I am sure Mom would have told her not to though.
At a local level it is sad that the DEM means more behind her name than it should. However, I feel Republicans have no one to blame but Bush. Many people I talk to blame him for everything wrong and take it out on all Republicans by voting for Democrats.
BethDem,
I agree with you about Holland's well-spoken daughter. I did call and speak to her, and received permission to post her comment as a blog.
I liked her comments because she attacked no one and spoke to those party differences, which really should not be so important in local office. I also like her insider's perspective.
I wish her the best of luck..However, the only way she has any chance to win in Bethlehem is to spend alot of money and go to alot of doors. Even if she does that but her spending and walking are matched by her opponent she has little chance. However, let's not just pick on Bethlehem for partisan politics. There are many Republican districts that vote the same way.. How many Dems get elected in Hanover Twp? How many Dems get elected to the Lehigh County board of Commissioners at large. None, I believe.. From my viewpoint, over the years, I have found Republicans to be much more loyal to their party than Dems..
She has either the Schweder or Callahan camp behind her. It all comes down to who does more.
Thats how council has one for years in easton. But our mayors are republican for so long.
David DiGiacinto is very very good friends with Mike Schweder
A Democrat in Bethlehem who last voted/supported a democrat in the 1960s is/was a dino.
Party affiliation is not nothing. Donio sought to unseat Steve Samuelson who is one of the finest state representatives in our area. Why? Was he incompetent? No, the reason was party. The Rs wanted an opponent and Donio complied. It is too late to take the position that party affiliation is insignificant.
Regarding Mr. DiGiacinto's qualifications, (dictionary description) "A comptroller or controller is a person who supervises cash flow in an organization. A Comptroller is typically a public official responsible for auditing government accounts and sometimes certifying expenditures. A Controller is an accountant in a corporation who performs similar functions."
In the United States and United Kingdom, a Controller or Financial Controller is a senior position within most companies, often reporting to a Chief Financial Officer.
There are some things to consider other than party affiliation, as we get ready to vote in this Socialist Hochburg. Certainly party affiliation helps tilt the odds, but instead of asking ourselves whether someone is Democrat (ie, Socialist) or Republican, let us ask questions that help identify whether he is conservative or liberal. That is a better indicator of a person's view of the world.
For example, does he stand for fiscal responsibility, low taxes and less government? Then he tends to be conservative. (Note that I said "tends". I recognize that, while it is useful to make generalizations, they are not absolutes, and that there are exceptions. But they are, for want of a better word, generally valid.)
Another question, more specific to this position, is how much influence does the Controller have on our city's budget and finance policy? Can the Controller influence decisions, or merely enforce policy, after it is made? For example, Holland's campaign flyer mentions managing the Beth-Sands project, so the city gets its fair share. But if you agree with the statement that gambling is not tax reform, the question of the Controller's role is moot, the decision has been made, and so, a good candidate needs to be a good accountant, rather than a policy-maker. Other posters have made that point, as well.
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