Imperious Ann McHale Faces "Nice Guy" Tom Dietrich in Norco Council Contest

"Nice guys finish last."

That's how the imperious Ann McHale thinks. That's a remark she tossed in the direction of Northampton County Exec John Stoffa, when he tried to include Northampton County Council in deciding whether to rebid a service contract. Thanks to McHale, Northampton County nearly paid $1.8 million more for that contract than what Stoffa eventually realized for the county. McHale was worried about being fair to bidders. Stoffa was more concerned about the taxpayers. "They [council] can do what they want to do. I answer to the taxpayers, ultimately."

McHale is Northampton County Council's district representative in heavily Democratic Bethlehem, Hellertown and Hanover Township. She's cruising easily to her third term, which could set up a run for county exec.

But this time, she's facing something new and unusual - an opponent.

He's Tom Dietrich, an affable Hellertonian who looks a lot younger than his thirty-eight years. I met him last Friday at Hellertown's Braveheart Pub, a suitable place to meet a man bucking the establishment. Dietrich, who wore no kilt, is basically a stay-at-home dad who does a wide assortment of things to keep busy, from home inspections to tinkering with computers. He and his wife, who first met in the service, fell in love with the Lehigh Valley and decided to plant roots here. Tom was recently appointed to Hellertown's zoning hearing board, but has no experience in public office.

"So why did you decide to run?"

Tom: "Why did you decide to blog?"

Another frickin' wiseass.

On my way to Hellertown, I noticed McHale signs everywhere. One of the bastards in the pub (must have been English) was actually sporting one on the back of his kilt. So how can Tom expect to beat a two-term incumbent in a heavily Democratic district with no money and no name recognition?

He doesn't. That's right, bippy. While going door to door, he encountered voters who tell him, "I'm voting for the Senator's wife. She's filling in for him while he's in Iraq." Little clues like that make clear there's not much point in ordering champagne for election night.

"So why did you decide to run?"

Tom: "People should have a choice. Even in China, you'll have two people seeking one office. "

Well, Tom, this is the People's Republic of Northampton County. If you want democracy, move to China.

Actually, McHale could use a dose or two of humility. Although a fierce advocate for Bethlehem and one of council's hardest-working members, she voted to reject county exec Stoffa's choice for director of administration after promising her support. She obviously yielded to party pressure. At the time, nominee Marto Boulos Gabriel publicly called McHale a "snake."

McHale also imperiously supported a payhike for herself and fellow council members (from $7,000 to $9,500). This was a slap across the face of county workers who went without raises for over three years, suffered layoffs, reductions in health benefits and unhealthy working conditions.

McHale has obviously lost sight of why she sits on council. She's not there to vote herself raises, go back on her word, or attempt to stick taxpayers with a $1.8 million bill so that she can make the exec look weak. She deserves to lose.

Unfortunately, she'll win.