For the past week, I've been publishing post after post about the dirty politics directed at Republicans seeking office here in Northampton County."Unleash hell!" commands Bossman Long. Lamont McClure and Charles Dertinger cut the chains, and Tom Severson crawls out from under his rock with a barrage of anonymous robo calls and slime mailers.
On the other side of the rock, a fellow buries his head in the sand every time Severson goes to work. He pretends not to notice, just like he never noticed all those offices he was supposed to audit.
Who is this ostrich? Why none other than John T. Schimmel, who's seeking an incredible fourth term as county controller. He's using the same consultant who pours hot oil all over Republican county council candidates.
Unfortunately for John, his fellow Republicans have learned this little secret, and diehards are on the phone and Internet, and not so anonymously, to spread this message - vote for Steve Barron!
I'm voting for Steve. But some should understand that it is better to have Severson on your side. I don't agree with his way of doing business but hey your better off having him on your side.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious why Severson is working against Peg and Ron. Just look at who Tom's new right hand man is. Do you know his name bernie?
Can you say Bob (not so) Nyce?
ReplyDeleteYou'd rather have Severson inside your tent, pissing out, than the other way around, eh?
Anon 11:53 -
ReplyDeleteI understand your point of view, but it shouldn't be handled that way. One who hires Severson simply to avoid his attack(s) is considered shallow in my mind.
If you don't agree with the way he conducts business, supporting him only shows weakness; not strengths.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteI am sure Thomas Nast is laughing in his grave right now. Same old stuff, just a different era. I am glad your using his work. It's classic. It still portrays a message, timeless as it is.
Thank you for posting this. I'm an R who is now voting for Barron.
ReplyDeleteSchimmel should be ashamed of himself. Nyce pulled this crap and lost. How does it feel John when you write that check to the guy who's sliming PEG, our former chair? You suck!
Schimmel dragged his feet until his August 4, 2006, audit report to reveal that the $42 million-plus (and still rising) courthouse expansion violates the county's administrative code (and presumably the procurement code as well).
ReplyDeleteJohn just waited about six years to tell the taxpayers about his foot-dragging.
Also, John never would explain to me how 2001 $111 million megabond proceeds could be denied Northampton County workers while extending those proceeds through LPAs (Labor Protection Agreements) to workers in Lehigh County and presumably elsewhere beyond the jurisdiction of Northampton County.
The only way workers in Northampton County - and presumably elsewhere - could qualify for the bond proceeds was to let themselves be coerced into paying the equivalent of union dues.
As the retired vice-president of a large union, I am not anti-union.
But I am also not in favor of denying workers equal protection under the law - especially when they reside and pay taxes in the jurisdiction covered by a series of $10-, $30-, and $111-million bonds -with yet another $30-million bond being proposed for the county's Juvenile Corrections Center expansion.
Where does it all end?
How did Nyce use this method himself? In his race against Stoffa he ran a tepid campaign using Severson. Nyce had a boatload of information on Stoffa's missteps as an administrator and he never used them. It would not have even been negative campaigning just getting out the facts on someones record. You can cherry pick if you like but over the years quite a few people have used Severson. As of now I still don't hear those who have used him saying how bad he was.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand you have the top of the party County ticket (Nyce/Schimmel) using the same consultant out there attacking the bottom of the party county ticket for Council and local races. Pick a side.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't Nyce pull the trigger against Stoffa like he did against Peg? Out with it already.
As I said before, I thought Nyce ran a clean campaign against Stoffa, at least on the surface. Although he never pulled the trigger, Anon 3:39 has, and negative anonymous slurs like his have been posted here for at least a year. Never anything beyong vague accusations. I think the most likely reason why Nuce remained nice to Stoffa is because nobody ever had anything, despite all the anonymous claims to the contrary.
ReplyDeleteB.
ReplyDeleteOk, Severson is bad, but he only attacks when a candidate asks him to or when he absolutely hates the person running.
I'm supporting what he has done over the years but if you think about it most people do want him on there side for very good reasons. He is good at what he does. He just does some slimy things. One day he will control that. He is a millionare and i have no idea why he is still in the business.
sorry i meant that i am not supporting what he does.
ReplyDeleteHe's slipping. His campaign against Joe Brennan backfired. Same thing w/ Monahan. His slime campaign now has ensured the defeat of both Branco and Maher, and has even put McClure in trouble, especially if enough people learn that McClure is one of the persons funding this sleaze. In Lower Macungie, his vote NO work will also backfire. He's also been doing a horrible job for Morganelli, who is now being laughed at by the MSM.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to reconsider his tactics. I could see using him for mailing lists and things like that, but would not let him near a campaign.