Easton City Council includes five members: Sandra Vulcano, President; Pamela Panto, Vice President; and councilpersons Ken Brown, Carole Heffley and Dan Corpora. They meet twice monthly and are paid an annual salary of $9,371. In addition, these part-timers get full medical coverage and a pension. As I learned last night, the actual compensation per member is $21,000.The four year terms for Carol Heffley, Pam Panto and Ken Brown expire this year, but only Ken Brown has decided to seek reelection. His seat and two open seats are in contention. Jeff Warren and Elinor H. Warner join Brown in completing the Democratic ticket. They face off against Republicans Roger Ruggles, Peter Melan, and Bill E. Timmann.
Easton Undressed has thoroughly covered the Easton city council and mayoral races with a series of ten questions, over ten days. I'd like to commend Mayor Sal Panto (whose signs proudly sport the same colors as the Easton Rovers) and council wannabes Roger Ruggles (the LV's Engineer of the Year), Bill Timmann and Elinor Warner for responding.
The only candidate I distrust is Jeff Warren, who is State Senator Lisa Boscola's chief legislative assistant. He is too closely tied to developers and nonlocal money. He also embarrassed himself during a town hall when Easton activist Terrance Hand asked whether he even attended city council meetings.
Warren said he attended one meeting, but believed the question was too personal.Of the remaining candidates, the three I like best are Lafayette College's Roger Ruggles, Easton businesswoman Elinor Warner and incumbent Ken Brown. Ruggles and Warner have campaigned hard, and I'm told Ruggles has gone door to door through Easton at least twice. With his engineering background, Ruggles brings a practical approach to Easton's future. Warner has a wealth of new ideas. And Brown brings a heart. They're a good combination.
"I would like to talk about public policy," he said.
"I wasn't trying to be personal," Hand said. "If you are going to run for council with your current schedule, will you be able to make time if elected?"
I like Timmann and Melan, too, but don't think they're quite ready.
It's troubling to see the nod for Brown, who failed to respond to the EU survey, over Timmann, who's answered every question and made himself regularly available.
ReplyDelete"I don't think (he's) quite ready yet."?
Disappointingly weak rationale, Bernie. You're usually better than that.
Ken Brown may be all heart, but as my grandmother from Limerick would say, "Yes, but he's also a yard thick."
I know city council members aren't required to split the atom, but if Ken Brown lacks the wherewithal - in either intellect or sincerity - to address a blogger's issues-oriented survey prior to a re-election bid, he should be held accountable.
Unless I'm mistaken, several folks suggest there is bad blood between Ken Brown and HoC. That's why I won't hold his refusal against him. Also, I don't decide who to support based solely on one issue.
ReplyDeleteBut your points are very valid, and perhaps you're right.
sounds like a law firm!
ReplyDeleteI must say, Melan makes his bread and butter off of rentals like Bertsch. Many use the term "Slum lord" to describe him.
ReplyDeleteHe did admit at a candidates forum he is a landlord since folks can not afford to own houses.
Although the person who asked him about it is a bit of a troublemaker so it got no press.