Lehigh County Commissioner Applicants On the Hot Seat

On Tuesday night, the atmosphere in Lehigh County's meeting room of Lehigh County's was downright festive. Bright green O'Bama signs adorned the wall, and the tables were piled high with Starbucks coffee, soda, cookies of all kinds and buckets of chicken. The crowd hugged and kissed.

Last night, the atmosphere was more like root canal, especially if you were one of five applicants seeking that vacant spot with Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners. No Starbucks. Not even a cookie. Instead, a small table was set up in front of the commissioners' dais.

All eight members met as a "committee of the whole" to pose tough but fair questions to each applicant in alphabetical order. Before the interview, each candidate was actually kept outside the room, so that later candidates would have no unfair advantage. Kevin Easterling, a manager in Allentown's Bureau of Parks and Recreation, was the first to face this inquisition, as the others were led away by Commissioner Andy Roman. As he returned, Commissioner Roman announced, "They're safely secured in the underground bunker."

1. Kevin Easterling

Of all five applicants, Kevin was the only one who actually had an opening statement, pointing out he's the only person seeking the job who actually ran as a candidate. In fact, not only did he run, but he actually garnered more votes in District Three than three of the four candidates who ultimately were elected.

But that was ancient history last night.

Commissioner Dean Browning was particularly tough. "You were running for office and spending money to campaign, but you couldn't pay your taxes," Browning noted, referring to a Morning Call story that had conveniently been published that very day. "How will people who pay their taxes on time feel?" In addition to Easterling's failure to pay his own real estate taxes, Dean was disturbed that Easterling had failed to attend as single budget meeting, or any other meeting, as a candidate.

Easterling explained that his final tax bill, due at the end of the year, had slipped his mind over the holidays, and when he tried to pay it at city hall, he was told he would have to wait for a bill from Portnoff, the city's predatory outside tax collection agency.

Commissioner Bill Leiner, Jr. played good cop, noting that Easterling had made three of four payments on time. Unlike Browning, he placed little importance on Easterling's meeting attendance as a candidate. "When I was running, I think I attended one meeting," Leiner noted. "I know you and I don't have any questions about your qualifications." At that point, Easterling remembered he has meetings on Wednesday evenings with the A youth group and that it presents a conflict.

Chair Percy H. Dougherty, although not so tough as Dean, requested Easterling to explain why he was voting outside his district. Easterling explained that when he renewed his driver's license, his registration had somehow changed, and that he was forced to vote outside his district while that problem was being corrected.

Commissioner Glenn Eckhart questioned whether a city employee won't have a conflict on city issues. Easterling conceded he might be required to recuse himself on some issues involving his own department.

2. David S. Jones

Smart Blond, who also attended last night's inquisition, told me last night that she considers Jones the best of the bunch. She sees eloquence, and there's no question this dude is a smooth talker. So are snake oil salesmen. I suspect he bothers a lot of people. When he ran for Allentown city council last year, he never made it past the primary.

Asked whether he'd have time for the job, he responded, "It's one of the privileges of being an executive pastor, I guess."

He answered lots of questions "in a nutshell." "I'm a fiscal conservative in a nutshell." "I'll give it to you in a nutshell." "In a nutshell, I'm a detail-oriented person." With all these nutshells all over the place, I was waiting for a few squirrels to attend the meeting.

Jones spent the most time in front of the board, saying things like, "I'm a Renaissance man." "I'm going to do something that's very transparent."

He's one of those fellows with a gift for saying very little with a maximum amount of words. He consumed the most time, but when all the smoke and fog had blown away, he had said very little. Asked about a $5,000 unpaid tax bill, this "detail-oriented" person smiled and said he was waiting for an answer, too. He even tried to blame his wife. "She takes care of the household finances."

Chair Percy H. Dougherty asked what I consider the most pertinent question. "Do you think the religious nature of your position might affect your decisions?" Dougherty joked that it might make Jones a "bleeding heart liberal," but I'm concerned by any cleric who decides to try his hand at government. I'm particularly bothered when it's an evangelical cleric. One of five goals of Jones' church is "to fulfill the mission and vision of Lifechurch by proclaiming the Gospel and extending God's love to transform the lives of the unchurched."

3. Freddy Lutz

Like most of his fellow applicants, Lutz has attended only one commissioners' meeting. As he himself modestly stated, "I'm kinda' like a blank slate." Lutz is both sincere and intelligent, but it's pretty apparent that the commissioners will pass on him. Dan McCarthy hinted at that, telling Freddy "We can only pick one and it would be a shame if you don't see this through." Freddy agreed. "You're gonna' see me around."

Freddy's biggest problem is that, until he applied for the job, he was registered independent. Although he only need be a Democrat on the day of his appointment, even Republicans will be reluctant to select a commissioner that is not regarded as a real Democrat. That would invite partisan bickering in a relatively nonpartisan board.

Last night, Lehigh County's Democratic chair, Rick Daugherty, told me he would be "very uncomfortable" if commissioners selected Lutz, explaining that the party needs a little more time to get to know him. Unfortunately for Lutz, he hasn't even met with Daugherty. "I guess you must be too busy, what with all the initiation rites and tattoos and everything," joked Commissioner Browning.

4. Dennis Pearson

Without question, Pearson is easily the most knowledgeable of the five candidates seeking appointment. Unlike the others, he actually knew enough about the courthouse expansion to have an opinion. He's a regular at meetings. "Kurt Derr did his homework and that is what I offer you."

But Chairman Dougherty had a tough observation. "On paper you're the best of all the candidates. But many say you lack the credibility to be a commissioner." Dennis was having none of that. "They're wrong. I'm ready to tackle this mission despite what some naysayers say."

He made a valiant effort, but Dennis won't be selected. Need a reason? How about his opening statement."A pestimist [and that's how he pronounced it] criticizes the wind." It's many little things like that in his speech and mannerisms.

5. Nancy Wilt

The reason for her application? "My three small children are my biggest inspiration and my reason for being here." What, did they tell her to apply?

Her connection to state Senator Boscola was viewed in a positive light by Commissioners Leiner and McCarthy. McCarthy suggested her experience as a Boscola employee gives her a sense of the community. Leiner noted it was nice to "see you again," indicating previous experience with her. Hamm said she'd like to see another woman on the board. Chairman Dougherty feels her position with Boscola "may open some doors for us."

Browning was a little less thrilled, noting there are times when the board must take positions that differ from the state legislature. "I am my own person and my family's interests come first. She[Boscola] and I differ on as number of things."

Of course, that's bullshit. Boscola signs her check. In addition to failing to attend a single meeting, she clearly demonstrated that she has little understanding of current county issues. I'll also note that she never responded to some questions I sent her. Of course, she may never have received them, and I never followed up.

My ranking

This is purely my take, but this is how I rate the candidates: 1) Easterling; 2) Wilt; 3) Pearson; 4) Lutz; and 5) Jones. Easterling is bright, energetic, involved in the community, and had more votes than three of the commissioners who ran last November. His selection is the most Democratic choice. Some of the slams directed at him appear to be disguised attacks at Pawlowski. Let not the sins of the mayor be visited upon his employees. Lehigh County's selection of Easterling would also be a historic choice - the first black member of a county legislative body in the Lehigh Valley. The perspective he brings, growing up in Allentown and working with disadvantaged youth, is invaluable.

The Morning Call has another, more objective, account of last night's festivities.