When Archie Disidore III, a former Dun & Bradstreet public record consultant, was nominated as Northampton County's new Director of Court Services a few weeks ago, county council blew its lid. Even Ron Angle, normally allied with county exec Stoffa, was against it. "It was always a hallwalker's job. It was a political plum." Council VP Wayne Grube argued the job should be consolidated with the Court Administrator, and Prez Ann McHale was aghast, simply aghast, that Personnel chair John Cusick would dare recommend Disidore in the first place. "We're here to legislate, not to fill appointments." On this blog, anonymous commenters called the nomination "another political payoff" and a "Republican connection." Things weren't looking so good for Archie. Not only is he a Republican, but his wife is actually a Republican supervisor in Lower Mount Bethel Township.
Put a fork in him, right? At a council meeting the following day, Stoffa quietly pulled Disidore's name from the agenda, sparing them both an embarrassing defeat. Council members were thrilled. Never mind that six row offices are floundering without supervision or that one of those offices, the criminal division, is in turmoil.
At last night's council meeting, Disidore's name was back on the agenda. Did council members suddenly have a change of heart? Lamont McClure tried to pretend so, saying that in the "sorry history of the Stoffa administration," two directors have already "jumped ship," but "someone needs to pop their [sic] head in those offices." It might as well be Disidore, even if he is a dirty Republican.
Of course, that's all bullshit. The real reason for the flip flop? Politics, baby. Archie has a friend, and it's not Jughead.
State rep. Rich Grucela just happens to live in Lower Mount Bethel. He's quite friendly with the Disidores. They support Rich, so he picked up the phone and began making some calls. Suddenly, Archie is a lot more palatable to everyone on council except Angle. He abstained last night. At least he's consistent.
Politics both killed and revived Disidore. In this case, that's a good thing. There are six row offices that desperately need supervision. And there have been dedicated Directors, including Maurice Dimmick and Bill Hillanbrand.
The job pays $59,503, and can go up to $77,488.
I wish Rich Grucela would be my friend, too.
I would have to say that whether they flip flopped or not they finally did the right thing, no?
ReplyDeleteHowever, if Mr. Stoffa wants to get reelected if he chooses to run
my guess would be that he needs to switch parties. I doubt that he'll get much support from the Democrats. i think he has appointed more Republicans than most Republican administrations..
By the way did i miss thise bennett paragraphs or are you still working on them?
1) Council did finally do what they should have done in the first place.
ReplyDelete2) Stoffa never had the support of the party machine. It worked against him in the primary and sat on its hands in the general election, despite claims to the contrary. His election was made possible by people from both parties who are tired of the usual political bullshit. People are still tired and that's why his re-election is inevitable.
3) Stoffa believes in filling positions with the people he thinks are best qualified. He does not require that they belong to a specific party. Merit! What an concept in government!
4) I will "pay up" on that Bennett bet next week. Wouldn't you rather have a twinkie?
I have already had my twinkie quota for the month. Therefore I will be looking forward to the Bennett paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteI know first hand that the party was involved in the general election. In fact Stoffa attended meetings at Long's residence to work on strategy and other issues I'm told. If Connie Sutton Falk was hired on Merit then someone screwed up badly.
I would like make another point to bring you out of your political disneyworld. Republicans who supported Stoffa weren't as idealistic as you think. Many supported him because of the way Peg Ferraro was treated by Nyce during their primary. Peg is a very good person and they did not care for the way Nyce and his consultant Severson trashed her.
ReplyDeleteSo they refused to support Nyce. As hard as it might be for you to conceive of Stoffa being elected because he is so nonpartison I would argue that that is actually,for the loss of a better word, crap.
Republicans who supported Stoffa weren't as idealistic as you think.
ReplyDeleteGee, I'm not aware I ever said they were idealistic. I'm fully aware that Stoffa support from the Rs was motivated in large part by disdain towards Nyce, who apparently is not very nice. I'm also fully aware that support from the Joe Long dems was lukewarm at best.
But people from both parties are tired of the usual political bullshit, and that's why the anti-Reibman will win easily should he choose to seek a second term.
There's a distinct change in the atmosphere.
In the last general election, it became very apparent to me just how disgusted people are by the usual partisan bullshit. That's why Lamont McClure nearly lost despite his vast sums of money. That's why Tony Branco went down in flames.
And just today, that's why Kim MCFadden was named PJ. Even the judges are tired of the political crap.
People have been tired of the political crap for years before John arrived. They will still be long after he's gone. I will stand by my original statement that he would do better as a Republican candidate than as a Democratic candidate if he did run. That doesn't say he won't win either way, although I should point out that you also thought Hillary would win..If he runs as a Republican he might be unopposed in the Primary. That certainly won't be the case if he runs as a Democrat. If he is as non partisan as you claim maybe he should run as an independent..
ReplyDeleteDon't be silly. The only way Stoffa goes down is if Grucela enters the fray. McHale will find she has a much chillier reception outside Bethlehem and Heckman couldn't even get elected to Beth City Council. Stoffa's re-election, as a Democrat, is inevitable. And Stoffa is a Democrat. He follows the principles of that party a lot more closely than Joe Long and his ilk.
ReplyDeleteRight now, Stoffa is at the banks of the Rubicon. Does he cross or not?
I guess we will see next May as all of the above will probably be in the primary.
ReplyDeleteCombine her strengths in heavily dem Bethlehem, women voters and County employees. One can easily see McHale beating Stoffa next May.
ReplyDeleteThey all bring strength and weakness to the table. She would indeed be a formidable candidate but she has a terrible record on taxes. The others have good and weak points as well.
ReplyDeleteEither way Bernie overplays the Stoffa popularity when it was really an anti-Reibman vote not a pro-Stoffa vote.
Since they are all in it we shall see.
Either way Bernie overplays the Stoffa popularity when it was really an anti-Reibman vote not a pro-Stoffa vote.
ReplyDeleteThis time it will be pro-Stoffa. People are tired of politics as usual. Ask Tony Branco. Ask John Maher.
Banks of the Rubicon. Now that's an apt analogy. Stoffa as Emperor. When Caeser crossed the Rubicon, it was an illegal act. It's kind of like the way Stoffa governs Northampton County, for instance he unilaterally and illegally imposed a new policy manual.
ReplyDeleteJulius Caesar was never Emperor, dude. Like Caesar, Stoffa stands against the status quo and for the common man.
ReplyDelete