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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Reminder: Who Would You Like as Northampton County Exec?

Assuming that John Stoffa, aka Julius Caesar, decides the waters of the Rubicon are too chilly, which Democrat do you like best? Will women rally around McHale? Will politically savvy Rich Grucela eliminate all competition? Or will affable Ron Heckman come out of nowhere and surprise us all? I started a poll on the left sidebar. Who do you think is winning? Vote and find out.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seems like your in the running bernard. You really kissed up to McFadden in the last week or so.

Bernie O'Hare said...

As I said several times, any one of those judges could be PJ. The reason I like McFadden is because (1) I know her best of all of them, (2) think she's smart, (3) know she likes to work and (4) think she will be more independent than baratta, who was first Assistant DA.

It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is the opinions of her colleagues on the bench.

Contrary to the MSM, I view Freedberg as a disaster. Over the years, he became bitter and nasty over not being selected as a federal judge. He also became far too powerful. I like the idea of a new PJ every 5 years. Let judges be judges, not county execs.

Anonymous said...

Robert Freeman

Bernie O'Hare said...

Laz, Bob is not running. The three in the poll are likely Democratic candidates should Stoffa decide against re-election.

Anonymous said...

Mittman..NOT! How about Todd Buskirk? Running the jail no easy cushy job. He's smart and a good businessman! He is open to change and works well with others!

Anonymous said...

Todd would make a great exec.

Anonymous said...

Todd is a good guy but his experience is very narrow and all Court related. We may need some more varied experience.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Like Heckman? I'm beginning to see who is behind all the anti-Stoffa, anti-McHale shots. Not Ron himself, but certain supporters, one of whom was very upset when Stoffa put a stop to his bogus unemployment.

Bernie O'Hare said...

And incidentally, Buskirk is an excellent choiuce, but i don't know that he has any interest.

Anonymous said...

You obviously mean Daday..I 'm not on the blog daily but I haven't seen the anti McHale shots. The anti Stoffa shots could be from disgruntled County employees or from pro McHale people, or most democratic officials for that matter. Stoffa recently pissed off alot of employees by not raising the gas mileage to the IRS rate as Lehigh County has even though it is reimbursed later. In the past they always has followed the IRS rate. My guess is that he must not be running if he is intentionally pissing off the employees a year before the election..

Bernie O'Hare said...

Yeah, it seems there is something wrong w/ everyone except Heckman.

Anonymous said...

I've had a chance to talk to Todd Buskirk and found him to be very articulate and hard-working. He has had a few judgment issues with the prison over the years, though I'm not sure they are all his fault (though the buck does have to stop somewhere).

I like the idea of Todd for this position for a lot of reasons - if he decides to run, I'll support him all the way.

Anonymous said...

Heckman isn't in the public eye anymore. Anyone who is, McHale and Stoffa, is going to have admirers and critics. I like them all honestly.

Anonymous said...

Anonn 4:46. I tend to agree. Neither Heckman nor Grucella are in the crosshairs of County politics at this time so I can see how they may avoid scrutiny.
Of course all of that will change if in time a race develops.

Anonymous said...

I'm not part of the political in-crowds, factions or cliques that seems to be the trend in this area. I'm not interested in the politics of their politics...I'm just a local voter interested in the platforms, morals, and records of the candidates.

That in consideration, while I have nothing to say that would detract from any of the choices...the only candidate I can say I believe would be the right choice is Heckman.

Bernie O'Hare said...

And that's why you're commenting on a local poliblog at 12:42 AM on a Saturday morning.

What a crock!

You don't sound like a Ron Heckman supporter, you sound like a Ron Paul supporter.

Anonymous said...

Hi I'm Dr. Ron Paul and I endorse the above statement.

Anonymous said...

If I were a supporter, and, mostly a friend of Ron Heckman, I would suggest he stay in his great job in Lehigh County where he doesn't have to put up with the haters and people who "get off" by villifying others. Stay put Ron and enjoy your life.

Anonymous said...

All the former Glenn Reibman folks, I'm told, are doing extremely well in private industry, including one who works with one of the nations best lawyers.I know a few of them,personally, and, I can tell you as a matter of fact, that they use all of their time to make money, and, have no interest in Northampton County politics, although, they would like to see Ron Heckman be elected as County Executive. Glenn Reibman is doing very well himself. Ron Heckman has a big position with Don Cunningham. I agree with the last writer, however, I hope Ron Heckman doesn't run.Ron, its not worth it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

All the former Glenn Reibman folks, I'm told, are doing extremely well in private industry, including one who works with one of the nations best lawyers.

Really? Let's see.

Ron Heckman (Human Services) was working for LC, although I'm not certain he's there anymore.

Vince Dominach, the wife-swapping former DCED director who was in trouble for $1,388 worth of personal calls on his government phone, is a zoning officer somewhere in Jersey.

Jean Mateff (Fiscal Affairs) landed smack dab in the middle of LVEDC, a retirement home for former pols liked by the Lehigh Valley Partnership.

Danny Polanski (Human Resources) is a non-exempt lawyer in Northampton County CYF, where he is relatively safe.

Ed Boscola (Public Works) made a move to Brinjac Engineering, where I wish him continued success.

Jim Hickey (Administration) is a consultant with an engineering firm that does a lot of government work.

So I don't see a hell of a lot in the private sector. Daday, who works for Karoly, is a political hack who never got over losing his unemployment compensation. On talk radio, he repeatedly attacked Stoffa, Angle and Bill White. That's because those three cast a very public spotlight on him. Daday has been trying his best to poison Stoffa in any way he can. He does not trust McHale or Grucela because they don't share his passion for patronage and the ol' boys network. So he will push Heckman.

Anonymous said...

Your assumption is that Heckman would want or ask for his push? It must really gall ou that Heckman did well in your poll.

Bernie O'Hare said...

So you say. What galls me is not Heckman, but the sneaky little people who anonymously are pushing him. They do so, not because they support him, but they want a piece of that pie and think they will get it from him. They long for the good ol' Reibman days, where Pay to Play ruled and some favorites would be permitted to collect unemployment compensation after voluntarily quitting. Ahhhh, the good life.

Stoffa, who ended that practice, is the bad guy, and has been maliciously and savagely attacked by anonymous hacks on claims that have proven to be 100% spurious. OMG, John Stoffa is considering selling a piece of his own property! Stoffa is daring to preserve open space. Stoffa won't take handouts. OMG, he took some money from jack Bradt, who got nothing in return, so we'll just claim every bipartisan move is a payoff.

It is people like you who are very bad for government. But I am still thankful, bc your actions have given me good reason to think John will seek a second term. He would not mind yielding to a decent person, including Heckman. But he won't yield to people like you.