If communication skills are an important trait in a county executive, you have to give John Stoffa the edge. Stoffa, dissed by the Joe Long Dems, has taken his case directly to the voters with a very active and entertaining campaign blog as well as a growing Facebook group. Today, in a video interview, Stoffa explains how he feels about being snubbed by his own party. Son Jeff Stoffa, a fresh face in local politics, tells us about life with his dad.Ann McHale, John's opponent, has apparently conceded the Internet. She has no web page, campaign blog or Facebook group. She is ignoring a grass roots tool that propelled President Barack Obama to a historic victory.
These contrasting communication skills are also evident in the way Stoffa and McHale respond to a LWV question about what they view as the major issue in this campaign and how they plan to address it.
Stoffa's answer is simple and direct. "The major issue for me is unfinished business. We must address the following: a long range plan for Northampton County, the increasing jail population and lack of rehabilitation programs, bringing our human service personnel into one building, adding and protecting open space, economic development and providing sustainable jobs for our citizens. Taxes must be kept as low as possible. The greatest challenge will be addressing these needs in our new economic unpredictable climate."
McHale's answer is a run-on sentence. "The most significant issue facing our public sector today is balancing the demand for services while maintaining those services at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer. Whether the issue is managing our prison population and providing rehabilitation programs, continuing care at Gracedale, preserving open space and farmland, promoting smart economic development to create jobs, and to assure quality services are provided by our newly created Bi-County Health Department."
You can understand Stoffa. For McHale, you'll need a translator.
38 comments:
Again mean and cruel. Stoffa wants to finnish unfinnished business he has been unable to even begin in four years.
He promised a better relationship with County Council and has been the worst of all Executives, even suing Council. He is unable to articulate a cohesive comprehensive plan, instead jumping form one project to the next, with no results. He is hopelessly and helplessly over his head in this job. His Cabinet is ineffectual.
Scream, cry and holler but it is doubtful the major issues confronting the County will be addressed by Stoffa when he couldn't even get one going in four years.
Ms. McHale has clearly laid out the many challanges facing the County. She knows we are already four years behind in getting to work.
Time for a change. Time to stop whinning and start doing the things that are necessary for the County. Mr. Stoffa has had his four year ego trip now it is time to get some competent people in place and prepare to face the major challanges that will face the County in the coming years.
Sam Connell
McHale and Stoffa: Who do you O'hate, and who do you not O'hate?
That's pretty obvious.
Will Stoffa be listing your biased Blog slams of Mchale as in kind contributions on his campaign finance report? If he is as ethical as you claim, he should be.
Comments #1 & 2 offer no answer to the question, "who is the better communicator?" They instead are just vicious attacks that end up demeaning McHale. Comment #1 even attempts to deceive the reader into believing there actually is someone named Sam Connell. Of course, the name is bogus, just like the comment.
laying out a clear plan is communicating. how do you know there is no one with that name? who ever you are very well said.
I know the Connell family. There are no Sams and they are Stoffa supporters. I even googled the name and ran it in white pages. It is a made up name from Joe Long goons who believe communicating means telling lies.
i know the connell family to. i'm not sure there the only connell's around are you?
from my viewpoint the only way i hear anything from john stoffa is from his mouth pieces. his son ,angle and you. how could anyone form any kind of opinoin based on that. i would have to admit you are a very good commuticator and his son seems nice enough, but gee whiz what would your son about you. one would hope only good things. the problem i have with facebook n blogs is anyone can writing it. so i'm not quite sure of there reliablity.
a debate between mchale and stoffa would be great.then we could all decide.
YES! Have a debate.
Hey Bernie, do you tweet? I couldn't fond one for you, but I found one for Micek and white
by reading the answers, both know the job of a county executive pretty well. YOu can disect the sentence structures all you want. it's reassuring that both seem to understand the job.
"the problem i have with facebook n blogs is anyone can writing it."That is their weakness and that is their strength. Anyone can publish a blog. Some are bad; others are good. It is a meritocracy in which the good ones end up getting readership. It also presents more variey than what appears in the MSM from voices that are more raw but more real.
The news professionals do it better and have more credibility, but many stopries would go untold w/o blogs, especially when it comes to local politics.
"Hey Bernie, do you tweet? "I am set up but inactive on Tweeter. I don't think people are that interested in my latest bowel movement or where I'm having dinner.
"both know the job of a county executive pretty well."Agreed, but the question is who is the more effective communicator. Sentence structure is important when answering that question.
"from my viewpoint the only way i hear anything from john stoffa is from his mouth pieces. his son ,angle and you."
I was unaware that Ron, Jeff or I were Stoffa's mouthpieces. That's certainly news to me. He can speak for himself and does it more elegantly than me. He has a knack for putting things simply and directly. I love listening to him speak.
Of government: "There's nothing wrong with government. But sometimes, there's something wrong with the people in government." This is a statement that Stoffa made in support of Charles Dertinger when Charles ran against Charlie Dent.
Of the elections mess when he first assumed office, in which return were not known until the next day: "Our elections have been painful, like watching an elephant give birth."He's a brilliant communicator. If you look at Jeff Stoffa's blog, you'll see two video interviews with John. He handles himself quite nicely.
"a debate between mchale and stoffa would be great.then we could all decide."Stoffa believes the public deserves a clear choice and would agree to debate McHale. Amazingly, there are no debates set up between now and primary date.
yea softball questions. it would be better if unbiased reporters did the interviewing.
Stoffa said, "The major issue for me is unfinished business. We must address the following: a long range plan for Northampton County, the increasing jail population and lack of rehabilitation programs, bringing our human service personnel into one building, adding and protecting open space, economic development and providing sustainable jobs for our citizens. Taxes must be kept as low as possible. The greatest challenge will be addressing these needs in our new economic unpredictable climate."
Sounds like deja vu, all over again. Isn't this the way it was four years ago when Stoffa got elected the first time? So he is advocating more of the same, which translates into, "I ain't doing anything, just like the last four years." John Stoffa.
stoffa could certainly be instrumental in setting up a debate between he and mchale. lets see if he challenges her to one.
A debate between McHale and Stoffa would put Stoffa in the unenviable position of having a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Liberal Elitist Professor Chris Borick of $ 43,435 per year Muhlenberg College does not like Coca-Cola Park!
He thinks it hurts bowling and movies.
We will be having plenty of fun with Mr. Borick this evening aftert the game...
lvironpigs.wordpress.com
Bernie is always mean and cruel. Take a look at the blog about McShane and Markow. Below see this response to Mr. O'Scare...Don't take offense Ms. McHale, Bernie seems to side with certain people. I didn't read the blog but don't need to either. Bernie is up the A-- certain people...hope he doesn't bash you like he has others.
Sincerely,
Susan
Well, Well Bernie,
Looks like you need an education in law! how many letters do you have behind your name...the only letters I can think of are l.o.s.e.r... Mr. Poliskiewcz did not walk today as you said. And now get ready to eat the dust of two uneducated women!did you ever hear of the Erin Brocovich story...she took down a small town didn't she. You need to focus more on your hygiene and attire than trying to work for the DA's office...I don't think any jobs are open for more people who don't seek justice for true victims of crime. Stay tuned..many more victims who were never heard will be coming forward with the same complaints. So I say we all start playing fair and working together to make things right..Any ideas since you have such great advise. So I say take a week off and regurgitate the words that you said in your past posts. Any more ramblings Mr. O'Scare. If you want more truths just let McShane or Markow know I am sure they can get the word out.
John Stoffa has been unable to forge coalitions in his own party. It's not all his fault; few dysfunctional relationships are entirely the fault of one party. It is, however, a dysfunctional relationship that neither side has been able to solve.
This is the "Clash Of The Titans Of Poor Communication." Both are very poor as the shared (what is communication but shared?) record indicates.
In the wake of the passing of a towering communicator and leader like Jim Hemstreet, we should be reminded to strive to do better than these current, weak choices.
When the hell did Bernie say he was going to be released from jail. He stated he was already in jail on bail since January.
You are already turning into Villa.
By the way, get spell check
It is sad that Mr. Heckman didnot run. He had an impressive record on County Council and as the Human Serives Director.
He was a smart and excellent communicator.
I must agree with the poster annon 5:08, you can point all the fingers you want but the dysfunction will just remain with Stoffa. County Council is not going to change, in fact it may be more difficult with the new members. Both Council and Stoffa have dug in their heels and are very stubborn.
We already know what the Stofa team can do, so maybe a McHale team would be able to forge a working relationship. Even if McHale herself is a poor communicator and not a "people" person.
WoW, O'hare. To Sam Connell, I don't blame him if he never posts. You and Angle are two of a kind. I remember when someone would write a letter to the editor about him when he had his radio shows, he would investigate the person and rip into them publicly.
You claim you did a full scale search on this guy, are you completely nuts?
That says more about you then about him, whether he is real or not. I am glad you have no power as it has been said you learn alot about a person when you give them some power.
Compiling your own enemy list? Wow, you realize how crazy that makes you sound.
Hey Bernie, do you tweet? "I am set up but inactive on Tweeter. I don't think people are that interested in my latest bowel movement or where I'm having dinner.
Hey, we read your blog, so mentioning your bowel movement is sort of redundant.
"we read your blog, so mentioning your bowel movement is sort of redundant."Good one.
"Susan Reilly,"
Get some help. There is no reason for all this hatred.
Hey Sam (Anon 2:36) - Please be sure to let us know when your overwhelming interest and grasp of Northampton County politics reaches the level where you decide to register to vote.
You heard me. I have the Northampton County lists from January and March. Your name appears nowhere.
oh, btw, "Finnish" is usually used to refer to folks from Finland - but I guess they never taught that in the UAW training courses.
" I have the Northampton County lists from January and March. Your name appears nowhere."Oopsie!
Yo, BO you and Stoffathug need serious counseling. I mean like very soon.
Goggle, voter lists? You people aren't just crazy you are dangerous. Hopefully voters end this in May.
I like Stoffa... bottom line.
God Bless Ann McHale. Deliver us from this darkness.
Don't be a dork. ANYBODY can get a copy of the voter registration lists. The State of PA will give you the entire state for free.
Homina, homina
Whatever you say StoffaThug, you guys are a bit nutz so, yeah, Stoffa is great, yeah, he is the man.
Of course there is always the IRS records to review.
You guys are very dangerous loons, I had nothing to do with the 20,000 signs stolen. I promise.
Of course you support Stoffa Bernie. You never have anything nice to say about McHale. This site is soo biased and predictable.
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