It became official last night. Diane Neiper's resignation letter, dated June 8th, was accepted "with regret" by Northampton County Council. President McHale laid out the now familiar drill for filling the vacancy. The position will be advertised on June 20th, with applications due on June 30th. Council will attempt to fill the vacancy on July 9.Lamont McClure hinted that the person Council selects should have some "experience." That opens the door for someone like Ron Heckman or Jerry Seyfried, both of whom have a deep understanding of county government.
Whoever is selected will only serve until the end of the year.
Give it to Heckman. Then he'll have something to do instead of spending all day in the cafeteria on his cellphone.
ReplyDeleteYikes! 295,000 people in the county and these are our best two candidates ? Neither one offers anything new....
ReplyDeleteThe Annon haters are aready out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Street Justice" Donovan can move from Allentown. He'd fit right in with the nuts in Northampton County. Angle would have fun getting him arrested on threats charges.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:23
ReplyDeleteBoth Seyfried and Heckman served the county well before. Both have years of experience and both would be excellent choices. Anything new? Like what? When the position is a short lived position it needs to be given to someone with experience, not someone who'll take the rest of the year to learn the job then find out that their term has ended..
Let's not recycle old politicians. How about a new voice?
ReplyDeleteIf you haters have something to offer apply. That probably won't happen annonymous muscles are much easier. Both Ron and Jerry have the courage to put themselves out there, all a few can do is secretly snipe. Wussy.
ReplyDeletePat Vulcano, Gordon Mower, Ken Smith, Rodney Applegate are a few more choices and would need no on the job training. Each held or hold office with some dignity, none that I know of ever got into a fist fight on county time
ReplyDeleteHey annon 12:10, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. There is book on many mnay folk. Afew of us know where the bodies are buried.
ReplyDeleteThat must be why the county's bond rating has gone up to AA+.
ReplyDeleteguess I'm just chopped liver with no brain or experience. Jerry Seyfried never would have been Executive without my and other friends helping him! I grew up with Jerry and his family. Jerry never would have lost 2nd term if he asked me for help one more time which he never did. Anne McHale (helped her and family often) should have voted for me to fill Grube seat but she did not do so. Afterwards, she called me to complain that I was supporting Stoffa. Jackass Dertinger would not vote for me because he claimed I was BETHLEHEM CITY R PARTY CHAIR. Hey asshole, please do your homework once in a while...I was COUNTY R Chair '86-'88. Please do your homework on all other County issues. I served for a time with Dertinger on Election Commission for NorCo and learned he has zero clue for what he is doing to serve public! Hope and pray Dertinger loses his carpetbagger seat Nov. Hey, sleazy consultant Severson & Joe Long might help Dirt win but I hope not.
ReplyDeleteHey Bernie, whats with some of the anon hate being thrown at Jerry and Ron. I know both and they are real stand up guys. Rare today. They tell you what they think and don't play games behind your back.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to lose my job but I can tell you that being a "normal and real" guy is rare thing amonst many of our current crop of officals.
Is someone drunk posting?
ReplyDelete"Hey Bernie, whats with some of the anon hate being thrown at Jerry and Ron. I know both and they are real stand up guys." -
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and think both would be outstanding. If you are looking for someone who knows how council works and could fill in briefly, ther are some good choices - Jerry, Ron Heckman, Greg Zebrowski, Marilyn Lieberman, Nick Sabatine, Marilyn Leiberman & Tim Merwarth.
Jerry & Heckman are both very experienced. Jerry is actually an encyclopedia of county knowledge. Ron is a decent guy who was often the only Reibman cabinet level official to show at council meetings. Both have some measure of independence, both from the Long Dems and from Stoffa. I think they'd call things as they see them and might set an example for some other council members. I also think their presence would help Stoffa because they both view government as something separate from politics.
Larry, if a prior council member is interested, I think that person should be given first shot bc it is a caretaker job that should go to someone who needs no seasoning. If no prior councilperson is interested, you should definitely let them know of your interest bc you are very experienced in gov't from your years in Bethlehem. But I doubt Dertinger, McClure and McHale will vote for a Republican to replace a Dem, even though party labels are really meaningless on a local level.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteI'm not as interested in position as when I was to try and temporarily replace Wayne/Patti Grube! I agree with most others mentioned here. LongDems are hurting our County.
We need more community leaders and fewer political hacks "pretending" to serve us.
What wrong with me? My name isn't any good? Only three more years until I can't hold a public office.
ReplyDeleteI guess my credentials lack because I am a Nader and Ron Paul supporter?
~~Alex
Just what Council needs an angry Priest. Seyfried punched a guy out in the Court house, Angle is a screaming maniac, so lets add an angry Priest.
ReplyDeleteActually, that would be a great reality series.
Why not appoint Joe Long or Roy Shuman, there isn't any difference between the two.
Too bad you don't have a name to tag to your post. I was going to add your name to my list of intentions and supplications during my nightly office.
ReplyDeleteI will just have to use anonymous.
By the way, when was Jerry convicted of assaulting someone?
Remember, Jesus was always cheerful; especially when he was turning over the merchants' tables in his Father's house.
Don't hate the sinner, but hate the sin.
Peace, ~~A.J.
"guess I'm just chopped liver with no brain or experience. Jerry Seyfried never would have been Executive without my and other friends helping him! I grew up with Jerry and his family. Jerry never would have lost 2nd term if he asked me for help one more time which he never did."
ReplyDeleteself-aggrandize much?
Larry K would be a good choice. He is a Republican but can be practical and plays well with Democrats. Heckman is obvious. Marylin Lieberman is excellent. Then again anyone who drives Angle crazy would be entertaining. Finally, a new, younger person may be a refreshing change for the County
ReplyDeleteYou really need someone who can hit the ground running for such a short term. Also someone who is Angle knowledgeable, so they can deal with him. Without that knowledge of Angle they will be lost at sea.
ReplyDeleteAll these "Young" people ought to run for office.
Joe Reibman is the best overall choice
ReplyDeleteHow about Glen Reibman while you are at it.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one way to deal with Angle, and that is the Amish way, SHUN HIM, there is nothing he enjoys more in his narcisstic mind that publicity and filing law suits, he is difficult to ignore, but that is best
ReplyDeleteSo many people seem to be so worried about Ron Angle instead of worried about the county. If the object is a foil to Angle, we've already lost.
ReplyDeleteYou should worry about Angle too. He is the problem in the county.
ReplyDelete