As I told you yesterday, three people have applied for the vacancy on Northampton County Council - Bob Birk, Ron Heckman and Jerry Seyfried. All have experience in local government. Two of them are former members of County Council. One of them also served as County Exec. Here are the resumes that each applicant has provided to Council.Robert W. Birk - Bethlehem Township
Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners - Treasurer, 2006 - 09
* Liaison to Parks, Recreation and Administrative Offices
* Serve on Bethlehem Township Police Pension Board, 2006 - 09
* Bethlehem Township Board President, 2000 - 01
* Bethlehem Township Board - Vice President, 1998 - 99
* Bethlehem Township Board Commissioner - 1991, 1995, 1999
* Lehigh Valley Planning Commission - 1994 - 97
* Former Candidate for Northampton County Council
Ronald R. Heckman - Bethlehem
QUALIFICATIONS
County and Government Experience
COUNTY OF LEHIGH, Pennsylvania
I am currently employed by the County of Lehigh. My duties have included being Manager of Regional Partnerships in the Department of Community and Economic Development and as an employee in the Health Choices Program of the Department of Human Services.
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON, Pennsylvania
Director, Department of Human Services
For eight years, I served as the Director of Northampton County's Department of Human Services, the largest county program with a budget exceeding 160 million dollars and employing over 1,200 employees. The coordinated client-focused programs are designed to maintain and improve the quality of life for over 7,000 families and 15,000 individuals.
As the Director, I oversaw the implementation of the Health Choices Program and projects to consolidate services, enhance fiscal accountability and introduced new and more effective uses of computer technology to promote a programmatically effective and fiscally efficient department. As part of my responsibilities as Director, I was involved in labor contract negotiations with three unions and was responsible for the overall development of policies and procedures, including overall supervision of programming and budget issues. I also served as the County Executive's representative to Bi-County Health Department discussions.
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON, Pennsylvania
County Councilman, At-Large
I was elected three times as a Northampton County Councilman At-Large, serving from January 1990 until April, 1998. During that time, I served on the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, the Operations and Administration Committees and as liaison to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for eight years while serving on their Executive Committee. I was also a Director with the County Conservation District. While on Council, I served as Chairman of the County Council Human Services Committee and was appointed to the County Commissioner's Association of Pennsylvania's Human Services Committee.
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON, Pennsylvania
Northampton County Children's Bureau
Caseworker
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County Board of Assistance
Caseworker
Private Sector Experience
K1DSPEACE, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Facility Supervisor/Reading Specialist
My responsibilities included managing the training, development and retention of mental health staff, supervision of program development, marketing, budgeting and overall operation of my specific facility.
I also worked one-on-one with at-risk teens in the Education Department.
MESS'S DEPARTMENT STORE, Allentown, Pennsylvania Assistant Buyer and Sales Manager
EDUCATION
East Stroudsburg University, M.Ed.
East Stroudsburg University, B.A., Political Science/Social Studies
DeSales University - Management and Accounting Courses
Kutztown University - Graduate work in Public Administration
Seminars, educational and personal enrichment courses: Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University, Moravian College and Northampton Community College.
AFFILIATIONS
Current Member:
Bethlehem Community Collaborative
Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging
Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority
Former Member:
County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of Human Services Directors
County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Human Services Committee
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
Executive Committee of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
Board of Directors of the County Conservation District
Pennsylvania Association of Federal Program Coordinators
joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
Board of Directors of Partnership for Children
Board of Directors of Celtic Cultural Alliance. Inc.
Gerald E Seyfried - Lower Nazareth Township
Presently Retired
Northampton County Council
(1978 through 1989)
1. 1978 and 1979 served as At Large Member of Council
2. 1980 through 1989 served as District 3 Member of Council
3. Served as Chairman of Council's Finance Committee
4. Served as Chairman of Council's Human Services Committee
5. Served as Chairman of Council's Personnel Committee
6. Served as Chairman of Council's Intergovernmental Committee
7. Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee that wrote the Personnel section of the County Administrative Code and the Career Service Employees Manual
8. Vice President of County Council 4 yrs
9. President of County Council 4 yrs.
Northampton County Executive
(1990 through 1993)
Boards and commissions
1. Northampton County Retirement Board (4 Yrs as Vice-chair)
2. Northampton County Retirement Board (4 yrs as Chairman)
3. Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (8 yrs as Commissioner) also served 8 yrs. on LVPC Transportation Committee
4. Northampton County Development Corporation, ADC and IDC (4 yrs)
5. Director and Chief Fund Raiser for Northampton County's 250th Anniversary Committee
6. Northampton County Soil Conservation District (Served 4 yrs as Director)
7. Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (8 yrs as Northampton County's voting member and planner) This is the organization that works with the Federal and State Govt. They do the planning and commit the funds for hundreds of millions of dollars for Lehigh and Northampton County highway and bridge projects.
8. Solid Waste Authority (served as voting member).
Military
United States Navy, Honorable discharge
Voluntarily served in the United States Navy from August of 1960 until being Honorably Discharged in March of 1964
Personal Honors and Accomplishments (Sportsmen and Conservation)
1. Recipient of the Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Award. This award is presented in recognition of personal contribution to the conservation and management of the wildlife resources of Pennsylvania.
2. Recipient of several awards in recognition for outstanding service on behalf of the Northampton County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.
3. Presented with a life membership and honored as the "Sportsman of the year" by the Tri-boro Sportsmens Club. Selected from over 4,000 members.
4. One of the original organizers and founders of the Northampton County Youth Field Day Program in Northampton County. Recruited sponsors and donors that have enabled almost two thousand boys and girls to learn about our environment and outdoor recreational opportunities.
5. Organizer of the Northampton County Bowfest. This annual bow hunter festival raised thousands of dollars each year. The monies were used to further the goals and objectives of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs by funding the Northampton County Junior Conservation School and funding for the Wlldlands Conservancy.
6. Founder and organizer and served as the nucleus of a group called FLAG (Fish Ladder Action Group) which consisted of Senators, Legislators, Mayors and Local Politicos from five different Counties to promote the funding and construction of the Fish Passageways on the Lehigh River. The end result was funding totaling two million dollars ($2,000,000), and the construction of the Fish passageways on
the Lehigh River.
7. Was the principal mover for having placed forty thousand dollars ($40,000) a year (8 yrs in a row) in the county budget for use by the "Wildlands Trust Fund" for the acquisition and preservation of open space. These monies were used in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other sources resulting in the preservation of thousands of acres of open space being preserved for future
generations to enjoy.
8. Began the Parks Two Thousand Program in Northampton County and provided funding in County Budgets for the Acquisition and development of properties such as The Weaversville Tract of Land and Properties adjoining the Minsi Lake Complex.
9. Organized and accomplished the objective of constructing a public boat launch on the lower Lehigh River. The Construction Costs were borne by the Federal and State Government as part of the completion of the Rte. 33 Highway Project. This boat launch was opened December 16, 2002 and was publicly dedicated in the spring of 2003.
10. Life Member of The National Rifle Association.
11. Member of several sportsmen's clubs in Northampton County.
12. Organizer and Chairman of the Whitetail Deer Classic Banquet. This Banquet serves as the main fund raiser for the Northampton County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, The Northampton County Junior Conservation School, and The Northampton County Youth Field Day Program. Total receipts from this event (2004 to 2009) is almost six
hundred thousand dollars.
13. Was honored by the Whitetail Deer Classic Committee naming an Annual Award "The Gerald E (Jerry) Seyfried Lifetime Achievement Award". This award is given to sportsmen and women that have dedicated years of their lives to preservation and conservation of our natural resources and furthering the outdoor recreational activities of the Sportsmen and women of our county.
Community Activities (past and present)
Active in a variety of civic commissions and committees. Volunteer for the American Heart Fund, March of Dimes, and Northampton County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. East End Little League Coach, Cub Scouts of America Pack 76 Secretary, Bethlehem Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors Member. Whitetail Deer Classic Committee
Seyfreid wins the resume war.
ReplyDeleteseyfreid should definetely fill the seat. he has brains and can work with everyone to accomplish whatever needs to get done,he's a mover !!!! go jerry
ReplyDeleteI really can't think of a soul who knows more about county gov't than Jerry. This is a no-brainer.
ReplyDeleteHeckman and Seyfried are overqualified career "bureaucrats". We are not hiring a chief exectutive of a firm here. We need someone with people experience and is serving from the heart. Actually, Birk looks like that candidate. Does not work in government but has served and put plenty of time in at the local and county level. I say appoint him for the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Ron on council, intelligent, caring & with heart, I've known Jerry forever, he used to pick up my dad,Archie for wrestling matches, intelligent & with a heart, both very knowledgeable re: county gov't., don't know Mr. Birk, sounds like the heavens have opened with 3 good candidates, Carol
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 12:10 am,
ReplyDeleteSeyfried wins the resume war? Can you read?
Heckman wins the resume war with his experience at MESS'S DEPARTMENT STORE (sic).
ReplyDeleteI have to apologize. I scanned Heckman's resume. I spell checked. I read it. But I missed that typo, which was in fact caused by my own scanner. It is spelled correctly in Heckman's actual product.
ReplyDeleteIt's OK.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have Seyfreid only because Seyfreid has nothing to gain out of it. He'll just do the job. Heckman wants to be in the next County Exec. and I don't want Council to turn into The Ron Heckman Show with the rest of the Council as his supporting players, produced and directed by Joe Long to help set the platform for his run.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear their thoughts on improving the Democrat Party Retirement Program at the bridge commission. Our budget is damn near ribs and dick and I need a new hammock.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:14
ReplyDeleteGuess you haven't been paying attention to politics lately. The Joe Long dems ignored Heckman's possible executive run and endorsed Mchale. Needless to say, to say it nicely, Heckman and Long are not the best of friends. Regarding your statement that council will be the Ron Heckman show I can only state that it is probably one of the most ignorant statements I have seen on this blog, ever. Ron has always been pretty much a easy going thoughtful guy with a very small ego. He'd work well with council and has Human Service experience that is desperately needed now with all of the State cutbacks coming in Human Services. And no Bernie, I am not Ron..
Ron isn't running for County Executive. Let's remember this is a short five month stint and the next Executive election is four years off. The powers in the Party have never embraced Ron, too independent.
ReplyDeleteWhich candidate brings the chemistry and skill set that County Council can use right now. This isn't about multiple ambiguous issues.
Hopefully County Council makes a reasoned decision and is not bullied or threatened to do something they don't want to do.
I had to chuckle at your pic of the "three wise men". I can just imagine them thiking, L to R:
ReplyDelete#1. "I can be a little clueless, but I have always, always, really, really wanted to be on council. See, I know how to dress the part, and I'm a good grunt who always does what's expected. Maybe they'll pick me before I have to speak."
#2. pointing his finger, "look, I told you, like I've told everyone, I've been there. I know how to do it." (and surely he could for the five months)
#3. looking at the great council of decision makers, "I've been on your council, o wise ones. I've been a leader. H*ll, I've even slayed wild boar. What more can you hope for in a five month fill-in?"
It's sad how Dems think they only have a chance of being chosen or winning an election if they can prove they're not liked or accepted by Joe Long and "the Party." I've heard that in other parts of the State, being liked by your own Party machine is not a hinderance or an albatross.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:09,
ReplyDeleteNo one is running away from any support, I'm sure. Bernie, however, uses any Joe Long ties to trash anyone he doesn't like. Their supporters then might try to distance their candidate on this blog but very few candidates refuse support when offered.
O'Hare and Dimlight must be proud of the threats and heavy handed ways some Council members are being coereced to vote for Seyfried.
ReplyDeleteThat should tell all just how O'Hater/Angle and company play. If Cusick doesn't play ball Angle will run an ad on him like he threatened too.
This is just plain wrong, don't be bullied vote Birk.