John Cusick Keeps Word, Dertinger Does Not

Part of Northampton County's myopic 2001 $111 million megabond included a $3 million grant for the development of a road benefiting an industrial development owned by famous campaign contributor Nolan Perin. When word leaked out that Perin actually intended the site for a Wal-Mart, Slate Belt residents erupted.

Four years ago, Northampton County council candidates John Cusick, Charles Dertinger and Lamont McClure were among those who pledged they would vote to kill the funding for that road. But once elected, only Cusick kept his word. They repeatedly voted against killing the project. In the meantime the county wasted $440,000 in engineering studies, money down the drain.

Finally, after Wal-Mart itself pulled out of the slate belt, County Council killed the project. Council Prez Wayne Grube summed things up nicely, as only he could.

"This was a mistake. We've had it with that project. We've heard it four or five times. Let's go do what has to be done to try and recoup our money. I've had it. I openly admit that I made a mistake, and that'll be on our boy's blog tomorrow."

Wayne made a mistake, but was man enough to admit it. John Cusick kept his word throughout this ordeal, and reminded slate belt voters of that last week.

"One of the things I want to do is remind you that four years ago, at a forum down the road at the Plainfield Fire Company, you all had an issue. You asked us how we felt about Wal-Mart coming in and would we support paying for a road. I told you that I would vote to pull that money and I'm proud that every time the vote came up, I stood up and did exactly what I told you I would do four years ago."

Amazingly, or perhaps not so amazingly, Charles Dertinger was untruthful in response to a direct question from Ron Angle. "I voted not to withdraw the money for the industrial drive after the Wal-Mart was out. You know that, and you're trying to conflate something otherwise."

The truth is that Charles Dertinger has steadfastly voted against withdrawing the money for the industrial drive, regardless whether Wal-Mart was part of the picture. On June 15, 2006, when Wal-Mart was very much under consideration, Dertinger voted against defunding the road. On February 15, 2007, after Wal-Mart had already given hope, Dertinger still voted against defunding the road.

Currying favor with campaign contributor Nolan Perin was apparently more important than keeping his word. Dertinger's failure to keep his word cost taxpayers $440 thousand. What's worse, he couldn't even be honest about breaking his word.