In a stinging rebuke to Democrat bossman Joe Long and his autocratic, machine-style politics, voters have rejected all five Democratic candidates for Northampton County Council. They even said "No thanks" to another four years of incumbent Charles Dertinger, probably ending his political career. According to WFMZ-TV and Morning Call results, incumbent Peg Ferraro was top vote getter, followed by incumbent John Cusick and newcomers Tom Dietrich, Bruce Gilbert and Barb Thierry. How the hell did it happen? Republicans voted, while Democrats stayed home. Turn-out in Democratic Bethlehem, which had no contested mayoral or city council races, was as low as 5% in some precincts. There was no contested Executive race. Even the judicial race was largely a sleeper. Those who voted against incumbent Charles Dertinger were obviously upset by his grade school antics, which have been reported here and, more importantly, in the local newspapers. Dertinger, deluding himself that he was an easy winner, targeted his campaign to State Rep. Rich Grucela's district.
Oopsie!
Here's how some jubilant Northampton County Republicans explain their victory.
Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle: "Obama's a small factor, Stoffa's a big factor. Dertinger, McClure and McHale have been obstructionists while Stoffa has tried to practice good government. The chickens have come home to roost."
County Councilperson-elect Bruce Gilbert: "I think it's a statement. It's a statement that the public wants to have complete transparency in how their money is spent." (Bruce Gilbert is the first African American to be elected in Northampton County, the same day that David Jones is the first African American to be elected in Lehigh County.)
County Councilperson-elect Barb Thierry: "It shoes the mood of the people. The message is the Republicans are coming back, but they're hopefully coming back smarter."
County Councilperson John Cusick: "We put together a good team of candidates that the voters responded to and we seem to have capitalized on a national mood for change. It's also an utter rejection of some of our opponents' actions over the past four years."
Former County Exec Bill Brackbill: "The Republican revolution must start from the grassroots level up and it started today in Northampton County."
In January, Republicans will have a 7-2 edge on County Council. It's their problem now.
43 comments:
Well, well, well!
Republicans had no candidate at the top of their ticket and yet swept all five seats.
Look at the vote totals. I think its quite clear that had the four unknowns not brought out the votes of the few thousand identified pro-lifers they mailed to, its very possible, that one or two of them may not have made it. In fact, it may have been 4 republicans plus Charles!
Its great to know that those four lesser known candidates did not have to sell out their principles by trying ride the coattails of Ferraro. Its also good to know that Kilbanks is not such an idiot afterall.
Better luck next time Bernie. By the way, you may want to leave the political consulting to those who actually know what they are doing. What you have called the most idiotic move this election cycle may have helped the R's win all five seats instead of 3 or 4. What you have called the most idiotic move of this election cycle could quite possibly be the deciding factor in denying Charles reelection.
I disagree. I think it was an idiotic move that hurt them all. Their margin of victory would have been greater had they instead focused on what they actually do instead of a divisive issue that has nothing to do with county government.
True, I'm no political consultant. But I spoke to a highly placed local consultant who shares my view on this point.
Your lead vote getter was not included in this damaging piece. That should tell you something.
Anon 1:53, it is hard to argue with success. I think part of it was the fact no contested races in Bethlehem, a Democratic stronghold. Also the Republicans should thank John Stoffa. He announced a 9.5% tax increase and since he is techniccally a Democrat and with no Republican opponent, I think voters took it out on the Dem's. Nice touch.
I wonder if Stoffa put out the tax this year as part of the deal not to have a Republican opponenet and help the Republican Council ticket, interesting.
If he did, it was a smart move. He gets a pass and the Council Democratic candidaters pay the price.
Congratulations to the Republicans. Again, Joe Long is shown to be a complete idiot.
You know Bernie the Democrats would have been better off begging successful old school County Dem's like Jerry Seyfried and Ron Heckman, etc. to run, this group is worthless and got their clocks cleaned.
"You know Bernie the Democrats would have been better off begging successful old school County Dem's like Jerry Seyfried and Ron Heckman, etc. to run, this group is worthless and got their clocks cleaned."
Absolutely. Jerry and Ron would easily win, and many Republicans would vote for them.
In his brief tenure on Council, Jerry has had a dramatic impact for the better.
With someone like Jerry heading the ticket, insetead of Charles, it is possile that Hunter or Wallace could have pulled through.
Taliban Republicans are largely pro-life and never, never, never miss a vote. With few exceptions, pro-death candidates were soundly defeated.
Cunningham outspent his unknown opponent approximately a kajillion-to-one and ran a filthy campaign that barely got his crooked ass back in office.
Panella was bought by trial lawyers and SEIU who funded a campaign that brought out a desperate, nasty side of Jack. He was defeated in a blue state where it takes a special kind of Democrat loser to blow a statewide election. He's Morganelli redux. He's another negative campaigning loser from the LV.
The good guys have turned the wheel. They always do in off years when lazy Ds are busy watching Oprah and Dancing With The Stars.
I think Bernie has made some good points for some time. Apparently Joe Long has put together a little band of pol's in his machine who were legends in their own minds. Crap happens and even good people lose elections, thats a fact of political life, but some in the Party saw this coming for some time.
It is no secret in the County Democratic Party that neither Long nor the Dertinger crowd had much respect for people like Jerry, Ron and a few others who offered advice. They thought of them as over the Hill relics.
Team Long wanted candidates like McHale and some others who would dance to his tune. Some of the vetern former County Dem's weren't interested in that dance.
This may finally be the end of the Long machine in Northampton county.
Charles! Bye bye!
Don't forget Panella's DeNaples money ... Dirty, dirty, dirty.
You said it best when you mentioned that democrats stayed home in Bethlehem. They used to have the best turnout machine in the County. Obviously it wasn't working this year..The bethlehem percentages were always the highest in the County because they had a good system put in by jack Burke..What happened to that system?
I blame it on the Democratic so called leadership which is headed up by who? Joe Long!
When interviewed by 69 news last night at the 540 club, he could only find positive in the Panella race. I'd like to know how much involvement he had with that race, I'd say not much...
I found myself voting for 2 republicans yesterday Dally & Cusik, because they are qualified individuals.
God bless Charles Dirtinger, no one else will!
I saw in the paper Ferraro was calling it a Republican Revolution.Before we get crazy we need to look at the turnout in Bethlehem. There were no races there to bring anyone out and it killed the county candidates. No revolution here. The Dem county candidates did nothing to bring out Bethlehem voters. They had no mailers to speak of and you could hardly tell there was an election in Bethlehem. No revolution here, just a sleeping City..
Thank God. Now they can overturn Roe v. Wade. I'm going to fornicate right now and give birth to a fatherless child right now. If it's a girl, I'll name her Peg.
The real story is that Joe Long is really a Republican, a plant paid for by Angle. Thanks to him, Dent is safely our Congressman in a blue district, McHale's political career is ruined, Stoffa ran unopposed for a second term, and all the Dems were thrown out of County Council. How else can he help the Republican party in Northampton County? Long does all lot more for Republicans in Norco than Shuman does.
I need to add to my 8:54 reply:
I see Jack Panella lost as well, sorry Jack but look what happens to you when Joe Long supports you...
Hunter would have been good. It's a shame that the Long machine pulled her down. She never had a chance with their endorsement, at least among Dems. She would have been good.
Charles!!
Charles who?!
Hunter would have been good, yes. However this election had little to do with who the candidates were. The Dems slept through the election and some good people lost. The Republicans voted and some bad people won...How will it affect the County? We'll see..Will these new Republicans support this stupid health dept which will cost the county taxpayers millions or will they be the fiscal conservatives that they said they would and dump this stupid idea once and for all.
"you could hardly tell there was an election in Bethlehem. No revolution here, just a sleeping City."
Agreed. With turn out as low as 5% in some Bethlehem precincts, it was bound to hurt. But there is no single factor. We have Bethlehem, 9/12ers, R anger, Obama, bad economy, Dertinger's abysmal record, the lack of a race for exec, a party that discourages primary elections, a candidate being hauled before a statewide grand jury who refuses to eplain it, a candidate who is campaining for a state rep seat instead of couty council, public sector unions that provide no help, etc., etc.
"The bethlehem percentages were always the highest in the County because they had a good system put in by jack Burke..What happened to that system?"
Bethlehem Democratic City Committee did its usual election activities. They had the usual canvassing operation for the last few weeks, and did the usual election day activities. The system worked the last few years even after Jack Burke stepped down.
The problem was that there was not a contested election for the city races, or a MDJ race in the city. There was not a Bethlehem candidate running for county council, either. Can't fault the City Comm. operation for that, or maybe you can, since no Rs want to run in the city.
"and we seem to have capitalized on a national mood for change"
What a joke that these fools are deluding themselves that people are looking for change 12 months after voting for change. No one voted. No one cared.
Apparently someone voted - there are clear winners and clear losers in this election. People vote when they have a reason to vote. Obviously the Democrat ticket did not inspire many people to vote.
Bernie
Doesn't Tom Foolery owe you a pizza?
Yes, but I forgive him his debt. In fact, I'd buy him a pizza right now.
Dertinger is off Council! Our long national nightmare is over.
I hear the Republican Revolution on County council will outlaw abortion and plan to make Stoffa, Executive for life.
Bernie, do you think these new Republicans will help Angle on council or knife him in the back like the last group did that was elected?
Maybe Obama should have sent ACORN to help get that Bethlehem vote out...
There was a news special about "Dancing With The Dogs" on TV last night.
THAT's why the Bethlehem city vote did not turn out.
No magic, ooooh-aaaah Obam (mmm mmm mmm)
Every dog has his day.
Voter apathy prevails!
Charles! Who?
McHale will be de-throned - off with her head!
Time to muzzle the bulldog!
Sane government has returned to NorCo!
Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria, wrath of God stuff!
BO springs for pizza!
The aliens have arrived and look like us but are lizards!
Phils in 7!
It's a wonderful world...
Check out Pedro In Diapers at LVCI's place.
Arrogant Yankees in all their glory...
Gee...Bethlehem Dems not turning out in Bethelhem and Long and Dertinger making asses of themselves at that City Council meeting....nah...no correlation. I 'm sure the city forgot.
No need to forgive debts..It was worth the pizza. Facinating election. Never before have the R's swept the county. Never before did the top Democrat finish less than third. Thought I had a good bet...I'll send the pizza money to Angle at Northampton County. Hopefully he'll turn it over to you...
DING DONG THE DIRTINGER IS DEAD DING DONG THE WICKED DIRTINGER IS DEAD!!! (POLITICALLY)
Fascinating..I can spell now and then...Anyway, I agree that there is no Revolution here. Just lazy Dems. There was just no activity in Bethlehem. Anyway, when there is an executive race, and possibly a Bethlehem mayoralty race, in four years, the council tide will turn again...I'll get my pizza back..
Im a Dem and for the first time in my life I voted for a Republican and it was because I was tired of the LongDems. Low turnout in Beth is not an explanation for everything.
My two cents...all lame excuses for
R's sweep in VA, NJ, NorCo etc.
Fact is Party leaders are supposed
to listen to "all" constituents &
field good candidates, fire up
precinct folks to Get Out The Vote
(GOTV), get them elected and get
on to next election. That's it! It
is NOT Party leaders job to hand
pick candidates who will do their
bidding after any election, if
elected, as happens too many times
in USA. The people in NorCo have
spoken, period! Excuses won't
chamge a thing but voters will.
Angle is not a Republican. He's just an opportunistic buffoon.
ditto
I wonder if Angle will be able to get the votes he needs to be Council President. That would be great.
Hopefully the new "conservative" Republicans will deep six the crazy multi-billion dollar County Health Department.
Oh I forgot, Cusick and Ferraro and Dowd are the big push behind it. So much for fiscal responsibility.
WEll I guess Queen Anna will not be Council Prez next year.
Brackbill's comment was lame but the rest made sense. The Dems had a terrible slate and I am not sure the entire slate of the GOP deserved to win but they did - hopefully they will not prove as embarrassing as the Dems were/are when they dominate.
It was a very bad day for Dems outside of Easton and Bethlehem - I think the party needs to look at it's leadership and do a much better job at recruiting people up and down the ticket.
Peg and Craig were the only Repubs I voted for - proud and glad I did
Although I'm delighted that voters saw thru Dertinger, I always get concerned when one party has too much power. I prefer 5-4 majorities. It makes it a little less partisan.
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