Last week, Northampton County Council and Bangor School Board member Ron Angle fired off a letter to the LV delegation to the state legislature. He asked them to review our antiquated School Code, adopted before Home Rule governments like Northampton or Lehigh County even existed. The law is obviously unclear. In the last election cycle alone, four different elected officials in these counties ere either school board members running for county commissioner, or other municipal officials running for school board. Angle wants our state legislators to clarify the law, and has agreed he will abide by their decision. After sending this letter, he called DA John Morganelli, and suggested he do the same thing, thus sparing taxpayers the expense of litigating this matter.Morganelli's answer was filed yesterday, in the form of a quo warranto complaint. That's usually the form of action chosen by wingnuts who claim Obama was born on Jupiter or something, and that's the form our chief law enforcement officer has chosen to rid the County of Ron Angle. I think he should have filed a nuisance action, but that's me.
In his news release, John Morganelli goes to great lengths to insist there are no "personal reasons" for this "honest dispute," but he's still going to ask the Court to "expedite the resolution of this matter."
That's nice.
Before he does that, he's going to have to explain his own bias. You see, Angle believes Morganelli's motives are both personal and political. Ron intends to file papers to have Morganelli himself removed. Kinda' like a quo warranto to a quo warranto. He will ask that the matter be transferred to the Attorney General, the only office that can be trusted to be fair.
This is no "honest dispute." Morganelli is abusing his powers as District Attorney to pursue a political and/or personal vendetta against Angle. To put it in Angle's words, "Something stinks." Here's why I say Morganelli is conflicted, and these facts will be established during an evidentiary hearing.
1) In 2006, when Hellertown Borough Council President Tony Branco was appointed to County Council, Morganelli had no objection to a Democrat serving in dual offices. In fact, the DA later made robo calls for him.
2) In 2008, when Bangor Mayor Joe Capozzolo was appointed to succeed the late, great Wayne Grube, Morganelli voiced no concerns over yet another Democrat.
3) Political consultant Tom "Scissorhands" Severson is a close Morganelli friend, so close that John refused to lift a finger during eighteen years of complaints about dirty campaign tricks, claiming it would be a conflict. Once the Attorney General took over, Scissorhands was finally convicted early this year for his bizarre and threatening behavior towards Ron Angle. Amazingly, Severson went ballistic during a funeral mass. DA John Morganelli assumed the role of defense counsel, minimizing what had happened with the press. He actually told me that Angle had committed perjury. He also had some choice words for the prosecution team as they were left the courthouse. Morganelli obviously holds Angle responsible for his friend's criminal conviction, and displayed biased behavior after the jury reached its verdict.
4) Severson's troubles are by no means over. He's now facing much more serious charges filed by the Attorney General, this time for deceptive campaign practices. Ron Angle is one of Severson's victims. Since Morganelli is coflicted in trying Severson, he is necessarily conflicted in pursuing a quo warranto action against Angle. He has already demonstrated his bias and personal animosity as a result of a minor case. Now that more serious charges have been filed, has Morganelli suddenly become less biased?
5) Angle's most bitter opponent on Northampton County Council is Lamont McClure, who would love nothing better than seeing Angle removed from office or taken out of contention as Council prez. McClure was Morganelli's campaign manager in one of his AG races. John helped McClure get his job at the Angelos law firm. McClure's wife works for Morganelli as an assistant DA. Morganelli is even The Godfather to one of McClure's children. Given this close relationship and the animosity that exists between Angle and McClure, it would be an appearance of improprity for Morganelli to pursue this quo warranto. He is carrying McClure's water. Morganelli and McClure both know that other Council members have no desire to see Angle removed.
If this really were just some "honest dispute," why wouldn't Morganelli agree to let the legislature clarify the law, conditioned on Angle's willingness to aide by their decision? That puts the politics where it belongs, and removes any question of impropriety.
This is a lawsuit that could have been avoided. Courts tend to get annoyed by that sort of thing. Instead of damaging Angle, Morganelli may find that he has squandered some of his political good will.
Wouldn't he rather be chasing a few illegal aliens?
I'm kicking Morganelli around, but he was kind enough to give me a copy of his complaint. I'll post it sometime today or tomorrow.
34 comments:
Thank you DA Morganelli for showing that ALL people must abide by the law. Some people think they are above the law because of their egomanicial natures. They think bullying and money allows them to do anything.
You attacked an Ohare favorite so he is angry. Ohares arbitrary way of viewing the law and his emotional outbursts show why it is good he was stripped of the ability to practice law. His judgement is both poor and irrational.
We the many thank you for enforcing the law fairly and evenly.
Good to hear from you Lamont.
This bitter little loser is using taxpayer dollars to attempt to extract revenge before the Severson stink puts him in his own legal trouble. What a bitter, small man. Is it any wonder he's been thrice rejected by voters outside NorCo. Bitter. Loser.
Why don't you ask for a reader-survey to find out how many
elected officials double-dip?
Is it unlawful to hold two govt. posts at once?
Who is the bitter loser?
My take on this is if John is claims to wear the white hat, why is handing this complaint over to the state so difficult for him if he has no horse in this race?
Publicly his hands would be clean of the entire matter.
Failing that, what we have here is an old fashion political shoot out.
Dear O'Hater,
I understand you are constantly attempting to make the weaker argument the stronger, however, you conveniently omit the following facts:
Angle proposed to the Bangor Area School Board that he resign conditionally while the courts decided if he could serve in two offices. Angle said he would resign on two conditions--that his wife serve as school board member during his absence, and an "agreement by Northampton County Council that this resignation removes any impediment to my serving as a member of council pending final resolution of this matter" The board voted 6-1 to table Angle's proposal ("Briefs from Easton ,Hometown, Stroudsburg, Perkasie," Associated Press, January 26, 2000).
I don't even know what you're trying to establish here. That Angle was on the school board once before and had this problem then? That he tried to work things out then? That at that time, there was no ruling from Zito under which two other people would be permitted to hold dual offices on County Council? That Morganelli failed to take any action againt Angle then?
Is there or is there not a law that forbids this?
O'Hater lets continue your education as to the facts of the matter.
A month later Angel submitted a letter of resignation , effective June 30. The board voted 6-2, with Angle abstaining, to accept his resignation. The move came two weeks after County Council approved a conditional resolution to drop legal action aim at removing Angle from council if he agreed to resign from the school board. ("Briefs from Easton, Bangor and Allentown," The Associated Press, February 29, 2000.
True, when Angle was initially elected to council, he served on a school board. Council hired an attorney to bring their own quo warranto action, AND MORGANELLI REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED. At that time, when the law was unsettled, council was strictly enforcing the dual office prohibition in the charter. Angle did back down.
Since that time, the law has become more clear, and actually supports Angle. Two members were appoitned to council who shold other positions. MORGANELLI REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED.
Now that Angle has done it, Morfganelli is throwing a grenade because he is biased. He has accused Angle of perjury. He e was quiote upset by the AG's prosecution of his friend.
On top of his personal bias, there's an appearance of impropriety presented by his close relationship w/ lamont McClure, a bitter Angle foe.
Morganelli has reasons for bringing this action, but the law has little to do with it.
I think it’s interesting that Morganelli is asking to have Angle removed from his County Council seat. I have to wonder what the motivation was behind that action. In today's paper Morganelli admits that "a judge would decide which position the dual-office holder relinquishes, if any." But Morganelli wants Angle out of the Council seat!
My second question is why Morganelli held a press conference to announce this action? Why did he feel the need to seek publicity if this is merely: “… brought because there is an honest dispute...”
Angle is right, something does stink.
Lastly, Morganelli claims “the dispute would best be resolved by a Northampton County judge.” How can a Northampton County judge rule on the validity of a seat held by someone who votes on county court’s budget and the court’s personnel positions? Wouldn’t that situation create a conflict of interest? I believe in the past the court has removed itself from situations that create a conflict – for example, the challenge of Reibman’s gazillion dollar bond because it impacted the court. That was heard by Judge Garb – not an elected Northampton County judge.
Morganelli should have allowed the AG to make the call in this instance. he did not do so bc he is worried the AG might decide Angle is right. he will not allow the state legislatre to revisit the law because, once again, he is worried they may agree w/ Angle. So he will file his complaint, draw public attention to it and try and stir up the Anglephobes (nvever hard to do) and then seek an expedited ruling so that no judge has time to think about little things like whether they should even hear this case.
"Why don't you ask for a reader-survey to find out how many elected officials double-dip?"
Since school directors are, by law, not compensated for their service, it would be unfair to characterize this as a case of double-dipping.
DantheMann says,
Morganeeli has now sealed his fate with the voters. In one fell swope he has pissed off over 10,000 voters who elected these two men. I predict JM (or Napolean) will never win another election, the voters in Wilson and Bangor areas will make sure of it.
This is Morganeelis' Waterloo. Enjoy it while it lasts. You will be exiled to Sardinia soon!
O'Hare calling someone else biased. Now that is the funniest thing I have heard all day.
Yeah, but I'm a blogger, not the DA.
Education of O'Hater Part III,
County Council President Wayne Grube later said he didnt think council should drop its lawsuit even if Angle did resign from the school board as he had promised. Grube said he wanted a court ruling on the issue regardless of what Angle did. Grube's statement came despite a 7-1 vote by council to drop the suit if Angle resigned from the school board.
Angle believed the council's suit was actually intended to remove him from council and that member had lied about its intent. "They are spending the taxpayers money", Angle said. "They never wanted a decision on whether I could serve in two offices, they never wanted me on council because I cause trouble" (Dual officeholder suit vs. Angle stands, The Morning Call, April 19, 2000).
No smart response to the facts O'Hater?
But the bottom line is, most people support Ron and Tony and dislike Morganeeli.
RON ANGLE for DA!
Anon 12:59 You just illustrated why Morganelli is attempting to get Angle out of his council seat. Angle has been a terrific councilman - we need more like him!
Ron for DA!
The regurgitation of these news accounts are appreciated. they strngthen Ron's case. They reveal that, at one time, MORGANELLI REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED. They reveal the animus towards Angle, and the attempt to single him out. Council actually appointed other office holders to serve as members, but elected Angle was always treated differently. Thanks for making that clear.
Morganelli has really bad hair. Really, really bad hair.
When is Morganelli up for re-election?
Peace, ~~Alex
Our DA is arguably the most pathetic politician in PA. He's lost a couple of statewide races in years when most other Ds walked into office. It takes a rare breed of loser to accomplish what he and Panella have in recent years. The statewide GOP must be eternally grateful to LV Ds for continuing to serve up batting practice fastballs instead of serious competitors for office. I think it's like Panella and the e-bay auction to light the candle. He said he just wanted to win something this year. Maybe John just wants to wash the loser flavor out of his mouth as well.
It is difficult to find citizens that want to serve as school board members. Remember....no pay,lots of meetings and work, more complaints than compliments and the decision making impact is to significantly affect the quality of your public school thereby the community's home values and the school tax rates
If Ron Angle wants to do this job and the citizens of his community elect him in a public election against all other opponents, he should serve in this capacity and compliments not complaints should be extended to him. But that is just logical. Too many politicians distort everything for their own personal gain and that is why us citizens (both R and D) get so disgusted with them.
Now Angle can distort everything for his personal gain 2 times over.
That's ridiculous. Sure, accuse him of hogging the linelight, but personal gain? School board pays nothing. Squat. Nada.
In my view, anyone who wants to sit on a school board is a masochist, asking for trouble from angry teachers or angry parents. I'd rather go through root canal.
This is a concerted effort to rid the County of Angle bc he is just a tad too nosy.
Thank you DA Morganelli for showing that ALL people must abide by the law. Some people think they are above the law because of their egomanicial natures. They think bullying and money allows them to do anything
Morganelli's a bully and a thrice certified statewide loser who pals around with sleazy criminals who brings knives to old ladies' funerals. He's quite a guy.
Morganeeli will win the DA position again convincingly. The few whack jobs that support Angle won't put a dent in his numbers.
In fact by doing this Morganelli will get more supporters and volunteers. Everyone knows this is an another Angle ego trip, except this time it is illegal.
Said the "ass-clown.
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