"I live in South Allentown, so you have to have a big mouth to be heard over everybody."
That's how Mike Horton, a Democrat running for the State House in the 131st legislative district, described himself at a recent Northampton Community College candidates' forum. I thought he was being self-deprecatory. But after watching him debate and bully Justin Simmons on Business Matters, I agree. He does have a big mouth. I also wonder how someone with a West Point background, and who also claims to have been a VP for "Fortune 500" companies, would end up as a constable. I question the big wallet he's using to buy this seat. And we all should be concerned about Horton's three property tax liens from no less than three different states. Let me fill you in.
Initially, Horton was considered nothing more than a sacrificial lamb, running against a popular incumbent. Then the strangest thing happened. Justin Simmons, a hard-line conservative, came out of nowhere and upset Karen Beyer. Some say it was because Simmons mounted a vigorous door-to-door campaign. Others say Karen was too busy in Harrisburg and took the race for granted. Some, like me, were concerned that Beyer was being smeared. Whatever the reason, Republicans chose a right-winger as their standard bearer in a relatively moderate district.
Democrats, smelling blood, began having second thoughts about Horton. One Allentown Democratic Committeeman asked me, "Where is he?"
Beats me. I'm a bottom-feeding blogger, not Matlock. But nobody sees the guy. He's missed Lower Milford Community Day, Coopersburg Community Day, Upper Saucon Community Day, Latino fest, Sewyco Fire Company's open house, Upper Saucon Fire Company's open house, Lower Milford's carnival, Coopersburg's carnival, Lions Club meetings, Kiwanas Club meetings and every crime watch meeting in Allentown. He even missed Sunday's Halloween Parade in Coopersburg. Now maybe these are poor ways to get a few votes, but that's what most pols do.
Ironically, both of these guys are reputed "outsiders," a point made by Business Matters' Tony Iannelli. If you haven't seen that show and are undecided about this race, I suggest you take a look at it. Horton blusters and repeatedly interrupts Simmons. At one point, Horton snarks, "I was in Central America back when we had our war on drugs, if you remember what that is. And how old were you when I was doing that?"
Horton also defends defined benefit pensions, claiming that objections to them are a "misnomer" and that "people have no idea what it is they're really talking about." Simmons, on the other hand, states that defined benefit pensions are "bankrupting" this country.
You can see the debate below.
For a supposed "outsider," Horton is raising his money in strange ways. House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans will host a fundraiser in Philadelphia this morning. Tonight, outsiders like LC Exec Don Cunningham and State Rep. Jennifer Mann will try to raise some dough for the constable. Mann can give Horton a few pointers on consulting gigs.
Before either of these fundraisers, Horton has already sent out 8 or 9 mailers. He has also purchased $57,000 worth of TV commercials on WFMZ. I have copies of the orders. The Democratic State Committee is picking up the tab. I can't wait to see this outsider's next campaign finance report.
What's most disturbing are three tax liens. In Lehigh County, a Department of Revenue lien for $1,872 was filed in 2005, and paid in 2007. In California, there's a 2001 lien for $4,759 in back taxes. Another $1278 property tax lien was filed in Rhode Island in 2001. This VP of Fortune 500 companies had a car repossessed in the '90s.
He claims he wants to bring "change" to Harrisburg, but I think it might very well be a change for the worse.
Pertaining to the tax liens and repo'd car, Horton sounds like the kind of fiscally irresponsible person we can't afford in Harrisburg right now. Just imagine what he'd do with YOUR fiscal matters. As for Mann helping Horton out, he's not the only one Ms Mann has dropped a few coin on. Apparently Mann has given at least $1000 to Patrick Slattery. That "consulting" gig she working on must be pretty lucrative.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with the audio adverts? What a pain in the ass.
ReplyDeletein all due respect to constables, and i've known many over the years, i agree with bernie that there is a missing link in horton's career information. from fortune 500 vice president to serving eviction papers?
ReplyDeleteWho wants a 23 year old kid, who has never had a real job, who live in their parents basement and never paid taxes representing you?
ReplyDeleteSimmons is crony who interned in a state house office and briefly worked for Mensch.
Horton lies alot.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you write about this guy!
ReplyDeleteWe questined the constable relationship too. Why hasn't the Call? Hmmmmm.
"Who wants a 23 year old kid, who has never had a real job, who live in their parents basement and never paid taxes representing you?"
ReplyDeleteHow do you know where Simmons lives?
Spying?
Is it true Horton did not pay his taxes? Bernie, you're an excellent investigator and often write about tax issues. Perhaps you can shed light on this topic. This is an important issue. If someone faces financial hardship and must delay taxes, one can understand, but we still don't know the truth.
ReplyDeleteMM writes:
ReplyDelete"missing link in horton's career information. from fortune 500 vice president to serving eviction papers?"
6:37 AM
Well said. This is a key issue to Horton's integrity. Voters deserve to know what happened before the election. He opened the door to this question, not voters.
Audio Advert pain in the ass - I second that motion.
ReplyDeleteHorton's sound-off on Business Matters is proof positive he does not work well with others. How in the world will he get anything done on our behalf in Harrisburg? We need effective and reasonable legislators who represent our needs, not their own private agendas.
ReplyDeletei was also bothered by horton's assertion that as an "independent contractor" he would be taking a pay cut by going to harrisburg. don't know how many papers he served last year as constable, but with the state rep. salary and the per diems, that statement also strains credibility. he may have just been in the right place and the right time for a number things, and he may well be once more.
ReplyDeleteHow much does a state constable earn?
ReplyDeleteBernie
ReplyDeleteThis guy's missed all those community days? Sounds like he thinks he is superior to mere voters.
Didn't Horton state on Tony's show he would accept per diems and even mocked Simmons for refusing them
ReplyDeleteand didn't Horton say he would not support term limits?
Why does an Allentown candidate have to travel to Philadelphia for a fundraiser? Doesn't he have any friends around here?
ReplyDelete"Before either of these fundraisers, Horton has already sent out 8 or 9 mailers. He has also purchased $57,000 worth of TV commercials on WFMZ"
ReplyDeleteWhere did Horton get $57,000 for TV ads? Hope his opponent checks this out.
This race cries out for a third option - "None of the Above" and for that vote to count.
ReplyDeleteNeither of these people are qualified to hold public office, and the fact that we have to hold our noses and choose stinks.
One can only wonder what promises are being made in Philadelphia.
ReplyDelete"Audio Advert pain in the ass - I second that motion."
ReplyDeleteI'll removes the embedded debate. I can't seem to stop it from running.
"How much does a state constable earn?"
ReplyDeleteIt depends. Some can earn $150k or even more, but it's a lot of work.
"Didn't Horton state on Tony's show he would accept per diems and even mocked Simmons for refusing them and didn't Horton say he would not support term limits?"
ReplyDeleteHorton does not support term limits. The argument on per diems was that some guy from Erie should obviously get something for expenses, and I agree with that approach. If you eliminate per diems completely, what you in effect do is make the office navailable to people uess they are wealthy enough to supprt themselves in Harrisburg and somewhere else. I agree that per diem reform is needed.
"Where did Horton get $57,000 for TV ads?"
ReplyDeleteThe state Dems are paying for this.
The Simmons Campaign has posted the tax liens on line see them for yourself www.horton131.com
ReplyDeleteTwo are there. The third (from Rhode Island) is not.
ReplyDeleteI should also point out that his ex-wife has had to take him to Court on a contempt citatio for failing to reimburse her for the tax lien that he incurred but that she had to pay off.
"Audio Advert pain in the ass - I second that motion."
ReplyDeleteI'll removes the embedded debate. I can't seem to stop it from running.
9:23 AM
Blogger Bernie O'Hare said...
"How much does a state constable earn?"
It depends. Some can earn $150k or even more, but it's a lot of work.
9:28 AM
Wow Bernie. That's is a hefty sum. We agree with you
that per diems allow those of modest means to serve the public. If online accounting was required, perhaps that would eliminate inappropriate spending.
WFMZ's videos are a pain in the ass. I avoid them like the plague. There is no way of stopping them. WFMZ's are the only one's that do this. I tried all kinds of tricks.. forget it. It's in the "script" language that originates from their server.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. There is probably a way to turn it off in the embed code, and if I find it, I will reload the video bc it was fascinating. I figured Simmons would come across nasty but it was actually Horton who tried to bully his way thru he debate. What got to me was the way he defended defined benefit pensions, which really are bankrupting this country.
ReplyDeleteHe's backing the defined benefit because all his money is coming from PSEA and Dwight Evans who according to wikipedia is on the Board of Trustees for Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System Can someone say conflict of interest!
ReplyDeleteTerm Limits
ReplyDeleteFrank Lutz broadcasted yet another focus group this morning. Arizona voters almost evenly split on Reid vs Angle. Again and again audience said term limits a must.
What, are you a racist now?
ReplyDeleteAfter his arrogant performance on Tony's show, and the revelations that he's a deadbeat, this guy is a real POS.
ReplyDelete"What, are you a racist now?"
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's it. Never mind the 3 tax liens, the fiscal irresponsibility, the absences from many community events, the willingness to allow insiders to fund his campaign. The dude is black and is promising change, so he must be wonderful.
Simmons is a 23 year old kid who lives in his parents basement!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry but what am I missing? How can anyone take Simmons seriously? He is a freaking kid.
He has no experience!
He has never even paid taxes! . He has no idea what it takes to make a household budget, let alone a state budget.
the 131st would be in trouble if they elect this kid.
O'Hare changes positions more than he changes his underwear...
ReplyDeletehttp://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/05/is-justin-simmons-really-his-own-man.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-is-justin-accountable-simmons.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/04/like-closed-libraries-and-hungry-kids.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/03/state-house-race-in-131st-beyer-v.html
"He has never even paid taxes! . He has no idea what it takes to make a household budget, let alone a state budget."
ReplyDeleteNeither, apparently does Horton. He's pretty much establshed personal irresponsibility wit his own finances, and he's had a lot longer than Simmons to get it right.
"O'Hare changes positions more than he changes his underwear"
ReplyDeleteI change my underwear once every month whether I need to or not. I have a different view of Simmons now than I did in the primary, when I knew so little about Horton. He is clearly a bad candidate.
I do think Beyer was the best choice, and was fully prepared to support Horton. But he has actually made Simmnos look pretty good.
Who cares if Simmons lives at home? A lot of people in their 20's are living with their parents because of the lack of jobs. It's actually good to see a young man that realizes he can't afford a house unlike many Americans that are currently going through foreclosures. As we see now, even a successful businessman can't afford to own a house. The only difference is Simmons understood that he couldn't just like he understands that state can't afford to keep spending money it doesn't have.
ReplyDeleteAt least Simmons isn't a dishonest tax cheat.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to head off crooks before we let them steal officially.
Horton's a cheat already. He's served notice that he can't be trusted.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteDid you talk to Horton? I made some calls and determined that he has reasonable explanations for the tax liens.
You really should call him. I am sure he would talk to you. You have some duty to try to find out both sides of the story.
I have heard his explanation of the Pa lien, which he blamed on his wife. But that does not wash with his wife taking him to court for contempt or the court order requiring him to pay her lawyer every month for the taxes she paid on his behalf.
ReplyDeleteI got this information over the weekend, and the facts are what they are. I certainly would be interested in his spin, and will call after his fundraisers are over, but suspect I'll be handed a real big bullshit burger. I'd really like hm to explain all the gaps in his life.
Way to give this race a fair shake, Bernie. Horton is not a good guy.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard he claimed the Cal. judgment was just some big mistake, but that's bullshit, too. The lien was filed three times, and two of them were filed erroneously, but the third is a valid judgment and he had to pay.
ReplyDelete"Who cares if Simmons lives at home? A lot of people in their 20's are living with their parents because of the lack of jobs. It's actually good to see a young man that realizes he can't afford a house unlike many Americans that are currently going through foreclosures."
ReplyDeletethank you, justin's mom....
I couldn't hire Simmons in a leadership roll. He has no accomplishments, no work history. No Military History, what position does he qualify for in a business, it's called an entry level position.
ReplyDeleteThat's why people need experience or they run the risk of being career politicians . In my humble opinion, he needs experience,maybe at least a Masters Degree. He needs to mature, to be tested. He wouldn't be taken seriously at a networking event, why would we take him seriously here? I have shoes with more experience!
Considering the two candidates, there is only one choice in this election and that is to WRITE-IN STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAREN BUYER.
ReplyDeleteIf 4,000 131st District voters opt
for quality over grade A job hunters looking to pick-up a pay check, they will see the light and
realize, "If it ain't broke don't
fix it."
I posted the last comment and made an error in spelling. Please write-in STATE REPRESNTATIVE KAREN
ReplyDeleteBEYER.
"WRITE IN KAREN BEYER"
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen Beyer.
People talk about Simmons wanting to be a career politician, but he took he a term limits pledge.
Word is Beyer is "so qualified" she can't find a job anywhere and won't endorse a candidate until they or their allies find her a job.
That seems to be failing, so now she wants back in to the career politician gig.