"Good evening, Commissioner. How are you, how is madame and all the little Commissioners?" Would you like to be a Commissioner? Lehigh County has nine of them, making up the legislative branch of county government. Five are in "District" seats from specific geographic areas. The remaining four are "at-large," elected by voters throughout the County. This year, the at-large seats on the Board of Commissioners, are all up for grabs. Chairman Dean Browning, Vice-Chair Bill Hansell, Gloria Hamm and Andy Roman are the incumbents.
Among the incumbents, only appointee Bill Hansell has pledged not to run. But a boatload of Republicans, eager to hop on the tea party express, are testing the water, ready to take the plunge.
As a result of a payraise enacted during good times, Lehigh County Commissioners are entitled to an $7,000 annual salary with an additional $1,000 for the Chair. But when the economy went south, Browning and several other Commissioners (Creighton, Dougherty and Eckhart) refused their increase. So Chairman Browning only accepts $5,500, while Commissioners Hamm and Roman take the full $7,000.
Who else is running? The biggest opportunist is none other than Scrappleface, Scott Ott. He's the erstwhile County Exec candidate who very nearly toppled Don Cunningham, one of the Lehigh Valley's most popular Democrats, from out of nowhere. Ott was quickly rewarded with a do-nothing job as Executive Director of the local GOP. But since he can't hold that job and run for office, he's resigned. He's ostensibly pursuing his acting and modeling career or whatever it is, but he's really after Browning. He'll hone in on the man he called his "wise advisor."
Dawn Berrigan (no relation to Daniel) is another name being tossed around. She's anti-abortion, anti-union, anti-gambling, anti-tax, etc. She might be to the right of the tea party, and she and I have tangled more than once. But to her credit, she makes an effort to remain civil, even with me. That must be pretty hard.
Bob Smith would love to be a LC Comm'r and would win. But he was seriously injured last year at Mount Trexler Manor, when he was pulled from the third story roof by a suicide jumper. She walked away, but his recovery has been slow. Whether he runs depends on his health.
Controversial Emmaus Borough Council member Brent Labenberg and Salisbury Township Commissioner Norma Cusick, are reportedly also interested. Cuisck's son, John, is President of Northampton County Council.
Bernie -
ReplyDeleteI've met Dawn Berrigan and have found her to be honest, trustworthy and respectful of those with opinions different from hers. I think your description of her is rather harsh.
Also, out of curiosity I have to ask - what makes Labenberg "controversial"?
Dems?
ReplyDeletePatrick, My description of her is both accurate and fair. She is all of the things, or anti- all of the things, I stated. What aspect is harsh?
ReplyDeleteLabenberg got himself into some controversy over sidewalks in Emmaus some years back. He was taking it in the chin over that for some time.
"Dems?"
ReplyDeleteWorking on that.
Bernie-
ReplyDeleteDid you attend this meeting? Hats off to you for doing so. Didn't realize the amount of money Commissioners receive. Thanks for keeping us informed of these details. With the weather and a company's request that one try to arrive on time, imagine, some of us do not get to read the morning papers. Thank you.
This blog is about no meeting. I'm just listing possible R candidates for Commissioner.
ReplyDeletegood low key attack on scott ott, i.e., "do nothing job", etc. you even have him going after a specific seat, when in fact all four openings are at large. you're the best
ReplyDeleteHe did have a "do nothing" job and did nothing during his tenure as Exec Director, except cause trouble for other Republicans. There also is little question that his campaign is aimed specifically as a rebuke to Browning, as was the unsuccessful effort to remove him as Chair.
ReplyDeleteDawn Berrigan is clearly County Commissioner material.
ReplyDeleteI've talked to Labenberg a few times, and I just don't get the "controversial" label. He seems pretty bright and sensible. Can you give some examples of his controversial behavior (something more substantial than a sidewalk issue a few years ago)?
I haven't had any experiences with the others.
Perhaps the word "controversial' is wrong. I know he really took it on the chin over sidewalks, but don't know of anything else that sets him apart.
ReplyDeletebernie, you describe your descriptions as "accurate and fair", "little question" etc. all this is in your opinion, nothing more. further more, you call ott's possible candidacy as a rebuke to browning. serving as commissioner, at the very least, requires an enormous amount of time and commitment. you and I regularly "rebuke" people with much less effort.
ReplyDeleteMM, My description of Dawn Berrigan was both accurate and fair. I fact-checked every claim made about her stances.
ReplyDeleteAs for what is going on with Ott, it's more than a matter of opinion, but I'll get into that down the road.
Berrigan was on catty school board when they decided to charge taxes to LVIA. LVIA paid, appealed and won. The verdict, repay LVIA PLUS interest. So much for fiscal responsibility. She ended up costing the tax payers a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteOtt's do nothing tenure is a sign of things to come: more do nothing republicans on the board of commissioners. He'll fit in with Daughterty, Eckhert and Creighton... having accomplished nothing but having said a lot.
Labenberg doesn't even have support from people in his own community.
It would be fantastic for the Dems if the GOP nominated these goofs.
What is good about our democracy is that different views can compete for posions of decision making.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about these names but they have a right to run.
Too early to categorize them as well.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteI like to think of myself as pro-life, pro-taxpayer, pro-free market and pro-economic growth without making money off the loss and addictions of others.
Anon 9:07, I was NOT on the school board when it decided to tax the airport, and I thought it was a foolish idea. Please get your facts straight when you make accusations.
Dawn Berrigan
Early in his career Labenberg spent too much time with Otto Slozer. That may have been where the 'controversial' tag came from.
ReplyDeleteHe's grown in his role as a Council member in Emmaus, and spends the time necessary to understand issues.
I would not have voted for him 5yrs ago, but I would vote for him now.
The Banker
Dawn -
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying what I attempted to write in the early hours of the morning.
Bernie, when I said harsh I felt that your bias was showing on the issues where you chose to label Dawn. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as is Dawn. I believe that it's where we go from there that matters.
I think if you sat down with her, you'd find her thoughtful, well-reasoned, and open to discussion with those who disagree with her.
I find those qualities very admirable in a political candidate, no matter what their political persuasion.
Patrick,
ReplyDeleteDawn and I have tangled more than once and I agree that she has remained civil and respectful. I pointed that or in my blog. As I told MM, I did fact check every claim about her stands, but Dawn is correct when she notes that for every anti-, there is a pro-. Let's put it this way. She's a Rohrer Republican, not a Corbett Republican. She represents the far right of your party.
Bernie:
ReplyDeleteWho respresents the far left of the Democrat Party?
I'd argue that people like Mike Morrill, Lepoco, Sam Bennett, Walt Garvin, Lorraine Pasquale, Hillary Kwiatek, Steve Bliss, Alan Jennings are all far left types. Some of them are good people; some are not.
ReplyDeleteSomeone please get rid of Glenn Eckhart. He looks like a toad and is stupid.
ReplyDeleteAndy Roman has to go too. What a fool!
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteSomeone please get rid of Glenn Eckhart. He looks like a toad and is stupid.
Andy Roman has to go too. What a fool!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great idea.
Then fork over your paycheck (if you have one) to the big-spenders in County Government.