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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ken Kraft, Man in Black, Eyeing NorCo Council Vacancy

He's a Man in Black. I'll bet that even his underwear is black. And he just may be running for Ann McHale's Northampton County Council seat in Bethlehem, Hanover and Hellertown.

I'm speaking of Bethlehem resident Ken Kraft, who wears quite a few hats. He's a Marine (there are no ex Marines) who graduated from that to a stint in the NSA. These days, he's a business agent for the building trades unions, Chair of the Northampton County Elections Comm'n and a member of Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board.

Although Ken and I are on the opposite side on most County issues, I'm still encouraged to hear he's testing the water. He's smart, hard-working and is able to make his points passionately without getting too personal. Last week, for example, he spent a good half hour giving me a tutorial on his new iPad while he and Bethlehem zoners were waiting for the court stenographer.

Will his union employment hurt him? In Bethlehem and Hellertown, it will probably help. If he were a public sector union agent, I'd be very concerned. But the building and trade unions tend to pay their own way. They self-fund their medical insurance and pension plans, unlike the public sector. Even Governor Chris Christie recognizes that private sector unions, who must deal with high unemployment and property taxes, are more like us than their counterparts in the public sector.

The only other announced candidate for Ann McHale's seat is former Council member Ladd Siftar, a Democrat.

I can see the fliers now. "Protecting Northampton County From Bottom-Feeding Bloggers."
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    Siftar should not run. His past is toxic and he will be buried in the primary. Lad, save your family any further embarrassment and read the writing on the wall.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Ken will do a great job serving Northampton County.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Not if his serving and cockiness like he is on the Zoning Hearing Board is any indication!! He acts like he know everything when in reality he knows very little. People, open up your eyes he's not what you think he is. The power has gone to his head. He provokes the public and thinks only he is right. Very bad qualities. I personally hope he loses! He's been working with Mickey Thompson too long... that isn't good and neither is Mickey Thompson. I hope the rumors I heard of the people, City Council and ZHB wanting to oust Mickey comes true. He only belongs with his bodd Atiyeh not working with Bethlehem - conflict of interests are all around him and he feels he brings in revenue for Bethlehem at the residents of Bethlehem's expense. Bad, Bad

    ReplyDelete

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