Executive John Stoffa has just nominated Northampton County Council member Bruce Gilbert to take over Fiscal Affairs. Gilbert was first elected in a Republican sweep of County Council races in 2009 and currently serves as Finance Chair on Council. He is employed in the banking industry and is an MBA.Bruce is a former player on a Wayne Grube championship football team. Now his sons are playing at Notre Dame.
46 comments:
Excellent choice. Very well qualified and not afraid to do the right thing.
Mr. Gilbert
Congratulation. I expect to see good things coming from you
Good call; hate to lose his voice on council, though.
Bruce Gilbert is a class act.
I hate to see him leave elected office though, as I think he had a bright future ahead of him in politics. Of course, that can always come later.
Best wishes to him in his new position.
Excellent choice John.
Best wishes to you Bruce!
Vic Mazziotti
Glad to lose his right wing voice on Council..After the Gracedale fiasco he couldnt get elected dog catcher..Smart move on Stoffas part also to rid himself of one of the right wing crazies..Let's get Angle a job now!
but no one mentioned that he is the first afican american to hold the job. The mc thought this was important.
Gilbert is an excellent choice for the position. He has a fine analytical mind and is an outstanding citizen. Best wishes, Bruce!
This is the guy who didn't know how much county tax money Northampton County takes in. So when he was sitting nodding his head yes when Angle was bullshitting tax increase the guy had no idea what that meant in dollars.
That being said, it makes sense that he should be a John Stoffa cabinet member. Why change the trend now, a perfect match.
Vic, As good as Bruce will be, you will be impossible to replace and are missed.
Incidentally, I owe you dinner.
"but no one mentioned that he is the first afican american to hold the job. The mc thought this was important."
I though about putting that in there, only to be told I am needlessly drawing attention to someone's race. I decided against it, but understand why the MC put it in there.
We will see if he is not afraid to do the right thing. Not near the conservative firebrand many of us believed we were supporting. Lots of talk about the brilliance, not much tangible to back it up. Accomplishments, not football accolades, degrees and friends in high places, will be the measure.
We will see...
No one need fear. he appears to be another Mazziotti. Not much will change in Northampton County.
Congratulations....and I think Bernie's right. When we stop noticing that someone is the first African American to do something and just judge him for the person, we have true equality.
anon 1:25, sadly you are right. I read were he quit his job and took courses to prepare for this job. Another set-up by Stoffa. So much for every one's "surprise".
Sunshine's in
Wait so he knew he had no future on council for months? It explains some of his votes and pro-angle comments.
Stoffa is now criticized for failing to announce Gilbert's appointment before Gilbert even knew he could get the required certification. Yeah, that makes sense.
Any thoughts on who is the replacement? I assume it will be a republican, so no Seyfried/Capozzolo/Heckman, etc.
danthemann
If Jerry wanted that job, it would be his. Rs have a great deal of respect for Jerry. I do have an idea on who will be replacing Bruce, and will float that on Monday.
8:56, Stay on topic or be delete. This post is about Bruce Gilbert, not me.
Another Republican campaign promise favor returned by Stoffa.
My concern is his lack of county fiscal operations knowledge. He has not really been a standout on county council as far as financial knowledge goes. The county really needs some competent experience at this point.
"He has not really been a standout on county council as far as financial knowledge goes."
Must be why he chairs Finance.
out of curiosity, what is the date on Gilbert's resignation from Council? Did he resign or is he waiting for his confirmation by Council. Is he going to vote on his own appointment and then resign? You're the watchdog Bernie. What's the story?
The story is that Stoffa has sent Gilbert's name to Council for approval. To my knowledge, Gilbert has not and will not resign until his appointment is confirmed. Also, he is unable to vote for himself bc he has a direct financial interest.
Chairs finance but doesn't know how much the county takes in Real Estate Taxes. Now Stoffa's top fiscal guy, Nice. Pure Stoffa.
Knowing the precise amount of money taken in by the County in RE taxes is irrelevant to one's understanding of finance. You are taking one moment from one Council meeting, in which Bruce seemed not to understand a poorly-phrased question, to attack him. Since you were there for that, you were there for the numerous other times in which he spoke rather well.
Carpet Bagger?
Excuse me? Bruce Gilbert spent his entire life in Easton, was a captain of its undefeated state championship football team, and is a carpet bagger?
Once again, this post is about Gilbert, not me or my blog. You are OT.
His accomplishments on the high school football field mean nothing. Zilch, nada, zip.
Al Bundy for Fiscal Affairs Director?
Bruce talks a good game. But do some research. Those who have known him a long time will tell you he is a bullshit artist of the highest order. Check out his history as a landlord, go back a ways. Find some of the young ladies who worked for him at the newspapers.
You do some outstanding drill down on those you dislike, and it is invaluable. Try the same on this guy, you might be surprised.
I intend to look at Gilbert closely.
Unless Bruce Gilbert is founf in bed with a dead chicken, he should be unanimously confirmed by Both Democrats and Republicans on Council. Give Mr. Stoffa the department heads he wants for the agencies under his control. He should be given the opportunity to live or die by his staff recommendations. If Mr. Gilbert is not up to the job, it will show up soon enough. Coucnil should speak their mind on the appointment and then vote yes. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
"he should be unanimously confirmed by Both Democrats and Republicans on Council."
I doubt very much that will happen. I suspect McClure and McHale will vote No.
Stoffa will not live or die by his appointments he will just live. the papers are in the bag for Stoffa as is this blog.
This guy will be as unremarkable as Mazziotti was. So for those who are happy with the county continuing to drain off their huge surplus doing nothing, you should be happy.
Mazziotti is the best Director of Fiscal Affairs i ever saw. If Gilbert is half as good as Vic, taxpayers will be very happy.
What does his resume look like? What has he done in Government or the Private Sector as far as running a day to day business the size of the County? I would be that his resume is sparce when it comes to equivalent training and experience that one would need for the County Finance Director position. Hopefully, Stoffa will do search and find the most qualified person, not someone who simply holds and MBA and sits on County Council!! Good Grief.
he should do his homework on gilbert first ,,, i hope he works out ,he really hasn't impressed me on council, i to think he talks a good game and mazziotti was an excellant choice by stoffa. i do have a problem with council members being hand picked for positions ...it just doesn't sit right with me. i do however wish him well.
Give him a chance and some time in the position before you judge the man.
Thanks for the very kind words Bernie.
Bruce will do an excellent job!
Vic Mazziotti
Vic, I owe you dinner.
Yeah Vic was great. He was only off on his numbers by over $40 million. A guy that doesn't know how much the county takes in in Real Estate taxes will take his place just fine.
The election is over. You lost. Get used to it.
I see no problem if Bruce follows the Stoffa Doctrine. It is very simple. Just nod your head as if you are agreeing with whomever is talking to you. Mumble some encouragement and empathy.
Follow up by claiming you never agreed to anything and you never said anything.
The Stoffa cabinet have all learned it well. they say whatever is necessary to calm the listener. If Bruce can master that he will be a perfect fit in the Stoffa ministry.
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