Garvin Denies Elected Committeeman the Right to Vote

Last month, when Kiki Schock resigned as Vice Chair of the Northampton County Dems, she had a question. "Why, when we claim we are the party that honors democracy, do we as a committee allow one individual to dismiss the rights of the entire committee and of those whom we represent and say nothing?" Parliamentarian George Treisner walked out of the room as Kiki delivered her final words, calling her a "bitch" on his way out the door. Last night, Party Boss Walt Garvin proved Kiki right by displaying the very behavior she lamented. Ironically, it was in an election to determine her successor. Although I am an elected Committee person, I was denied the right to vote. By Garvin.

The vote, as it turns out, was 41 to 36. Lorraine Pasquali, a useful idiot for the Long Dems, was elected Vice Chair of the Northampton County Democratic Party last night, thanks in large part to 12 proxies filled out in advance. Her opponent, April Niver, never had a chance despite her obviously superior qualifications.

A Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and Director of Project Services at ProJeCt Easton, April (pictured on the left) was defeated by a person who had no paying job at all the last time I checked.

When Pasquali ran for County Council last year, she was clearly the weakest candidate, unable to distinguish between defined benefit and defined contribution pensions. But she will do what Joe Long, Walt Garvin and Charles Dertinger tell her to do.

Although it would have made no difference, Walt Garvin took it upon himself to deny me the right to vote. Banging his gavel and yelling loudly, he claimed that my only recourse to his unilateral action was an appeal to the Executive Committee. Several people were yelling at me in unison, hoping they could shout be down. They could not. I told Garvin that I had the right to vote.

Treisner, the same person who had called Kiki Shock a "bitch," attempted to shout me down and some began to demand that I be physically removed.

That would have required a crane.

Or two.

Pasquali was lauded for organizing a group of Democrats and their union buddies to disrupt a recent Town Hall, conducted by Congressman Charlie Dent. They really loved the way he "squirmed." Garvin bragged that Dent had to have four security guards.

After what happened to U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, I am appalled that anyone would take pleasure in intimidating a U.S. Congressman, Democrat or Republican.

That must out me in violation of some by-law, too.

Before the vote, somebody tried to second a second to Pasquali's nomination, making another speech. And when the candidates spoke, kilt-clad Rolf Treisner decided to have a loud cell phone conversation, effectively thumbing his nose at her.

Clearly, it was an election engineered to go Pasquali's way. Just as clearly, Garvin has no regard for the democratic process. It's what I'd expect from someone denying an elected committeeman the basic right to vote.

On their way out, that chicken hawk (the one I told you about below) swooped down from a perch at NCC and carried off a few Democrats.