LC Exec Candidate Croslis and His DUI Delay

Don Cunningham has resigned as Lehigh County Executive to take over as top dog at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., where the pay's much better better and there are even Summer Hours. According to Express Times reporter Colin McEvoy, five Democrats want Cunningham's old job. One of them is Allentown Attorney Matt Croslis. But would he be the right fit?

Though his firm has been a clearing house for local Democrats seeking office, Croslis is doing his best to impress a very conservative Board of Commissioners that he's a kindred soul. One of them. Who knows? Maybe he listens to Rush Limbaugh. Better yet, maybe he's read Comm'r Scott Ott's Laughing at Obama. (available for just 99 cents).

He's also defending Controller Glenn Eckhart, an affable but ardent conservative, against DA Jim Martin's claim that Eckhart is ineligible to hold the office. That's worth a few points with 7 of Lehigh County's 9 Commissioners.

But what bothers me about Matt's application is the inordinate delay in a DUI prosecution filed against him last year. According to Lehigh County records, he was charged on 12/12/11 with driving under the influence, along with an assortment of other minor charges. But even though it is a first offense, the kind of matter that should be disposed of quickly with an ARD application, Croslis has managed to delay and delay it at the Magistrate's level. It was finally sent to Court on June 26, over 6 months after charges were originally filed.

On June 2, I asked Croslis to explain this delay. "[T]he delay makes me wonder whether the system is being gamed. I believe this is going to come out if you formally apply for appointment, so I would like to give you an opportunity to get your side of the story out there. I will probably note the charges, with no editorial comment. Is there anything you can tell me? Can you explain the delay?"

Just as every dog is entitled to one bite, I think every person is entitled to one DUI. In the case of an Irishman, maybe two.

But this delay bothers me.

Croslis promised to get back to me, but never did. That's a mistake. In an office that should be transparent, Croslis is intent on keeping us in the dark.

His "kick the can down the road" approach to problems would be a disservice to Lehigh County's citizenry.

Updated 2:00 PM: I just spoke to Matt Croslis. He decided that he would wait to answer my June 2 email until he decided to seek the position of Executive, and he only made that decision late last week. He told me he will be answering my questions. But as far as the DUI is concerned, he tells me there was no gaming. He applied for one continuance because he had the flu. The second continuance was by the District Judge. Croslis told me he has no control over scheduling.