Express Times reporter Tom Shortell was camped in the Prothonotary's office today, awaiting ballot challenges. They had to be in by close of business. I had to leave early for a pedicure, but he hung in there, and is reporting that the only challenges filed were to Tony Bassil (Easton District Judge), Donna Louder (Lower Saucon Council) and Raymond Russin (Bethlehem Township Comm'n). Tim Prendergast (Easton District Judge) voluntarily removed his name from the GOP ballot. Tony Bassil is being challenged only on the GOP ballot.
The big surprise here is the lack of a challenge to Bethlehem City Council candidate Adam Waldron. He failed to file circulator affidavits with his petition, mistakenly thinking that his own affidavit as a candidate was good enough. He was a sitting duck. His opponents refused to take advantage of Waldron's oversight, though I am certain they would have prevailed. My guess is they think that voters, and not judges, should decide elections.
That's Bethlehem. Very classy.
Now excuse me while I hurl.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Tuesday, March 19, 2013
13 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
If the petition in defective on its face, as in incomplete, should policy require that it not be accepted for filing? I expect a party can't file a complaint without a cover sheet and costs included, else why have the rule. One could file just any napkin and have it accepted. Here you have an obviously incomplete application. Should not the requirements of filing be a minimum bar before the burden shifts to any objector? Thots?
ReplyDelete-nlv
It was accepted, just like incomplete deeds get accepted, nlv. It happens.
ReplyDeleteActually, I had a deed in Lehigh County get rejected because the description did not close after they scrutinized it with GIS, which required the grantor to resurvey the property even though the property description was identical to which had been previously accepted for filing several times decades earlier, which is an example of something that got rejected based on the substance; so much more that that which is defective on its face, as was here. I'm assuming Northampton Co. is different?
ReplyDelete-nlv
You obviously don't record many deeds. A bad description is NO reason to reject a deed. A bad acknowledgement or a missing one is. Yet numerous deeds are recorded that way every day and in every county. That is why, periodically, statutes are enacted that just cure the defective acknowledgments. It happens all the time, and everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIf that happens in a deeds office, where the staff pays very close attention to acknowledgements, it will definitely happen in an elections office.
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-northwestern-lehigh-secretary-changed-grades-20130319,0,4398696.story
ReplyDeletenlv, 100 hours of free lawn care in O-Park?
You seen it here first.
Respectfully
Eckville Press
A bad description is NO reason to reject a deed
ReplyDeleteAgreed, but it is in Lehigh County, unless it passes GIS.
More to the policy question, should an obviously incomplete filing ever be accepted, so as to shift the burden? I have no stake in this question.
-nlv
You seen it here first.
ReplyDeleteI don't wish to hijack your post. This was not coordinated, and I'll try not to comment more. But Cathy Venusto, subject of Eck's post, happens to be the secretary for the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation; Township Chairman Justin Smith is on the NLEF Board along with a current supervisr candidate, whom I have great respect, and while Venusto was charged with hacking the schools computer, she avoids jail time by volunteering to work in the Township park. I did not see any of this on any SFI, which is greatly upsetting. I would have expected their Board positions to be disclosed.
-nlv
OK, so the Township Park stuff seems to be a bit of embellishment, that remains to be seen, but at least I did not rant about Dean Browning :-)
ReplyDelete-nlv
nlv,
ReplyDelete"Anthony also ordered Venusto to perform 100 hours of community service, which was suggested by Chief Deputy District Attorney Christie Bonesch.
"She has taken from the community, perhaps she should give back," Bonesch said." {morning call}
Not sure of O-Park, but would not be surprised. Besides they could save the taxpayers money. A win win.
Respectfully
Eckville Press
past secretary. No need to start rumors.
ReplyDeleteRespectfully
Eckville Press
Let em all run.
ReplyDeleteVery classy or very one-party, Tammany Hall-esque? Everything in Bethlehem seems to be neatly decided before voters go to pull their lever.
ReplyDeleteI am glad Mr Waldron's petition was not challenged and has an opportunity to continue his primary candidacy. The Democratic Party in the City of Bethlehem is made up of individuals that possess a variety of life experiences and talents. I am looking forward to seeing how Waldron and every other candidate plan to move the city forward on May 2 at the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee debate.
ReplyDelete