The Callahan, McClure and Reibman Show

Last Thursday, WDIY’s weekly public affairs program, Lehigh Valley Discourse, invited the Democratic Northampton County Exec candidates for an hour-long conversation concerning their campaigns. This show was hosted by CACLV's Alan Jennings, who laments that too few are making the call for too many. In addition to Thursday's production, Jennings will host the Lehigh County GOP Executive candidates on May 2 and Bethlehem Mayoral candidates on May 9. In my view, there were no clear winners.

Why would you want to be an elected official today?

John Callahan - He would like an opportunity to make things better. As a beneficiary of his community, he's like an opportunity to give something back. He would like to take what he has learned as Mayor and apply as Exec.

Lamont McClure - He's been on Northampton County Council for 7 years, and during much of that time he sparred with Ron Angle. He claims that he was "fortunate enough" to defeat Angle, although I thought it was Scott Parsons. "It's in my blood," McClure claims of public service. McClure can take the slings and arrows. He claims he led the fight to save Gracedale, the jewel of NC. He led the coalition that defeated the attempt to sell Gracedale, and is the leader of the Coalition of Alzheimer Families

Glenn Reibman - He claims that when born into the Reibman family, the first thing that happens is you are registered as a Dem and then you are told you must do public service. Reibman claims that his aunt Jeanette, a prominent but sadly deceased former state senator, "set the example for us."  "I want to finish the job I started," he claims, noting he has the experience and has been elected county wide four times.

The fulcrum is on the right, and keeps going farther right. What makes you a Democrat?

McClure.  - He was "born" a Democrat. He claims he got a great education, a law degree, and studied the issues. So he understands the Democratic Party is the right place for him. He notes that the Democrats are still a broad coalition with room to disagree. "But at our core, we realize that folks need a place to go where they can be cared for with a high degree of care ..., a .safety net. Gracedale is a safety net."

Reibman.  He wants to help people, create jobs and enhance the tax base. He notes that Senator Toomey has recently come to the middle on gun control, and ctes that as proof that "we're doing the right thing."

Callahan. - All anyone wants is a fair shot. All ought to have an opportunity or a shot at success. "That's why we're Democrats."  Government is not the answer, but it can have a positive and meaningful role in making people's life better, more efficient and more effective.

Will You Be a Trustee or a Delegate?.

Reibman. - would be an "aggressive county executive"  interested in economic development in all four corners of the county. A leader. "You're elected to make decisions."

McClure. Sometimes you're a delegate; sometimes you're a trustee; sometimes you have no idea what you're going to be. He claims he had no idea that the sale of Gracedale would be so unpopular.  He voted to preserve more open space than any other member of Council..

Callahan. It depends on the issue. An executive governs mostly as a trustee. You're elected to understand . You can't lead by committee. But when something is  is clear, you have to honor the will of the people, even if you don't agree.

Have any of you been a beneficiary of government programs?

Callahan. -  He's been there. His father was an alcoholic. He was a Head Start Kid, one of five children in his family, and he suffered from a speech impediment. He is grateful for that "assistance at the front end. When you get through that door, don't slam it behind you." People want a shot, he claims  A hand up, not a hand out. This is what counties do. It is the softer side of government.

Reibman. - He is very fortunate, and never needed help. But he has always been in a position to help others as a teacher and coach.

McClure. - He has been helped by the government. He had student loans guaranteed by federal government.

How can a County Executive Create Jobs? 

McClure. - Wrote the law for the mortgage foreclosure diversion program., which he claims saved 45% of those who entered the program. (Blogger's Note: I believe McClure's claim here is exaggerated, and will look into this boast). 

The Stoffa Administration decided against a DCED Director. "It's the first appointment I'm gonna' make, he promised. In a veiled criticism of LVEDC, he notes that regionalism can be unbalanced, and complains that Northampton County is not getting the quality jobs.

Reibman. - He created the DCED. He claims he created thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic development. He had to replace a lot of lost jobs at Bethlehem Steel, Mack Truck and  Ingersoll Rand. "You see now the fruits of the labor," he boasts.
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He created DCED.

Callahan. Has had a decade of success in Bethlehem with 5,500 new jobs, $2.2 billion in investment. technology, an $18 MM expansion of a business incubator. He opened up a post incubator tech center in S Beth at old Cantelmi hardware. Government can create the right environment for the private sector to do well.

Callahan agrees that economic development  has been relegated to the back burner in Northampton County. He will fill the position of DCED Director. He complained that the department is located in the "bowels of courthouse," where business prospects have to walk by prisoners. "It sends exactly the wrong kind of message."

How can the County level the playing field so that there is not so much poverty in the cities and older borough?

Reibman. - Encourage more regionalization with boroughs and townships. He points to the Colonial Regional Police Force as a prime example. He also advocates mergers, saying we must eventually merge into one community. "38 is too many municipalities. We need to merge."

McClure. - Would provide the services those folks need. Gracedale and state mandated human services.

Callahan. - Notes there are too many vacant storefronts in the boroughs, and proposes a "critical mass" on the County level, a network that boroughs in need can tap. But he stresses that it all hinges around public safety. People have to feel safe. He wants to create a good environment around public safety and states the county can play a much more aggressive role in these boroughs. He claims Bethlehem's biggest successes are those small storefronts.

Will you ever raise taxes? 

McClure. Pledges there will be no property tax hikes in first term. He notes Reibman's 64% tax hike and Stoffa's 2007 tax hike of 1/2 mil "sold as open space." He claims that will raise $83 million and it will be used for other things. He claims higher taxes makes it harder for seniors to stay in their homes. He has never voted for a tax increase.

Callahan. - will raise taxes as absolute last resort. The County has an obligation to provide certain critical services. Must be efficient and effective as possible,. He notes that in Bethlehem, he has reduced debt by $90 MM and has had two years of surpluses with the least amount of employees since that record has been maintained. But if you've done all the things you can do and still have a deficit, you have to raise taxes.

He points to his Continuous Improvement program in Bethlehem, which empowers employees to do their job better. He claims that has resulted in $14 MM in savings over 6 years on a City level, and could yield more on a County level.

Reibman. - While on Council, he never voted to raise taxes. He claimed that the tax hikes in 2003-4 were the result of the "biggest turndown in the economy since the Great Depression," and were approved by a bipartisan Council.

What makes most proud?.

McClure. -Gracedale still county owned, but Q/C and appearance is high. A public well served by employees and employees who are happy.

Reibman. - The Reibman administration was not a caretaker government. Reibman actually read the speech he gave 8 years ago, when he stepped down.

Callahan.  - Little skirmishes and battles most folks never know about.  Standing up to a bully. Wants to leave the place better than when he got there. Grow the tax base, preserve open space, produce jobs and strengthen the urban core and boroughs.