In a memo to Northampton County Council Personnel Chair Ken Kraft, Executive John Brown has just withdrawn the nomination of Bob Sletvold as his Public Defender.
Brown states, "Unfortunately, it is apparent that Robert Sletvold's reputation, experience and commitment are insufficient to secure his confirmation ... ."
In other words, he does not have the votes.
This is what happens when you try to fit a square peg into a round hole. It doesn't matter how square that peg is, it is not going to fit.
You can read Brown's memo here. He completely misses the point. The objection to Sletvold has nothing to do with his reputation, experience or commitment. It has everything to do with the burden on the courts, as well as a threat to public safety that Brown simply ignores.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
32 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.
To say Brown is "mediocre", gives him too much credit!
ReplyDeleteThat's ok. The end result is good--controversy over, both the the Court and the duties of the new Judge can be fully operational. Let Judge Sletvold get on with her work as she was elected to do, and let Brown move on to another nomination. I don't care that he doesn't admit that he was wrong in the memo. Just glad that he ended the show.
ReplyDeleteOh I think the show is just beginning. I hope I'm wrong, but it seems we are in for a rocky ride.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting that this nomination was withdrawn. Mr. Sletvold is a great candidate but unfortunately his appointment is not in the best interest of the courts. It also makes it clear that the newly elected councilmen are working for those same interests. Good start for the people, tough road for Brown.
ReplyDeleteFirst time for everything I guess. This never happened to JB in Bangor and my sense is that he will learn from the experience and do better next time. I'm pretty sure that whoever talked him into this now withdrawn nomination is on his $%!# list.
ReplyDeleteSo this new brackbill cant fill his cabinet; cant stand up to media pressure; does not back his friends in the face of adversity; so how the hell is going to lead for 4 years?
ReplyDeleteAgain, say what u will about Callahan no way this minor league t ball governance would be happening.
Brown is a joke and he has been in office less than 30days. Revote!
Agree with 1218. His withdrawl of the nomination is sufficient enough to represent the "I'm wrong". I think what he is trying to say is that he had hoped Mr Sletvold's experience etc would carry him past the controversial nomination to the office of Public Defender. No harm, no foul. Move on Bernie. By the way, what is Johnny Casino doing with his time?
ReplyDeleteI think it says much about Brown. He may make mistakes along the way, but he is also willing to correct them when he should and can. Another elected official might have bulldogged his nomination through with deals and promises.
ReplyDeleteI said this nomination would be an early test whether this new Council stands for good government or party politics. They passed the test, under what I can only imagine was immense pressure against the R holdouts.
ReplyDeleteAs for Brown's memo, it is far from a mea culpa. It was a petulant shot at Council.
You ask me what Callahan is doing in an attempt to demean him and change the subject. This is not about the election. It is about good government. But you have shown where you stand.
By the way, Callahan is now in the private sector, making twice what he would have as Exec.
I have a question Bernie. Now that John Callahan is in the private sector and no longer a public figure, does he and his family and his employer stay out of this blog? I would hope so. He is the PAST and I would hope that people "turn the page"
ReplyDeleteNEWS FLASH Just got word the City of Allentown spent $120,000 to redo council chambers to add bigger seats. Seems the fat asses couldn't attend meetings.Hear anything from the T party?
ReplyDeleteCallahan is working for his pal Perrucci in a charity job.
ReplyDeleteSletvold's character and experience were never the issue. It is scary to see the commenters here excusing Brown for what appears to be cluelessness, unless it is arrogance, which would be even worse. Whatever happened to good old fashioned intelligence, common sense and integrity in our elected leaders?
ReplyDeleteBrown should nominate attorney mayesther s merlo for chief public defender. She's looking for a job and has an in with brown. Scary or not, given brown's track record so far, this just might happen. Hell jane baker appointed her to lcocys back in the day.
ReplyDeleteJohn Brown was the victim of partisan politics. O'Hare's guy lost so he must sabotage Mr. Brown
ReplyDeleteThe democrats want to see him fail.
Bernie...you are mistaken if you think that this shows County Council R's were interested in good government. The votes were not there because Seth Vaughn and Hayden Phillips are aligned (in bed with) Tom Carroll. Tom Carroll pulled the puppet strings on this because he is planning to seek the bench again in 2015 and he views Bob Sletvold as a threat. Additionally Carroll is still "licking his wounds" from the thrashing he took from Jennifer Sletvold in the 2013 R primary and he wanted some sort of victory or retribution against the Sletvolds....
ReplyDeletePam buehlre should've been named director of human services, not frantz. Imho
ReplyDeletesolid ground, nikk, solid ground.
ReplyDeletealways and forevermore
This is getting pretty twisted now. Phillips..the kook..tea bagger..does the right thing and sides with the Dem's..and sticks a knife..in JB..over the PD nomination..along with Seth..at Carroll's urging? Makes sense to me!
ReplyDeleteThere is a real conundrum inherent here, it sure was sweet to see that leering fraternity boy Callahan beat, but now we have to live with this incompetent ass Bown. A lose lose I'd say.
ReplyDeleteMy family is first. Let's hope brown rises to the occasion. Obviously, I'll be watching.
ReplyDeleteDon't go and blanket the Dems together... McClure is a lawyer himself and he would have been put in a very tough position to vote against one of his own. Notice he never said he would vote for or against the Sletvold nomination.
ReplyDeleteHe was initially on the fence, but I have been told he had resolved to vote against it. And yes, that took courage.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to see where on the pay-scale these new hires are coming in at, as well. Thanks for the update.
ReplyDeleteCarroll is known as barely competent in the courtroom. None of the other attorneys believes he would be a good lawyer, never mind a judge. Anyone can spend 10 minutes in a courtroom and observe mediocrity at its worst by observing Carroll. Not just my opinion. And the political stories above are laughable.
ReplyDeleteI have been told that Brown, under no circumstances, will nominate Tom Carroll or Brian Monahan. Carroll is too closely associated with the Sletvold race, in which there were some hard feelings. And Monahan is not a blue blood R, but is closer to a Ron Angle type, and we can't have that, shrieks the LV Partnership.
ReplyDeleteLiberal elitists win this round and the county loses.
ReplyDeleteAnd the 3 am troll, trolls...
ReplyDeleteTo Anon 8;19-- Mr.Phillips is not a "kook". I say that because he has been vetted by high authoies than you or me.You are attacking him with your button box. Chances are that you Mr or Ms. Anon may not hold a candle to his personal intrepid character, and your probably not a bad person ! Wait, kooks are hateful socially inept characters.Why not post your real name? Because you are non- committed, may lack the intestinal fortitude to be held for any statement you print.
ReplyDeleteSorry , button box missing keys, need a new one but things are tight-, mean higher authorities than you or me. pete
ReplyDeletePhillips was a glorified paper pusher in the military.
ReplyDeleteI don't really care much what you say about an elected official, but attacking someone for his military service is pretty low. You don 't identify yourself or bother stating whether you even served. I will attack Phillips over his wacky views or lack of transparency, but I sign my name. You embarrass me and anyone else interested in good government.
ReplyDelete