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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Sletvold: NorCo Council Passes First Political Courage Test

Republicans have a 5-4 majority on Northampton County Council. So when Republican Executive John Brown nominated the Republican husband of a newly elected Republican judge as Public Defender, and one who helped get him elected, team players should be expected to confirm. Never mind that it would essentially make it impossible for Judge Sletvold to hear about 75% of criminal or juvenile matters. Never mind that some of the delay in finding a replacement judge could have some very serious consequences.

Ironically, two of the Republican Council members who bucked their own party, and who must have done so under extreme pressure, are two that I opposed last election cycle.

Once again, i prove that I'm an idiot.

One of them, Hayden Phillips, is a person I called an extremist during the campaign because some of his views are out there. I still feel that way, but have to commend his integrity in choosing good government over party allegiance.

The second Council member, Seth Vaughn, is a person I criticized because of his chronic absences on the LV Planning Commission. But he, like Phillips, chose to do what he thought was in the best interests of the County.

Cynics say these two care nothing about good government and were really just promoting Tom Carroll, a tea party lawyer who might be interested in the PD slot. But if i have heard that there is no way that Brown would select Carroll, I am sure they heard that, too.

I believe they acted in the best interest of the County.

Mat Benol, Glenn Beissinger and Peg Ferraro? Not so much. Benol and Geissinger are new to the game and can be expected to stick to their party. But Peg knew better. She basically told Morning Call columnist Bill White that the appointment was bad, but chose her party over doing the right thing.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Mr. Brown was brow beaten onto submission by you and the liberal media. I hope he stands his ground in the future.

The Democratic controlled liberal media wants him to fail. that is obvious!

Anonymous said...

you got one thing right. you are an idiot

Anonymous said...

Phillips and Vaughn should be proud of themselves. They made it clear that they will vote what is good for the County and that they will not be led off a cliff by Ferraro and the two bumbling fools she convinced into making horrible party line votes

Kudos to a Vaughn and Phillips

Easton a turkey award to the Three amigos

Anonymous said...

Why didn't these two R's stand their ground during reorganization? Now we are stuck with Peg, who is obviously now a weak Council President on big issues? This is gonna be messy as Tea Bag Man and Seth have grabbed the reins away from her and they can set the tone instead of her..

Anonymous said...

I differ on the JB not standing his ground statement above. This is tactical and you live to fight another day. This was not worth dying for in the long run. I still say these choices are not totally his choices. He's smarter than this and I am convinced these choices are being made despite his business intuition and training.

Bernie O'Hare said...

2:55 is Tricia Mezzacappa, who has distorted a good government issue into a liberal v. conservative issue. I am sure that Brown would pay her to oppose him, if he could.

Anonymous said...

2:55..Go turn on Fox News and turn off your brain some more. Try an original thought of your own next time instead of regurgitating their crap and pointing it at a local official.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:48, Peg Ferraro is the most experienced Council member, wanted the jib and it only would make sense to give it to her. But i don't know if you have much sense.

Anonymous said...

They didn't stand their ground because they did not want a candidate who is running for the Senate as President. It would have legitimized him more than they want.

Anonymous said...

Fox News? Have you watched all of the other liberal communist channels. Of course u do. Talk about mush for a brain....

Ferraro was not going to let this position pass her by again. The last council knew her well enough to keep her out of it but this one is full of new guys. Next year will be the better test. Someone else needs to get this position. For Peg how does the saying go about better if you are thought a fool then actually being one.

Browns choice was not the right one and she should have went to let a long time ago and had this nonsense stopped. That is her job....instead she made the other 2 look bad. Think they learned a lesson on this one.

Anonymous said...

Bernie if you think the last administration was a joke which it was , wait till you see this one good luck people of NORCO.

Anonymous said...

B O if Sletvold had any kind of true ethics he would have recused himself from this matter, due to his wife just being elected as a judge.

Anonymous said...

Get over Peg. She doesn't know better. She only knows what's better for Peg.

Anonymous said...

Liberal rage is a terrible thing.

c said...

Grant that I may never take the opportunity to criticize nor pass up the opportunity to give praise. Good job to Vaughn and Phillips. Thank you for your common sense.

Anonymous said...

They were mislead by the liberal media

Anonymous said...

Liberal Media, have you ever looked to see who the editorial staff or the owners of these two rags are, yeah that right REPUBLICANS and conservative ones at that. stop with this crap Trish M. you only make yourself look more like the ass that you are. Move back to Jersey and Leave us West Easton People Alone you hack

Anonymous said...

Ok. They get the Longfellow "be not like dumb driven cattle award." Lets not go overboard. The best/worst of them is yet to come.

Anonymous said...

As bad as the Callaghan cabal would have been, Brown is fast setting records for a governmental version of the Razzie awards.

A director of administration who knows nothing about county govt.
A director of community and economic development who took someone on a tour 11 years ago.

a solicitor who thinks they just invented email and remote computer access.

Stir gently, mix with a completely uniformed Council and behold the race to the bottom begins.

Anonymous said...

That the Callahan brood is so brooding is indicative of why he was so hated.

Anonymous said...

Alittle confused, though John Brown called the shots on not going forward with his choice ? You make it seem that County Council made a vote, which they didn't, Why he would nominated someone with a clear conflict of interest with his wife is only the beginning of the end for him.

Anonymous said...

Hey O'Hare, what the hell happened tonight?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Exactly what I predicted would happen.

Anonymous said...

Did Browns picks get a unanimous vote?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Geez, wait for my story. The ET has something up. Read that.

Anonymous said...

Well, council got an "F" on tonight's test.