Brown Makes Three Cabinet Picks

At their July 1 meeting, Northampton County Council pressed Executive John Brown to appoint cabinet members. "I think the process is taking too long," complained Council member Scott Parsons. He can't complain anymore. On July 10, Brown made three cabinet appointments: Luis Campos as Director of Administration; James Hunter as Director of Fiscal Affairs; and David Dalrymple as the new Sheriff. The nominations will be reviewed by Council's Personnel Committee on Wednesday, and a vote will take place on Thursday.

Dalrymple

Sheriff Nominee David Dalrymple. - Called a "cop's cop" by some Deputy Sheriffs, Dalrymple is a retired Major from the New Jersey State Police, where he was the commanding officer of the intelligence section. While in the state police, he was involved in the investigation and arrest of a New Jersey Sheriff who sought $25,000 bribes for employment and promotion.

A graduate of Rutgers University, Dalrymple has a Bachelor's degree in psychology. He also has a Master's degree, awarded by Seton Hall, in Human Resources.

When a Sheriff is appointed in Northampton County, the top three choices must be forwarded to the courts for their review. Court Administrator Jill Cicero acknowledges the courts were consulted. She declined to say whether judges agree with the selection, but there are no memos opposing the appointment.

If confirmed, Dalrymple will be the only Sheriff in Pennsylvania who does not reside in the state. He lives in Stewartsville, N.J. Some gun rights activists are concerned that a former New Jersey law enforcement official might bring the Garden State's more restrictive views concerning licenses to carry firearms. Pennsylvania is a "shall issue" state, giving the Sheriff little discretion to deny a license.

A final concern about Dalrymple is whether he will be required to attend the 160-hours of training recently mandated for Sheriffs. That new law does not take effect for 60 days, so it should have no application to Dalrymple. That law also specifically exempts law enforcement officials who have received equivalent training.

If confirmed, Dalrymple's salary will be $91,422.

Jim Hunter

Fiscal Affairs Nominee James W. Hunter. - A commercial lender at Merchants Bank since 2006, Hunter is a graduate of Kutztown University and has some advanced training in bank management. Prior to that, he was a bank manager for Bank of America, and has over 30 years of experience as a banker.

He has never worked in the public sector and is not an accountant. Fiscal Affairs develops the County's budgets and financial plans and maintains control over all aspects of the County's financial and fiscal affairs. It also provides central data processing services for all agencies of county government.

Hunter's proposed salary is unknown.

Luis Campos

Director of Administration Nominee Luis Campos. - This graduate of both Muhlenberg College ('99) and Lehigh University ('01) has a Master's Degree in Political Science. He has experience in both the public and private sector.

In the public sector, he worked in the Small Business Administration, and worked in Governor Rendell's Office of Administration as well as the Budget office.

In the private sector, he first worked as a realtor for Zaworski Homes, selling new homes for his family's business between 2000 and 2008, when the Great Recession hit. From there, Campos went to work in sales for First Priority Pay, a payroll services company based in Hoboken, N.J.

His employment at First Priority lasted only two years. The two principals in that firm, Northampton County residents Jose Figueroa and Carlos Chorro, defrauded clients of almost $1 million and failed to pay $400,000 in taxes. They were sentenced in 2012.

More recently, Campos' mother, Lilliam Zaworski, has also been charged with tax evasion for failing to pay $130,000 in taxes over a three-year period, using the money to instead purchase luxury goods and services.

There is no evidence that Campos was involved in any way in that criminal scheme. In fact, he continued doing payroll sales for another three years, this time for Electronic Commerce, Inc.

Most recently, Campos was employed as a sales manager by RestoreCore, a company that specializes in fire damage, water and smoke damage, as well as disaster planning.

Campos did reside at an upscale home on Foxview Drive in Hanover Township, but the property was conveyed last week, the same day he was appointed. He currently resides in Allentown.

He is the Chair of the LV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His family immigrated to the United States after President Reagan relaxed  immigration rules in 1986.

If confirmed, his salary will be $87,838.

Executive Brown has yet to appoint a Director of Court Services, which is thought by many to be an unnecessary office.