Local Government TV

Monday, July 24, 2017

Who Will Be Top Dog in Lehigh and NorCo?

I'm gearing up for November's election, and will be creating informational pages on my left sidebar for the Allentown Mayoral, Lehigh and NorCo Executive, Lehigh and NorCo Comm'r and Council, and Allentown City Council races.

In connection with the creation of these pages, I am asking for your help. For each of these races, I'd like to pose up to ten questions for the candidates. For example, I'd like to ask Brown and the Republican incumbents on NorCo Council why they've run away from any of the ethical reforms sought by Hayden Phillips. I could ask many pointed questions like that, but think it's more fair to ask readers to present questions they'd like answered.

For now, let me introduce the top dogs in the Lehigh and NorCo Exec race, and please ask what questions you'd like both candidates to answer in each county. For example, a fair NorCo question might be one that asks the candidates about the new jail that Brown is planning.  

Lehigh County Executive:  chief executive officer and administrative official who executes and enforces all county ordinances and presents the financial plan and budget to County Commissioners  The term of office is four years, with an annual salary of $75,000. Incumbent Tom Muller has decided against seeking re-election.

Phillips Armstrong, Democrat
Facebook - Phillips Armstrong
Webpage - http://www.armstrong4executive.com/ (not live)
Employment - retired educator, Whitehall-Coplay School District
Gov't experience - Whitehall Tp Board of Comm'rs (appointed 2014, elected 2015)
Education - Kutztown University, M.Ed., 1971
Residence - Whitehall Township
Activities: looks like water skis

Brad Osborne, Republican 
Facebook - Brad OsborneOsborne for Executive
Webpage - Osborne for Executive
Employment - retired as Plant Manager, GEO Specialty Chemicals
Gov't Experience -  So. Whitehall Tp Comm'r (2005-2012); Lehigh County Comm'r (2012-present).
Education - University of Virginia, B.S., Chemical Engineering
Residence -  So. Whitehall Tp
Activities: I'll fill you in.

NorCo Executive:  chief executive officer and administrative official who executes and enforces all county ordinances and presents the financial plan and budget to County Council  The term of office is four years, with an annual salary of $85,000.

Lamont McClure, Democrat
Facebook - McClure4Exec
Webpage -http://www.lamontmcclure.com/
Employment - Peter Angelos law offices
Gov't Experience - Appointed to NorCo Council in  2006, elected in 2007 and again in 2011. Served ten years.
Education - Wilkes University, B.A., 1992 and Duquesne University, J.D., 1995
Residence: Bethlehem Township
Activities: Active as a baseball and basketball coach in youth sports

John Brown, Republican (incumbent)
Facebook - John Brown and John Brown, NorCo Executive
Webpage - Could only locate his webpage for state auditor general, http://www.johnbrownforpa.com/
Employment - county executive
Government Experience - Bangor Mayor (2009-2013); NorCo Exec (2014-present)
Education - Notre Dame
Residence: Bangor
Activities: golf

14 comments:

  1. You doing this to everyone running?

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  2. I am going to try. I want this to be an election resource.

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  3. Osborne gas an impressive resume. Meanwhile Armstrong Phillips is another lifetime teacher. God Save us.

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  4. For 3:44 a.m. when I start to review candidates for offices, especially for school boards, my first cut is anyone that has had experience feeding at the trough of public education.

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  5. Ask Brown why he keeps Trapp when she breaks numerous County policies and enforces them randomly on employees.

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  6. All Brown Stain needs to due is state he is freezing salaries and cutting benefits even more and the public will kiss his ass. They don't want to here about the possible large, and I do mean large tax increase that is coming if the new prison project goes through. Fiscal working on those details as I write this.

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  7. 6:23, that's nice. Just in case it has not dawned on you, I have absolutely zero interest in the voting practices of some anonymous coward. The purpose of this comment section is to enable you to list questions, not smear an honorable profession with your generalizations.

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  8. Yeah teachers...who needs 'em right?? Oh wait...

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  9. Has anyone ever found out what Brown's "consulting" job was when he ran the first time. I find it amazing in this age of information access that his employment background is so murky.

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  10. 3:44 Oh the teacher thing again. Whats next, disrepecting cops, firefighters,parmedics,doctors and nurses? You probabbly think cutting funding to meals on wheels is a Godly quality.

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  11. Yes, what did Brown do as a job before he ran for office? everybody wants to know. Do you know any investigative reporters in the valley who could find out?

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  12. Tax raisers and jail builders. Another major county building. When is enough, enough!

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  13. Can Lamont McClure really beat John Brown?

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  14. 344. Typical GOP line. What is next? Insulting Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Docters, Nurses and others that have dedicated a lifetime of service?

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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.