NorCo Judge: District Attorney John Morganelli is mum on his plans next year. But expect him to announce his candidacy for judge. He'll be running for the open seat created by the unfortunate resignation of Judge Emil Giordano. I am unaware of anyone willing to challenge him. He is widely admired and respected by Democrats and Republicans alike. I doubt Republicans want a candidate because this would force Morganelli to mount a campaign, which would increase Democratic turnout and seal the GOP's doom in other races.
A judicial race is nonpartisan, and I expect to see John nominated by both parties. His race will be over in May,so there will be no Trump effect.
District Attorney: Terry Houck, the top Assistant DA on Morganelli's team, and Chief Public Defender Nuria DiLuzio are both expected to announce their candidacy as Democrats. This should be an interesting primary. Houck is a professional prosecutor who has distinguished himself both her and in Bucks County. Before that, he was a Philly cop. DiLuzio is less experienced, but is a very good lawyer. Some Democrats, especially those in the "Down with the Patriarchy" movement, will vote for her simply because she is a woman.
A third Democrat, an Easton lawyer (I do not yet have his name) who claims to have prosecuted war crimes in the Hague, is reportedly interested. If he runs, I expect that he and Terry Houck will cancel each other out, and Nuria will be the Dem nominee.
On the Republican side, Senior Judge Leonard Zito is rumored as interested. But he is unable to discuss his intentions unless he resigns as a judge. If he does, he would be hard to beat. Tom Carroll, who chairs the LV Tea Party, intends to run. He could be the Republican nominee if Judge Zito stays put. If that happens, the Trump effect will be in play in that race. While his alt-right views have a small following, a Carroll candidacy will hurt mainstream Republicans seeking other county seats.
County Council: The four council seats up for grabs are district, and not at-large, seats. Council members represent portions of the county, and have ample opportunity to make themselves known in their community. Party affiliation is less important if the person is well known and highly regarded So the Trump effect should be less significant in this kind of race.
District 1 includes Bethlehem, Hellertown, Freemansburg and Hanover Tp. It was represented by Ken Kraft, but he resigned to become the jail's public safety director. Kevin Lott was appointed to succeed him.I expect Kevin Lott, a Hellertown boy, will seek this seat and win. He's very personable and is a Democrat in a heavily Democratic district. I am unaware of any Republican interested in this seat.
District 2 is known as the Easton district and is currently represented by Bob Werner, a Democrat. It includes, Easton, Forks, Glendon, Palmer, Stockertown, Tatamy, West Easton and Wilson Borough. Werner, who has served two terms, is stepping down. His wife, Sandy O'Brien, a former teacher, may be running. Former EASD President Frank Pintabone is interested as well. Both have deep Easton roots. I am unaware of any Republicans who are interested.
District 3, known as the Nazareth district, is a bit confusing. It does include Nazareth, but also includes Lower Saucon, Williams, Allen, East Allen, Bethlehem Tp, Northampton, N Catasauqua and Lower Nazareth. It is currently represented by John Cusick, a Republican and former Williams Tp Supervisor who has served in this district before. I expect him to seek re-election. His region is more conservative than District 1 or 2, but a Democrat who is well known in this area could win. I am unaware of any Democrat seeking this position.
District 4, known as the Slate Belt or northern tier, consists of the remaining municipalities in the northern portion of the county, along the Blue Mountain. Matt Dietz is stepping down after one term so he can spend more time with his family. Pilot Korry Franke, a Republican, will be running in this conservative district. I am unaware of any Democrat who is interested.
Controller: It's unfortunate that Richard "Bucky" Szulborski is only serving as an interim controller. He has received kudos for his impartiality. Republican Hayden Phillips might run for the seat. As a County Council member, he was both diligent and honest. I have yet to hear from any Democrats.
Updated 9 am: In the DA's race, the Easton attorney in question is Arthur Traldi. His LinkedIn page indicates he is a "Courtroom litigator with extensive experience prosecuting some of the most serious crimes in recent history. Specialties include legal services, domestic and international criminal law, litigation, trial practice and advocacy, transitional justice, rule of law, and human rights. Certified to practice law before the state courts of Pennsylvania, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and the United States Supreme Court."
22 comments:
Word as it that the King of the Democrats, Matt Munsey has a special candidate he hand picked for District two. He has promoted this candidate for years.
District one also includes Freemansburg
District three was intentionally gerrymandered to help republicans. It is a bullshit district.
very informative NICE
Why do people think DA Morganelli is s shoe-in when he received just 39% of the vote in the Democratic primary for Congress this year? Couldn't a progressive Dem beat him again?
Roseanne Joseph is still my choice. She would be a good candidate and an excellent choice for D.A. If she runs in a crowded field, she wins. The strong Lebanese Community and the strong Easton Vote and the Women's vote will carry her to Victory.
4:49, Correct. Will add.
"District three was intentionally gerrymandered to help republicans. It is a bullshit district."
It is the most twisted district. The other three districts do make more sense, but this was strictly an exercise of Council Clerk Frank Flisser, and he is a Dem. I heard no complaints in 2011 when this was done.
"Why do people think DA Morganelli is s shoe-in when he received just 39% of the vote in the Democratic primary for Congress this year?"
In the race for Congress, he was running in a much larger district and against a ton of outside money in a charged atmosphere.
Morganelli will not win for Judge. The sickening grand stage showman will be an embarrassment to the court. I nor my family wont vote for him. A good Democrat will kick his butt like Wild thing all over again. No one is afraid of the big bad wolf...
The poll that was recently done confirmed he wont win if certain people throw there hats in.
I deleted an anonymous personal attack that fails in any way to back up some dishusting allegations.
Like him or not, and most do around here, Morganelli wins any race he chooses in NorCo. This is his pond and he's the biggest fish. Outside NorCo, 'nuther story.
Dearest Bernard,
You have my vote- IM VOTING - VOTE O'HARE for Judge!
What certain people?
District 4 does indeed include the Slate Belt. However, it goes as far west as Walnutport and to the northwest corner of Lehigh Township, as it does encompass all of Northampton County's northern tier. I was involved in the last campaign for that district seat and was quite surprised at how large and far reaching it was, geographically.
"A judicial race is nonpartisan, and I expect to see John nominated by both parties." Riddle me this: what's wrong with that statement?
No political race is non-partisan. Judicial races being non-partisan is some of the silly stuff lawyers say.
http://articles.mcall.com/2001-07-09/news/3375210_1_cortez-tentative-settlement-cafeteria
http://articles.mcall.com/1997-03-14/news/3128571_1_o-brien-werner-school-cafeteria
That’s your evidence? She was in a cafeteria when a student was assaulted and may have witnessed it? Based on that evidence, you should turn yourself in as a mass murderer. After all, you live in this country and mass murder occur here so you must be part of it.
Yours is one of the most breathtakingly illogical arguments I have ever read. Try using that in s campaign. Please. People will see you for the idiot you are.
I assume the candidate from Easton for District Attorney is Arthur Traldi and I can tell you one thing about him, you will NEVER meet a smarter person in your life. Not to say that he is the best candidate, but his intelligence is of the charts.
I updated my post at 9 am to ID Traldi. He has an impressive resume.
As a District 4 resident, I call upon Ron Angle to come out of retirement and run for the seat. We need his common sense and wisdom to straighten this county out. Then one day, maybe we can be as great as Lehigh County.
Angle could not get elected even in District four. His antics have a shelf life and that shelf life has expired. The clown show is over, even in District four.
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