Ritter hosts her own webpage, CarolTalks, where she holds herself out as a motivational speaker. I know she either is or was a trustee at Bethlehem Food Co-Op.
She is also an alternate on Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board.
She did apply for the vacancy created by the resignation of Eric Evans from Bethlehem City Council early last year. Her response to a questionnaire from City Council members appears online. She was asked whether she'd be running for election this year. Her answer? "I currently have no intention to run for city council in the next election year."
Well, she is.
The only member of City Council to vote for her last year was Bryan Callahan. She lost out to Dr. Paige Van Wirt,.an exceptional candidate. That's understandable. Even Mother Teresa would have lost to Dr. Van Wirt.
At the time, Bethlehem resident and former political consultant Donald Flad spoke on Ritter's behalf. He said she has no personal agenda, she has no ax to grind, and only wants to see the City she loves so much continue to moves forward. Another person who worked with Ritter at Just Born about 20 years ago also spoke highly of this candidate.
I've learned she was a Northampton Area School Director between 2003 and 2007.
I get that she's a great motivator and consensus builder. I'd just like to know more details about her past history.
Four Bethlehem City Council are up for grabs this year. They are currently held by J. William "Willie" Reynolds (a government and history teacher at William Allen High School); Michael G. Colón (Gracedale Admissions Coordinator); Shawn M. Martell (Nazareth High School teacher); and Dr. Paige Van Wirt (physician). Martell has decided against seeking a second term. Also, Dr. Van Wirt was appointed to Council, not elected. It is believed that she and Colón are running, too, although I've received no announcement. Reynolds has announced he is seeking re-election.
Grace Crampsie Smith, an Easton Area High School counselor, is also running.
Supposedly part of the gay brigade with Flad.
ReplyDeleteMotivational speaker and business consultant. That is usually code for unemployed. Always interesting to watch Bethlehem politics. It is a pure insiders game with incestuous overtones. Not sure if she can make it happen.
OMG. It’s like Zirinski if she came out
ReplyDeletewow what a candidate
ReplyDeleteChecked out her webpage A lot of Pink and a lot of fluff Just motivationally speaking my opinion
ReplyDeleteFirst, Carol is a good candidate and will probably win. She is very pro-downtown business and very active in the community. She is well liked by those who know her and will be a great councilperson.
ReplyDeleteSecond, she was asked if she was selected to fill the vacancy would she run. She was not selected and I have no issue with her running. I do have an issue with Van Wirt running for the 4-year seat, rather than her running to finish the term she was selected for.
Third, she is a Liberty HS graduate.
think she would be a great asset to the city, is she running for a 2 year seat
ReplyDeleteYikes. I watched that video on her webpage. Can't un-see that. Creeped me out.
ReplyDeleteI have no issues with Carol Ritter, but really need to know about her background. I have heard good things about her, and Donald Flad is very knowledgeable about Bethlehem.
ReplyDeleteThat is one extreme lez haircut!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that caroltalks.com is fascinating. Can't imagine the business gets much traction.
ReplyDeleteThere are two quotes on the page:
"Carol is the best of the best, her encouragement, guidance and grounded advice as a coach is priceless"
- Rocky & Julia Urich, Firerock Productions
They are the people who created that scary video.
"All Carol's keynotes are high energy and presented with lots of content and humor"
- Colorado PTA
So that is basically unattributed to an individual.
Kudos to her for her volunteer work. Her professional track is still a but murky, as Bernie noted.
Bernie - if you watch the video she tells people to call her and gives a phone number. You should try it!
all and I mean all politicians are me people first this is why this country is going down the drain no border abortion up to birth tax and tax socialism history tells us all countries eventually fail
ReplyDelete5:26, I will. Only watched beginning of video
ReplyDeletedemocrats= no border security open borders abortion that kills babies they want to tax tax tax and spend in a very wasteful way they have destroyed our cities they want to overtax our business they overregulate everything they can get their hands on they believe in socialism look at how that worked out in other countries the democratic left is more of an enemy than Russia or china or iran the democratic left is as unamerican as you can be
ReplyDeleteCity Council recent funding of Ritter’s food coop to the tune of $57,000 was outright stealing money away from aid to poor families & children in Bethlehem such as YMCA & Summer youth programs.
ReplyDeleteThat alone should disqualify Ritter due to her tight relationship to Reynolds a vocal Food Coop member! More chronyism in Bethlehem with this announcement.
Van Wirt has every right to run for 4 year seat & her & Olga are the only council members consistently challenging the administration on their blunders designed to benefit their developer friends.
This consultant nonsense is funny. The buzzwords and slogans this crowd loves to use would make you laugh if they weren't conning some poor sucker into paying to hear them. The ole days had snake oil salesmen and now you have motivational speakers, facilitators and consultants. What a racquet. God Bless the USA!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patriot, the eco-op should not get public money and that alone disqualifies her.
Buzzwords and phrases of the new motivational speakers that are not just the political hacks. The coming of the extravaganza and the administrators of Americas new cleansing tool, Crystal Drano Douch with a Clorox after wash!
ReplyDeleteCarol is a great listener and very knowledgable about City issues. She was far and away the best candidate to fill Evans spot. Van Wirt just moved here a few years ago and is out of touch with the Bethlehem blue collar working class Dems.
ReplyDeleteI do not know Carol but I can tell by the negative comments she is a viable candidate. Seems like some of the other candidates and their friends are trying to bring her down because they are scared. I also believe some of this is directed at Carol due to her gender and sexual preference. If a man is a consultant most people do not question it.
ReplyDeletePatriot2 (or should I say, Bruce?), it is elitists like you and Van Wirt who keep Bethlehem from progressing forward. At last Van Wirt is real about her complaints. You are so worried about competition that you feign opposition to any project that may hurt your bottom line in the name of "cronyism" and historic preservation. You got your CRIZ designation now and increased the Hotel's value--time to sell soon cause we all know damn well you'll never build that addition yourself.
Not Bruce but just an admirer of his commitment to improving The Historic District over the past 20 years.
ReplyDeleteBruce does love him some Bruce.
ReplyDeleteFlad is an establishment Dem Party hack.
ReplyDeleteRitter is an award winner.
ReplyDeletescissor my timbers!
ReplyDeleteShe is a disciple of Bryan Callahan. He is pushing his own version of a plastic bag no authority city law. Send in the clowns, don't bother their here!
ReplyDelete