Given their choices over the past dozen years, I seriously question the intellect of Allentown Democrats. Time and again, they make horrible choices. This year was no exception. Despite being caught in lies over and over, combined with an unwillingness to listen to the public, Candida Affa captured 18.24% of the vote. That was enough to propel her into office for another term on Allentown City Council unless a Republican can beat her in November. There's a sign, however, that Democrats are finally starting to wake up. They rejected grandstander and Jenn Mann-Mike Schollsberg-Pete Schweyer puppet Courtney Robinson. He was barely edged out by Lehigh County Public Information Officer Joshua Siegel, 1925-1832. Robinson lost by only 93 votes, but he went down.
Siegel, at age 25, is on a track to be the youngest person ever elected to Allentown City Council. He will also be the only Council member who actually lives on the often neglected east side.
Why did Siegel win and Robinson lose? Here's my analysis.
1. Money. Siegel raised over $16,000 in his bid for public office His largest contributor was Richard Brooks, President of Brooks Development, who gave him $3,000. In contrast, Robinson raised just $6,800. Mann mobsters Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg each kicked in $500, but he needed more.
2. Tax hike. It's bad enough that Robinson voted for a tax hike, but he actually stated at a City Council meeting that no one complained to him about it. This, of course, is untrue.
3. The Traud removal. Robinson spearheaded Tom Traud's removal as Allentown City Solicitor, hoping this might get him a few votes. It actually cost him. On the west end particularly, where Tom Traud is highly regarded.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Tuesday, May 28, 2019
19 comments:
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.
Robinson was indeed wasted space. However, he should be pissed that the Schloss/Schweyer butt buddy tag team only ponied up $500 each, Cheap bastereds. They raise a lot of money and never have opponents. Seriously, with friends like that... Where was the Mann money connections. Seems like they may have secretly cut him loose. Mann and friends could have had $20K in his account overnight if they wanted.
ReplyDeleteMy fear is that the more thing change, the more they stay the same. The new kid got a huge check from the Prez of a development company?? Haven't we seen this film before in Allentown? Come on BO if a county elected official got that check, you would be concerned and this is just a city race. Also the kid is the public information officer for Lehigh County. That job should be Hatch. Even if not, how can someone who is entrusted to be in charge of public information for all the citizens of the county run for a partisan political office?
Sorry nothing new to see here folks. Just political musical chairs in the Queeny city.
keep voting democrat Allentown you get what you vote in to office
ReplyDeleteSchloss/Schweyer never really supported the cloying Robinson and did as little as they could get away with. Robinson will still be a Jr. running boy for Mann. There’s no honor among thrives.
ReplyDeleteThe last Pawlowski deadender on council,Candida Affa soars to victory with 18% of the vote.
ReplyDeleteThe town is a comedy routine.
A bad joke.
Keep your eyes on Siegel.
ReplyDeleteThe kid is a caricature of the enthusiastic opportunistic career pol.
This kid is a hackmiester from the Old School variety.
You mean he’s just like Justin Simmons?
DeleteBottom line:
ReplyDeleteAllentown remains a shithole.
When did people realize that the City had a policy of salutary neglect on East Allentown … Must be a new Revelation. As a candidate for office in Allentown and Lehigh County I knew what was going on … But I was not the member of the right club that gets its people elected … Seems in Allentown I lived my entire life in the Lehigh County, Allentown and East Allentown but was still an outsider to the electorate despite my qualifications … So in the case of Siegal his outsider status served him well despite his short time status in East Allentown... Imagine, moving to the City in 2016 just after college and running for Mayor in his 1st year of residence …. Nevertheless, if he has a real interest in turning the City around for the interest of the people living here I wish him well … But I note that progressive ideas are not the same as people's ideas.
ReplyDeleteSiegal is a pre-qualified HACK.
ReplyDeleteCity Council is a ship of shills and fools.
Criminals still work in Cityhall.
Allentown is going to be a weight around the neck of the valley for a century.
Siegel's job is only covered by the federal Hatch Act if it is funded with any federal funding, or the position has duties in connection with federally funded activities. If it is all county or a combination of county & state, and his duties are not in connection with federally funded activities, then he is eligible to run in a partisan election and hold office. If Lehigh County's receipt of federally funded grants is based on or contingent upon the performance of his duties and activities with respect to such programs, and/or his salary is financed in any part with federal funds, then he would need a determination by the US Office of Special Counsel as to whether he can run in a partisan election under the Hatch Act.
ReplyDeleteThere is no Hatch Act issue. That is a red herring raised by someone who is either woefully misinformed or bent on political mischief. I would add that changes to the Hatch Act have weakened its application.
ReplyDelete"On December 19, 2012, Congress passed the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012. The Act allows most state and local government employees to run for partisan political office. Prior to this change, state and local government employees were prohibited from running for partisan office if they worked in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by federal loans or grants. With the change, the federal Hatch Act no longer prohibits state and local government employees from running for partisan office unless the employee’s salary is paid for completely by federal loans or grants."
https://osc.gov/Resources/Hatch%20Act%20Modernization%20Act%20Guidance%20for%20State%20and%20Local%20Employees.pdf
I think you really undersell how hard Siegel worked for his election. According to the mcall's political reporter Wagaman, Siegel won because he crushed Robinson in the East Side, where Siegel lives, and the West End. West Enders are considered to be the most political engaged side of town, with a lot of high information voters. The fact that Siegel won his election there tells me that the people who voted for him knew Robinson and were rejecting him outright.
ReplyDeleteI saw Siegel out knocking doors multiple times during the winter and Spring. He's young, but he clearly does his homework and works for it. As a West-Ender, he knocked on my door, so he got my vote.
https://twitter.com/AndrewWagaman/status/1133202408933351424
It’s a given that Siegel, who defeated an incumbent, worked hard. He worked hard in the Mayoral race, too. I am aware of what TMC implied, but last time I checked, I am entitled to my own analysis as well.
ReplyDeleteSeigel is the prince of vacuous political platitudes.
ReplyDeleteYes,he works hard at politics.
Pawlowski worked hard at politics too
ReplyDeleteVoters like to be asked. It appears that Siegel understands this, which puts him miles ahead of you.
ReplyDeleteCe-Ce did it!
ReplyDeleteSo as a real outsider now, living in a new County, I wish for the best that the political needs of Allentown and Lehigh County be captained by those whom would steer the ship of state in the right direction away from the storm that battered it in the past. …
ReplyDeleteHowever, historically, my running for office and living in East Allentown and being its advocate was treated as a negative to defeat me coming from establishment politicians and their political advisors and supported by the media in their comments … One columnist made fun once of my consecutive front page Morning Call ad that drew attention so much that on election day a Judge candidate raised enough hail about having his ad on the spot that my ad was not run … How unfair was that.
CeCe will be a powerful player for the community.
ReplyDeleteInclusionary Zoning,Community Benefits Agreement and much more.
She will be Mayor someday.