This November, in addition to elected a new District Attorney, Northampton County voters will also decide two county judge races. Three candidates - incumbent DA John Morganelli, Assistant District Attorney Abe Kassis and Bethlehem Attorney Vic Scomillio - are all running.
John Morganelli, who ran in the primary, is the nominee of both Democratic and Republican parties. Democrat Kassis and Republican Scomillio were selected by party apparatchiks because, at the time of the primary, there was no second opening. That happened when Judge Kim McFadden, who had intended to seek retention, changed her mind and resigned, effective November.
Morganelli should win easily, but he is nevertheless campaigning. He knows anything can happen in politics. The real question is who will win the race between Kassis and Scomillio. I believe the race will be very close, and depend on turnout.
Both Kassis and Scomillio have run for judge before. They know how to put together a campaign. Both have worked hard for their respective parties, so they will get volunteers to help them on election day. Both know how to raise money.
Kassis should win Easton and Bethlehem. He is running with John Morganelli and DA nominee Terry Houck, so that should really help him. He will also get union support.
Victor will win everywhere else, especially in the Slate Belt and Northern Tier. He will lose Bethlehem, but will win several precincts on the north side.
Vic appears to be keeping his distance from the GOP's DA candidate, Tom Carroll. That's because Carroll can only hurt him. Carroll, who once was an Assistant DA in Northampton County, was forced to resign after he placed an ape doll on the desk of a female assistant DA who is black.
What about the Lebanese factor? Northampton County's Lebanese community is heavily Republican, but you could expect most of them to split their tickets to vote for Abe. But not all. Victor's wife is Lebanese, and he has made inroads.
Scomillio has some negatives because, as NorCo Solicitor, he fired an assistant without due process and right before Christmas. Northampton County was sued and lost. This lapse cost the County money, and Vic was hit hard on this issue when he ran (and lost) against Sam Murray. But Abe Kassis has thus far failed to use this ammunition. Those who know him say he'll avoid being negative.
In my view, this race will depend on turnout. If Democrats stay away from the polls, as they often do in municipal races, Victor should win. If Democrats are outraged enough that a racist is running on the GOP ticket for DA, that might be enough for Abe to win.
It's bad enough to have a racist in the White House, let alone as NorCo's top prosecutor.
We'll see.
41 comments:
Vic by at least five hundred votes
I can't forgive Vic for the way that he fired that assistant- he's a John "brown pants" lackey. My vote is for Kassis!
Scumbag Scomillio cost the taxpayers of NORCO almost $400,000.00 by firing that fellow employee, what kind of judgement does that tell you? He's simply not fit to be impartial and sit on a bench!
No Due Process, NO VOTE!!!
From a Registered Republican.
Kassis gets my vote!
And Trump 2020
Kasis all the way. Scumillio does not his A from his B. Wasn't even an employee before he fired Mancini a couple of days before Christmas, on a cellphone, and didn't follow proper protocol. If he can't handle that right, would you want him as a judge making decisions about your life!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you feel this way, make sure you can get three or four friends to vote with you. Turn out is going to be very important. I agree Vic handled that situation poorly, and is fair game on due process. On the other hand, I saw him do a marvelous job arguing on behalf of a candidate who was fighting for ballot access. They are both good lawyers, but I believe Abe deserves it at this point. He has a quality I really like in a judge - compassion. His campaign lit identifies him as "tough" and he does prosecute bad guys. But he understands his job is prosecution, not persecution. He is very fair-minded and I've noticed that he is open to everyone, whether they can help him or not. So I will vote for Abe, and will consider Vic seriously if he runs again in two years.
No bias or prejudice here people.. move along now....
Scomillio and Kassis are the best bets for Judge. Morganelli has had long career on the Northampton tax payers and will do well with the pension he receives. There is no need for him to double dip!
Northampton County deserves a new generation of public employees that have fresh ideas
and different philosophies.If the voters are focused they will vote for both Scomillio and Kassis enabling a balanced and educated judiciary.
This race is not between Scomillio and Kassis it is between new ideas,fresh thoughts and rejection of the old guard, Morganelli!
You may not agree with me, but I agree with 7:39 AM. This isn't between Vic or Abe. Both may win. There is a three way race here. John cannot count on a guaranteed win. Voters can remember John's stance on immigration. Voters remember when John reached out to Trump's administration for a job and assistance. John went off the reservation too many times. Some may see this as an independent streak, but I view it as instability. At least Abe and Vic are true to their party's values and a voter understands what they are getting. John is just too volatile and polarizing. This is just my opinion.
Here is an example of why John Morganelli should just retire. His judgement is flawed. The arrest due to an allegation against a decorated veteran and career police officer having been a police chief in 3 towns! Every cops wife knows make a domestic complaint and he is toast. Its every police officers fear. What Police Officer Gwozdz said to LVL is correct. He convicted this man and ruined his career, reputation and life without a polygraph or an investigation other then what the wife said.
Gwozdz criticized the district attorney’s office for charging him without interviewing him. He said the case is based on hearsay, not physical evidence.
“You would have thought (Morganelli) would do a better job than before he goes to send a county detective out to arrest someone before knowing the complete facts,” Gwozdz told lehighvalleylive.com on Tuesday.
Would you not think you would do investigation into the deep root of this is and a polygraph before you arrest him? What happened to have all the facts and good standing before an arrest? If he had time to "interview" her he had time to polygraph her and investigate too. There is a deep root here and three stories- Her side his side and the truth.
This is an ONE minor example why Morganelli should not be a judge. He ran for numerous offices and lost and has a good pension but wants to double dip more on the tax payer.
Like it or not odds favor Morganelli winning. If your "dog in this fight" is Abe or Vic just vote for one of them if you aren't on Team Morganelli. Don't vote for both, it lessens the chance of your pick winning. It truly comes down to a two man race. People don't inform themselves enough to know why not to vote for some of the candidates. Transparency here, I am voting Kassis. I did get the facts and Vic cost me as a taxpayer money.
The longest side show on the "DA road"... Mr. Showboat, Mr Trump-tweeter- BEGS in a tweet, give me a job Trump as US Attorney General John Morganelli?, The "immigration" district Attorney, tear up the families and send them back, all over the news programs?
This man should not be anything put pushing the door to the courthouse open on his way out. It disgusts me for those tweets to Trump, what judgement and character? IS Trump coming to campaign for Showboat Johnny? His running for so many different offices shows the questionable character. All the TV to bolster his ego and more air time then Jerry Springer. Any man that supports Trump and is a "democrat" shows what a nut job he is.
Bad news, Bad Character. Bad Judgment and Bad for a Northampton County Judgeship!
Tom Carroll did a racism! We must exile him from the lands! May g-d have mercy on his soul.
I have made up my mind- ONE VOTE! KASSIS!
The the other two are two bottom feeders on the county tax payers and have been givin their feeding at the tax payer trough. We have enough of the character's- Scomillio with his county solicitor decisions and his antics
with John Brown.
John Morganelli with his ego, character and poor judgments from tweets to press conferences and so much seeking of other offices and TV glamour, he has made a career of running and losing. As yourself, what narcissistic mind would tweet Trump to be considered for US Attorney General other then someone not stable or of sound mind?
VOTE FOR ONE- KASSIS!
This is an ONE minor example why Morganelli should not be a judge
Yeah, he has charged lots of bad people over the years, including cops who think they are above the law.
I know of ALL these characters and I'd name them EWW, YUCK and PUKE. Seriously they dredged the bottom of the Northampton County Bar on this one. Sad to think this is the best they can provide. Bernice does that new voting machine have a clothes pin attachment for ones nose to vote for this stench?
Whoever is the Democrat. Remember 2018?
No Due Process, NO VOTE!!!
From a Registered Republican.
Kassis gets my vote!
And Trump 2020
What kind of imbecile would actually vote for Trump AGAIN? Wow.
Your going to have 2 Judges elected. Morganelli has played the Democrats and Republicans to earn another pension. Scomillio is a far better choice than Morganelli. Voting for one does not solve the problem. Its time to move Morganelli into private practice so he may shake down his private clients and not the tax payers!
Judicial races are not party politics. Abe Kassis has unfortunately aligned himself with Morganelli. Big mistake. Maybe he may go down and Morganelli wins the gold ring!
If the statement about double-dipping a pension, I'm not voting for John, on principle. Is it true?
I’ll be casting my vote for Abe, which is probably a bad thing since my candidates rarely win. I believe he has far more experience in a variety of areas and will make a fine judge as long as he remains his own man.
2:18, this is about Abe v Vic. To answer your question, all three will be eligible for a second pension.
Kassis is already acting like a judge. he has been quite aloft lately. Especially to old friends.
If being Right is wrong I don't want to be Left in the darkness!
John can't be Judge. Who is going to run Bethlehem? Donchez only does what John tells him to do. Like it or not this is a fact.
VOTE John Morganelli out of politics. Read some of his media comments about minority defendants compared to the comments about white defendants.
I’m going to vote for Abe . I’m a Republican. The reason is ,years ago I had interactions with him and he never acted like a big shot . I was with Volvo repair guy Jeff Cascue on another part times job in between the Eye bank ,my job at Easton fire dept. and National Guard were I’d go to morges and harvest corneas. Abe was a honest lawyer. So here I am 20 years later . I still think so.
"What kind of imbecile would actually vote for Trump AGAIN? Wow."
October 10, 2019 at 11:13 AM
Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! What idiot didn't vote Trump or wouldn't again?
Kassis is just kissing party people's asses and has forgot the other people who have supported him.
A fake friend like you? Sure.
"selected by party apparatchik"
Russians.
Abe has deserted people without influence.
I’m voting for Abe and Vic. Morganelli is just looking for another pay day
Are you aware that John Morganelli will not be on both ballots this fall. I got it from a good reliable Republican source that some kind of glitch will prevent John from being on the Republican ballot. This has a Republican odor about it. Does it have something to do with the new machines? Check it out.
Bullshit.
Most of the negative Morganelli comments are from Tricia Mezzacappa, a criminal defendant.
Scomillio thinks he is entitled to the position. He has a Napoleonic complex and has already cost taxpayers well over a half million dollars due to his inability to understand county home rule law. Kassis has the intelligence, experience and temperament to make a great judge.
You may think that the negative comments are from your former girlfriend. Not true. Morganelli has shown his cards to a lot of people over the years and you do not have to be a criminal defendant to acknowledge that.
As said by a previous person, this is not about Kasiss and Scomillio it is about Morganelli and has he had his run.
Many of your viewers acknowledge his political influence. Donches in Bethlehem, McC lure as County Exec., and Houck as a potential DA. It is truly time to "Drain the Swamp"move Morganelli to the pasture where he belongs!
My post may never be seen and it may not sway a voter, but I feel Abe Kassis is the most qualified man for the judicial position vacated by McFadden. This isn’t a slight against Vic. Kassis, however, has seen so much as an ADA, and has prosecuted a variety of cases, which gives him an edge. He can’t pick and choose cases, thus he has been exposed to the worst in people. Despite that, he has maintained his empathy and still treats others with respect. In his position, I would be incredibly jaded.
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