Phil Armstrong is both Lehigh County's Executive and the star of several Youtube productions in which his folksy charm shines. At a virtual zoom meeting on December 3, he'll announce his plan to seek re-election next year. Controller Mark Pinsley, who'd like to impose an increased sales and earned income tax on unsuspecting Lehigh County residents, is pondering a primary challenge. I can't imagine anyone supporting him other than his employee, Josh Siegel. On the Republican side. Dean Browning was considering taking yet another stab at elected office, but that was before he came out as a gay black guy.
Lamont McClure is Northampton County's Executive. He's a Facebook guy, and has suddenly become interested in nature. He takes pics of streams and rocks and weeds and shit and everyone gushes. He's running for re-election, too, but has been too busy taking pics of corn husks and rabbits to make an announcement. He has dropped a few not-so-subtle hints. Dem party boss Matt Munsey would like to primary McClure with a transgender illegal immigrant anarchist from Somalia, but is having trouble finding someone. GOP party boss Lee Snover, on the other hand, is trying her best to recruit QAnon conspiracy theorists like herself. She'll have more luck. A few of the Trumpists out there are batshit crazy. John Brown might want a rematch, which McClure would love.
23 comments:
Brown vs. McClure would be like Trump v. Biden 2024. I would love to see that. What ever happened to Brownie after he was passed over for the unqualified Ed Nelson who was handed the UMBT Manager job?
Brown could beat McClure or another qualified republican. McClure will have you O'Hare slurping' him up all year and attaching any who opposed him. The big union bosses like him but the employees are tired of his heavy handed ways.
McClure's silence during the Gracedale culling should be punished at the polls. I think it overshadows every other thing. He went along with the party and didn't have the fortitude to speak out as his elderly were dying horrible deaths, unattended by family. The National Guard had to be brought in. Think about that. He said nothing.
Can't wait to see the "Dream Team" that Lee Snover puts together!! Hearing some of her relatives might be on the ticket! Exciting!!
2:03, Your vulgarity pretty much blunts your attack.
"The big union bosses like him but the employees are tired of his heavy handed ways"
Some dislike McClure. I have never met a county exec who was popular with employees while he was in office. That only happens after he leaves. Except for Brown. His cuts to health benefits did not just anger employees, but hurt them. He was universally unpopular and remains so today. So were his GOP cheerleaders on county council.
5:35, Frankly, he was able to get the Nat'l Guard precisely bc he was not openly critical of DOH. I could be critical. You could be critical. But for a public official who depends on DOH for resources at the state's largest nursing home, it would be incredibly foolish to be biting the hand that feeds him. He's not a blogger but the county exec. This will certainly be an election issue, but your own reference to the tragic deaths as a "culling" reveals your lack of empathy. No one will believe someone like you actually cares.
God help us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anybody but McClure. See what the employees did to Brown's re-election. They will do the same with McClure's. He is a goner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess that asbestos law suits are way down. Lamutt needs a job!
Can a Republican win in Lehigh County anymore? Looking at recent results and trends, the Democratic primary may be the de-facto general election.
11:19 = true.
McClure and Dertinger ( Frick and Frack) . The Norco version of the Gestapo. The way they treated department directors, long time career division heads and other employees when they came in with no political affiliation was deplorable following he Brown Administration . Many of these employees worked with numerous past admins from both parties, but were never treated like this. I should know, I was one of many put under the ringer. Many like my self who were long time dems. Pitiful. The new Democrat party will no longer get my support . To extreme .
4:18, I am unaware of anything remotely close to what you describe. If what you say is true, people would have been upset three years ago. I only hear something now, and only from one person. I call bullshit.
5:19 Not one person. ME TOO!!! And I know of another. THE TRUTH! Despicable Executive, Adminisration, and department heads.
McClure needs to go along with HS director Wandowlowski. Both could care less about the hard working employees of Norco Co and they have shown it time and time again!
Mr. O'Hare,
Every Division head and dept. director went thru the ringer so to speak. Felt like we are at the inquisition. What 4:18 states is true. Many of us can't say who we are due to getting pulled under the bus. All I will say its true, even for former members that were ranking / former elected members of the party . This all took place from February thru April of his first year. On many occasions, this is how you met the new administration. Very unprofessional. Some long term employees of dedicated service retired after all this, some you know.
Bernard.
Bullshit is right. They did do this to many directors or career service division heads. Calling out bs is right. Maybe a little truth finally being spoken about of your buddies hurts, but the remarks from 4:18 are spot on. I went thru it also that March. Can't divulge who I'm am due to still working here. Many former retirees are happy to be rid of these two.
First it was Dertinger. Now it's Wandalowski. Make up your mind. I know very little about human services except that CYF caseworkers were upset at being called in from their paid vacation.
I am a Republican and I truly whole heartedly support Lamont McClure. I leaned first hand he cares about people. I am disabled and he went out I'd his busy day to call and offer assistance if I needed it with a department of county government when I cannot drive and walk with a walked/cane during covid-19. He is truly there for the citizens and doesn't care what party you are. He is a true public servant and a real human caring being. We need more Lamont McClure's in government! True value of an elected official is when they go the mile and help people.
"This all took place from February thru April of his first year. On many occasions, this is how you met the new administration. Very unprofessional. Some long term employees of dedicated service retired after all this, some you know."
I heard no such story until now. In fact, I had a list of the changes, and the only ones let go were political appointees (exempt) or hybrid career service workers who were in reality political appointees. I am aware of every one of those situations. I also know of one termination for cause in that time period, and the person terminated was a McClure supporter. I know of one after that time period. He was a McClure supporter. This is why I call bullshit.
I know of one situation involving a disbanded union in which McClure played no role. Council was the bully.
Now I admit I know less about Human Services, and had the pleasure of meeting a retiree at CYF while bike riding this past weekend. She is clearly dedicated, but I've seen caseworkers at meetings who are far from exemplary.
By the way, the employees did not win the race for McClure. It was a band of citizens who were outraged at Brown's stealth attempt to move the jail to Gracedale.
I think McClure is employee-oriented and has tried to do right by them while keeping his eye on the budget. He is cheap, lol. I have a friend who worked for the county as a temp for about six months and all the top admin officials, including McClure, made it a point to get to know her and tried hard to keep her bc she was a hard worker. But they followed the rules. A person already working for the county got first crack at new jobs.
I know of one instance in which a county administrator went too far when he complained to one employee about her daughter, who is another employee in another department. You do not do that to a mother. Ever.
I see no bullying or Gestapo tactics. If I did, I would note it.
You would never "note it". You re all in with McClure. You get daily communications so you are practically a part of this administration. You constantly attack employees citizens and even any council people who dare question or call out their thug Behavior. You are really blind to it or just refuse to see the truth.
9:14 - You are only ONE person to the MANY he either fired after MANY years of MANY employees that work for the TAXPAYER. Who would really know what he does and is going on at the courthouse.
9:54 You are so far up McClure's bottom, you don't see who is or what it does to employees. You only know what HE lets you know. How much taxpayer money has he wasted.
" You are only ONE person to the MANY he either fired after MANY years of MANY employees that work for the TAXPAYER. Who would really know what he does and is going on at the courthouse."
Simply untrue.
"you don't see who is or what it does to employees. You only know what HE lets you know. How much taxpayer money has he wasted."
I call things the way I see them. I have generally sided with the employee over the years. I have advocated for union and career service workers, have noted that starting wages in most jobs is too low, have stood up for career service workers who were temporarily denied a wage hike and believe strongly that step increases should be awarded routinely. On the other hand, I have spoken against mobs who come to Council meetings to demand someone be fired. I have spoken against entitled caseworkers who were letting police officers do their jobs and hated coming to work. I've been pretty consistent over many years, no matter who happens to be Exec. I also note that much of the anti-McClure sentiment expressed here is untrue and, while I have not checked my statcounter, my bet that nearly all of it comes from one ISP address.
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