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| Pa. State Senate District 14 |
According to Politico, voters are angry about the out-of-control inflation that has rocked this country. Combine that with supply chain disruptions and pandemic fatigue and you have a recipe for Democratic disaster in this year's elections.
Democrats do have a voter registration edge in this newly created district. But Allentown Democrats are notorious for skipping off-year elections. Republicans, on the other hand, will crawl over broken glass to cast their ballot. And in Lehigh Tp in particular, Democrats are regarded as alien life forms. At last year's county elections, one Supervisor was actually overheard telling a county Republican candidate that he'd like to pour gasoline on Democrats and light them up.
Don't give him a ghost gun.
I met Nick on a rainy Saturday morning at Bethlehem View Diner, where he took a few minutes out of his day to meet with me. Unlike most politicians, he's quiet and somewhat soft spoken. I know he's the son of a retired judge and expected him to play that card with me immediately. He didn't. He's running on his own merit.
He's a proud graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School and Penn State University, where he majored in Finance. He lit up when speaking of his travels abroad, especially in North Africa,
Upon graduation, he worked at IBM for four years before getting involved in real estate.
He's been an Allentown School Director since 2019, where he's deeply concerned about how badly it's been shortchanged by the state. (The state is holding back $100 million a year). He notes that only 9 of the 30 buildings even have air conditioning, He noted a building deficiency there of nearly $500 million.
He's done what he can, which includes climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise $25,000 for the weight rooms at Dieruff and William Allen. Yes, those plates are rusted and cracked.
He's seen first hand that students from low-income families are the victims of an unfair educational system. So it's little wonder that he'd want to divert state dollars to where they are needed.
He likes this new state senate district because it's a "third opportunity to represent the Lehigh Valley and bring back state dollars."
Politically, he's a centrist. I believe a person with his common-sense views could win this race. Tara Zrinski and Yamelisa Tavares will appeal to the extremes. But they have no understanding of what the heart of the Lehigh Valley wants. Miller does.
30 comments:
Isn't the solution to avoid warehousing too many tax consumer welfare recipients in one place rather than to hijack state dollars to the cities overburdened by them?
Allentown is Allentown because of its toxic imbalance of welfare dependents to net taxpayers. Spread the former out thinner throughout the state, and we won't have nearly the disaster we do now.
Thank you. Miller sounds good and if a dem is to win I hope it is him. I have heard of Zrinski and what I have heard is not flattering. Apparently, she is a shameless self-promoter with no real accomplishments to stand on. Also had some problems in court.
Typical politician says all the right things now.
Your revisionist history is working overtime here. You may have fooled people with this post, until you mentioned that he's an Allentown School Board member.
I'm sorry, but the district is in terrible financial shape and has some of the lowest test scores in the Valley. So what did this finance major do to change things? He fell in line with other democrat board members and decided the problem was that the school district doesn't have enough state money. That's not a solution, it's an excuse.
The district has plenty of money, but a shortage of priorities that focus on the basics of education. In a district with plenty of opportunities to make an impact, he did nothing except vote with the rest of his democrat cronies for never-ending tax hikes. We don't need more of that in Harrisburg.
The board also kept Allentown schools closed because of covid much longer than other area schools, and I believe they also continue with the needless mask mandates for students. Again, I haven't heard anything that Miller has done to speak out against this.
I'm willing to listen, however, so please show me where this "centrist" democrat has spoken out against ANY of the radical policies or politicians that you admit have taken over the democrat party. I'm guessing you won't find a single example.
Why does the state hold back that money?
School board have been spending our tax money foolishly for many years-look what the public schools have turned into.
"Your revisionist history is working overtime here. You may have fooled people with this post, until you mentioned that he's an Allentown School Board member."
He's been a director since 2019. He has seen the problems and that is why he ran. He now knows the problem runs deeper than a school board can fix on its own. There is a real funding imbalance. That can only be fixed on a state level. He majored in finance and is very well aware of the financial needs. In addition to being underfunded, Allentown has to pay for all those kids attending charter schools, where the test results are even lower. Change is needed.
Schools in this country are a disaster and your politicians will never fix them.
Thank you Bernie for this write-up. I will certainly take a look into Mr. Miller...
Bernie: Don't you need to live in the District to run for the seat? I thought Zrinski lived in Bethlehem. Maybe I'm wrong. Just wondering.
Zrinski lives in Hanover Tp.
B.O. said: "In addition to being underfunded, Allentown has to pay for all those kids attending charter schools, where the test results are even lower."
That might be the line coming from Miller and the teacher's union, but it's not true.
First off, why are parents choosing to send their kids to charter schools and not to ASD? School safety and poor results are two reasons that come quickly to mind.
Secondly, the brick and mortar charter schools routinely outperform their ASD counterparts on test scores. Look it up genius, it's public record.
Miller could be the second coming of Albert Einstein, but if he's not willing to challenge the party line coming from his failed school district, he certainly doesn't belong in Harrisburg.
If you just want someone to repeat the party line, elect a parrot. You'd get the same result, and you could pay them in crackers.
Finally, since you mentioned that he's been there since 2019 it would be nice if he could complete an entire term for that position, before shopping for another that pays. I know democrat politicians follow a "screw up, move up" policy, but it's obvious he hasn't scratched the surface of what he should have learned at the ASD.
3:17 (1st comment and already smh),
First of all, congrats on being the 1st comment and I’m already smh. I never have to scroll too far down to find these gems on this blog!
Now, if I understand it correctly…your solution is to simply tell our poorest, most vulnerable neighbors, relatives & friends to pack it up and disperse themselves equally throughout the state and…problem solved?? How do you propose they get there? And where should they live and work if they do? Who will provide low-cost (often free) child care or meals when they’re living hours away from their extended family/support networks?
Tbh it sounds like you just don’t want the “poors” living around you.
Anybody but Zrinski she would be a disaster!
Seriously? Why does the Federal Government waste billions of our tax dollars supporting other countries before taking care of their own? Oh wait, did I just answer my own question???
Pro-abortion Democrat Central Grad. No thanks Nick. Go to confession you demon. Black babies aren't your human sacrifice to the Dem gods you worship. What an evil disgrace. Can't wait for the chance to vote against this sinful and sin-filled bum. I'm not a nice pro-lifer. F-you and your ilk Nick
He's a centrist? There is no such thing as a moderate "centrist" democrat. The senile old man in the white house claims to be a moderate "centrist" and he currently has a 33% approval rating by a left leaning poll. I always bring the receipts.
https://theweek.com/joe-biden/1012535/poll-biden-approval-rating-hits-all-time-low-of-33-percent
We were able to stay in the City by sending our child to LVPA in Bethlehem, a very clean, safe school with amazing teachers, great academics and a surprisingly high level of diversity. Those who advocate against use charter schools by Allentown residents then advocate for yet even more out-migration of middle income working class families from Allentown, which hurts everyone.
I am glad you found LVPA to be a good school. There are some good charter schools. But for every good one, there are ten that are not. That is the unfortunate reality.
You're going to need to provide some more information to support this: "Most people in the Lehigh Valley, whether they call themselves Democrat or Republican, are really centrists."
It sounds an awful lot to me like: "I am a centrist, therefore most people are centrists."
2:57, All you need to do is check the polling done regularly by Muhlenberg. Most of us arte centrists. "We the people" are not represented by Steve Lynch or Tara Z.
Surely you can point to an actual poll or question, then? I have been scrolling through Muhlenberg's polls and they always ask how people are registered but don't tend to ask them whether they are very liberal/somewhat liberal/moderate/somewhat conservative/conservative. Maybe the poll you are referring to is just buried on their website somewhere?
11:02, Lehigh Valley Performing Arts needs to be shut down. The Great Academics are not coming from untested charter schools. If Nick Miller will work to close all charter schools. Then I will vote for him.
What a disgusting audience you have Bernie. These people want to vote for the $999,999,999.99 + 1cent. Yes the billionaires who rule this country by giving ungodly amounts of money to PACs to brainwash your audience into thinking that they care about the little people, “middle class”. BTW middle class in America is now any family making $350K to $600K, anyone below is just upper poor people and that is the majority here on this blog.
Keep on voting the MAGA way and get another billionaire in office so that we can lower their taxes, privatize Social Security, pay for our medical care, and kill all unions. We have done so well over the last 40 years?
@ 9:09 It’s time to get religion out of politics. For the record you are most likely one of the greatest sinners, tax scofflaw, adulterous, and all around scumball. When is the last time you adopted a child. NEVER
Zrinski has attacked this young man claiming he has no business running as he is a nobody with no experience.
"Surely you can point to an actual poll or question, then?"
I can and can also cite numerous news links to support what I say. But I know your game. When I do so, you will find fault with each link. The truth, and any google search reveals this, is that most people are centrists or center right. At this time, about 37% consider themselves conservative, 36% moderate and only 25% liberal. Those who call themselves conservative usually embrace the center when pressed. They are actually moderate or center right, like Charlie Dent. I am a centrist but have some significant differences from most people, no matter what they are. I do not believe most people think like I do, so your basic premise is off. I am
@ 6:13 then so should be the catholic and Moravian schools.
Ye
Trump has duped so many of his weak & gullibles into thinking he isn't the one trying to take their freedom. Vote smart, Q ain't real, Trump thinks those who serve are suckers & losers. He organized & enjoyed watching a cop beat down on Jan 6th & could care less about anyone who doesn't continue to lick his balls. Anyone who supports Trump shouldn't be in charge of cleaning up dog shit let alone serve in a political position.
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