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| Zrinski and McClure on Fri night |
Zrinski hosted a fundraiser on Friday night at Riverview Country Club. McClure was among those there. Politically, it makes sense for McClure to want a Controller who asks no embarrassing questions. I get his support. But Zrinski was politically stupid to allow it. There is no way she can honestly argue that she'd hold him or his numerous departments accountable. In her six years on County Council, she's never gone against his wishes. She even argued McClure should have unfettered control over $10,000 grants to small businesses during COVID.
"I don't think our [County Council's] participation is necessary," said Zrinski. It's not only necessary, but specifically required by the Home Rule Charter to prevent Executive overreach. Council member Ron Heckman reminded her that Council is "the steward of this money. This is one of our fundamental responsibilities." She ended up as the sole person to vote against Council oversight. Thus, I have no confidence in her ability to ferret out waste and fraud as Controller.
I do expect Zrinski to win the Democratic primary against Nadeem Qayyum. He's no rubber stamp and actually earned a law degree in his native Pakistan. He has no understanding at all of county government, but neither does she. Zrinski will win because she has the support of well-heelded white women who like to pretend they are liberal; while crossing the street if they see a person of color like Qayuum.
She'll win the primary but lose the election in November to independently minded John Cusick, who is running unopposed on the Republican side.
Voters have turned her down every time she's run one-on-one in a general election. In the past, her extreme views have done her in with moderate voters. Now it's those views PLUS her rubber stamp for McClure.
Cusick, an algebra teacher, is just about the only member of County Council who actually pays attention to county finances. Unlike Tara Zrinski, he's no rubber stamp and will serve as a check and balance.
You are right, it is in McClure's best interest to push for Zirinski. She does not have an ethical bone in her body. She wants a full-time job without a boss so she can come and go as she pleases, and he can help her get it. In return she will run the office as he directs. Check out her funding. McClure has pressured unions to bankroll her yet again despite her losing record. Even some democrats cannot believe how much money the unions spend on someone who has never really done anything for working people.
ReplyDeleteSome dems have said McClure and company are terrified of Cusick as Controller. A real discrediting campaign has been planned. Even subtle threats have been made to dems on county council not to work with him on anything. In fact, they want council members to go after him so watch the dems be on the attack for the rest of the year. Stay tuned.
This sounds like a Lori Vargo Heffner comment.
DeleteMy family and I are voting for Nadeem.
DeleteHe has the credentials that a county controller needs. He is down to earth and a man with integrity while zrinski has none of the above. She is running for the paycheck.
And he has a house that is in serious problems and several fines to go along with his dilapidated home, can’t fix your home. What a great choice for all of us
DeleteLol. If you have done a little bit of research, your response would have been different. There isn’t any “serious problem”.
DeleteRaccoons dig into garbage all the time. Which is pretty normal. Even if there are any problems with his property I will still vote for Nadeem over racist Tara.
Well, as a conservative and a Republican, Cusick will have my vote.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how much money Zrinski has or where it comes from bc her first report is not due until the second Friday before the election. In her previous runs, she relied heavily on union PACs. I would imagine that Zrinski would have to run a negative campaign to have any hope against Cusick. He has a record, and anyone who's been in office as long as he has can be attacked. I imagine the chief complaint against him is that he voted to sell Gracedale. He also was instrumental in enacting changes that improved it, like a privatized administrator. Once that was taken away, Gracedale went downhill.
ReplyDeleteYes, I imagine there will be a negative campaign. She's behind.
In case you haven't noticed, the only Dems that McClure controls are Zrinski and Lott, so any kind of threat would backfire. What you say sounds untrue. At the most recent Council meeting, Cusick and Zrinski actually agreed on the dangers of a LERTA for UMBT.
"Well, as a conservative and a Republican, Cusick will have my vote."
ReplyDeleteAs a moderate and a Democrat, he will have my vote as well.
I disagree. By virtue of her numerous campaigns in just a few years, her name recognition is very high. She has a higher name recognition than Cusick. That does not mean she is more qualified; it just means her name has been on so many ballots it gives her an edge. At this time I would believe that Cusick trails her if a poll were conducted just on name.
ReplyDeleteHaving her name on so many ballots can also be a negative, especially when its different offices she was seeking. Most voters are turned off by this because the person running is only looking for a cushy job
DeleteCusick spent the last 5 years fighting to raise the Controller’s salary to time it to his retirement. Fat Jersey teacher’s pension check. Now let’s get over on Northampton taxpayers for another pension.
ReplyDeleteTerra has the ability to change the game, her alliance with DGR & ELF has been very fruit full with regards to shaping green policy during her time on council, with her controlling the purse strings we could finally see an end to fossil fuel use by all vehicles doing county worm
ReplyDeleteblue BADGER
John Cusick is a classic payjacker. He’s a Liberal Democrat in disguise. He’s spent his entire Council career feathering his own nest.
ReplyDeleteJohn Cusick voted to sell Gracedale ? He’s just lost my Conservative Republican vote.
ReplyDeleteDitto on Cusick Bernie. Send Tara packing once and for all. Trash.
ReplyDeleteYour wrong about John Cusick. He’s a typical conservative Republican. He loves to spend money. Every time he opens his mouth he’s spending more money, but will never vote to raise taxes to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteCusick will lose to Zarinski and it will serve him right.
ReplyDeleteLori Vargo-Heffner (I) supports John Cusick. This is not in dispute.
ReplyDeleteOf course you support John, your too jealous and vindictive to the only other woman on council. Not a good look.
DeleteRumor has it Cusick won't actually run in fall, and that he will withdraw and allow the NRCC to appoint someone to run. Brother Steve for Controller!
ReplyDelete1) Lawyer Lamont knows this is a conflict. But he's very comfortable with being very ethically greasy and he likely ran to Riverview with bells on.
ReplyDelete2) Lamont looks absolutely shitfaced in that photo. Was someone driving him?
"I disagree. By virtue of her numerous campaigns in just a few years, her name recognition is very high. She has a higher name recognition than Cusick. That does not mean she is more qualified; it just means her name has been on so many ballots it gives her an edge. At this time I would believe that Cusick trails her if a poll were conducted just on name."
ReplyDeleteHer name recognition probably is higher, but not in a good way. If he keeps it close in Bethlehem, he wins. She will be crushed in the slate belt and northwest.
"Lori Vargo-Heffner (I) supports John Cusick. This is not in dispute."
ReplyDeleteActually, her fellow Dems on Council appear to have no regard for her, except for fellow rubber stamp Kevin Lott. At the reorg, Lott proposed her as Council Prez and argued it was basically her turn. Neither Heckman, Myers nor Vargo-Heffner would vote for her. She was also passed up as VP.
Are Lori Virgo-Heffner or Ron Hackman really democrats? Seems as of late they 100% vote with the Republican council members and that’s bad government, which last night proves. As far as Meyers, he wanted to be president, why would he vote for Tara. Kevin Lott I would guess voted for her because she brought in the most votes in the election.
DeleteDoesn’t this entire race come down to which candidate our weaponized local news sources choose to promote?
ReplyDeleteTake the partisanship out of it. This is all about who is qualified to do the job. Cusick is by a mile. When it comes to a job like Controller the letter after the name shouldn't matter, it's all about the qualifications.
ReplyDelete"Doesn’t this entire race come down to which candidate our weaponized local news sources choose to promote?"
ReplyDeleteIn case you haven't noticed, there are virtually no local news sources. You are so caught up with attacking national media that you fail to grasp their importance on a local level in providing basic information.
Why oh why do we constantly end up with candidates who are less than desirable and the lesser of two evils comes into play and thus that person draws the most votes? Maybe just leave the ballot blank for that job.
ReplyDeleteWe place our trust in, and become passionate about a group of people - politicians - who are held in lower regard by the general public than VD and full diapers. All elections are decisions about the lesser of two evils. We're not electing honorable people. We're electing politicians. Accept what they are.
ReplyDeleteGreat points. She constantly promotes herself as team Tara, does she have mice in her pockets? Also, the independent thing is a concern. heard she gets texts from the Administration during council discussions on issues. She receives notes and questions to ask. That almost sounds like some kind of violation. If not, it at least shows she is incapable of independent thought. So how the Hell can she monitor a multi-million-dollar county operation.?
ReplyDelete"TEAM TERRA" is a movement with a roster deeper than Lake Baikal, boasting grass roots orgs like ELF and DGR who count Zrinski as an ally.
DeleteShe has spearheaded the biosolids smear campaign with great success which vexes the author of this blog as his patrón Mr. $1,00,000 Highway has a lot of 💩 to dish
BluE bADger
""Lori Vargo-Heffner (I) supports John Cusick. This is not in dispute."
ReplyDeleteI was pretty sue that this reader was impersonating Lori Vargo Heffner. I was just contacted by Vargo-Heffner, and she tells me she is not the author of that remark.
I published this comment bc I recognized it as sarcasm, but should realize that there are those who might believe that was actually her. It was not.
I was told by a democrat activist woman that Zirinski stopped the keystone pipeline form coming to Northampton County and she saved the farms. Also, that her democrat opponent has no real experience or record of major accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteA NJ lawsuit stopped the pipeline, not Zrinski. Maria Bentzoni is responsible for saving a large number of farms, nit Zrinski. neither of these has anything to do with being a controller. Qayyum has accomplished exactly what Zrinski has - nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy family and I are voting for Nadeem.
ReplyDeleteHe has the credentials that a county controller needs. He is down to earth and a man with integrity while zrinski has none of the above. She is running for the paycheck.
annon10:46, lol, right! That boy is smoked!
ReplyDeleteThis Democrat will vote for Cusick. This is a cynical reach for Zrinski. She isn’t qualified with the honesty about financial reporting and the analytical patience needed to perform the drill down and analysis needed to be a good Controller. Blue team/red team mentality is detrimental to our success as a community at both the local and national levels. We need capable leadership and active compromise with each other, not a cult leader of aging women reaching for a position. She seems to have publicly stated that she “needs a real job.” It’s a shame that as a taxpayer this is the best the local Democrats can come up with if she wins the primary. Why is this important position without a prerequisite test of skills? Without prerequisite expertise and mathematics experience?!?
ReplyDelete