This election season, I've been quiet about candidates seeking municipal office. I'd love to tell you what I think, but I've muzzled myself. The reason is because I was completely wrong when I said Terry Houck would win the primary. Then I was completely wrong when I said he'd win the general. So I'm actually afraid to say what I think for fear I might jinx my picks.
This should not stop you. Feel free to post a comment supporting your favorite candidate. It would help if you give readers a reason to support your choice.
40 comments:
Vote Cusick for Controller. He knows what the Job is and how to do it. He will be a true independent watchdog or the people. Zirinski knows nothing of finance and is and will be a rubber stamp for McClure. She will do as she is told. She has run for every open office there is and is just looking for a real job. In her tv interview she claimed she runs a consulting company? Is that like the false story she gave IN COURT.
Nancy Aaroe has as much experience practicing law as Brian Panella does breathing. This alone should be sufficient reason to elect her tomorrow as Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.
Let’s talk about malfeasant Judge Jennifer Sletvold. Sletvold is ip for retention and desperately needs Northampton County voters to push her out the door and into private practice where she can do less damage. She is a coward and a bully. She recently left a meeting she intended to campaign at rather than face the possibility that I may choose to raise some uncomfortable issues directly to her in full view of what little remains of her Republican base.
She avoids trials out of laziness and a desire to ensure she can never be blamed for getting it wrong…but she has gotten it wrong, and more than once. The Superior Court has overturned multiple orders she has issued, and on top of that she is the subject of a judicial conduct investigation. Add to all this that she is has been tasked with running the new veterans court after being found to have violated the rights of a disabled veteran by the Superior Court. Something is wrong here. Sletvold is an extremely poor judge and has a major arrogance problem. My contentions have been publicly corroborated by scathing written statements about Judge Sletvold published over the past month by two of the most highly-respected attorneys in Northampton County: (1) Lisa Tresslar, former Executive Editor of Harvard Law Review and the court’s full-time child custody master for the past nine years: and (2) Alyssa Lopiano-Reilly, former President of the Northampton County Bar Association, who has repeatedly stood up to Judge Sletvold for her appalling abuse of her judicial authority and who recently succeeded in having Sletvold reversed and humiliated by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. And these two attorneys’ comments are just the tip of the iceberg. They both have much more to say. And I have it on good authority, from people in a position to know, that when the time comes, other judges on the court will corroborate the assertions made by these two highly-respected attorneys. Not to mention the tidal wave of additional attorneys and courthouse employees who are just waiting to come out with their own stories about Sletvold. Bottom line: If Sletvold wins retention for another ten-year term on Election Day next Tuesday, she will become a source of never ending pain, embarrassment, and expense both for the court and for the citizens of Northampton County.
On November 7, Vote NO for Jennifer Sletvold and send her packing! I can’t think of anyone who needs a lesson in Judicial accountability more. Vote NO. The citizens of Northampton County will thank you for it.
Trump 2024 but first Panella 2023. #wwg1wga
I will be voting for the “Next 5” in the Parkland School Board race. Not to be confused with the “First 5”. Unclear how we ended up with sequential slates, but here we are.
Robert E. Smith for Lehigh County Controller.
The contrast can't be more stark. The incumbent Mark Pinsley who simultaneously is now running for 2 positions including Auditor General used tax payer money for his most recent unorthodox "audit". A Lawyer representing one side of the issue gave Pinsley a 50,000 campaign contribution erasing his previous campaign debt for what essentially amounted to providing customers and taxpayer funded support for the lawyers upcoming lawsuit. This is Pawloski level pay to play. A lawyer purchased a government audit with a campaign contribution. An audit that once again has little to nothing to do with the controllers actual job and was more likely designed to provide a platform for launching his Auditor general campaign. Note: The donation may be the largest campaign donation in Lehigh County Gov't history. If this isn't crystal clear pay to play I don't know what is.
& Bratta is not that much better I believe Bratta is in it for the money.
Nowadays all persons in public office are. For them self's yea they say I am here for you I work for you Yeah Yeah Yeah & in the end the Dems & Rep's just fight with each other. The REPs want this The Dems what that. & in the end it's just a lot of BS bickering back & forth.
How many years now is the State of PA Bickering about making POT LEGAL ( this is my point ) MAKE UP YOUR DAMM MINDS ALREADY & MOVE on.
& Tara Z is not qualified to be County Controller my / feeling she only wants the spot cause of the money & she can Brag she's a Big Shot.
I vote in Person. like I do every election, but I decide when I am @ the Computer Poll
I try to keep up with municipal issues. But I stopped voting a couple of years ago after perfect attendance for 41 years. I salute those who keep trying. I decided votes don't really matter and we get bent out of shape over politicians who are one of the least popular groups in American life. I hope better people win than have been winning. History shows that won't happen, however. Please keep it peaceful. It doesn't matter who wins.
Once again, and with some regret, I’m voting a straight ticket.
The regret manifests in two ways:
First, in all of the press coverage I’ve seen in the Morning Call, especially in the work of Bob Ornstein, I have seen no repudiation of the fraudulent 2020 election claims by the national party. For me, this is fundamental.
Second, I believe that for my local city council elections, there needs divergent party representation, not various flavors and tones of a similar voice. The universe of Republican candidates who have a commitment to equity and diversity and who are willing to buck the heads of the state and national parties seems to be void.
If there is any good news coming out of the electoral system for me, it’s that I’ll be at my polling place offering the logbook and ballots to my neighbors with a welcoming smile and an “I voted” sticker.
Zrinski wins NorCo controller. She's been campaigning non-stop and has had some good op-eds in her favor in the paper. She's not the better choice but she's the better salesperson.
NorCo Council: Kraft and Warren. NorCo has a strong Democrat party and they unite and support their candidates.
Court of Common Pleas: Panella. He's got the name recognition and, again, strength of the Northampton Democrats will pull him over the finish line. Aaroe is the better choice but Panella's got the name and the stronger united party behind him. And, he's got some Republicans behind him as well.
School Boards: Parkland, East Penn, Saucon Valley, and BASD all have contested races with political groups supporting candidates as a slate. Those will be interesting to see who wins. I hope MFL gets a few of their candidates on some boards if, for nothing else, to mix it up. Most local school boards are just rubber stamps for their districts and administrators. But, the book challenges are wrong so hopefully they don't win the full slates.
I think we should have literacy tests for everyone who wants to vote, and for anyone running for office.
I will be splitting my ticket, which is not new to me, but mostly voting Democrat. However, I cannot vote for Mark Pinsley. I had followed the issues with the parents and first thought that he had his hear in the right place.
However, after seeing that he took $50,000 from the lawyer representing them, I think he was acting for his wallet, not his heart. I did look at this campaign finance report too, it looks like he was "owed" over 50 grand from his own campaign. That means the 50k donation went right into his pocket! No thank you.
Not to mention the 10k contract that went to his private attorney, Mobilio right before he started representing Mark against the Republican party for defemation. Seems like pay to play to me
Air75- Grammar and punctuation are your friends. Please don't ghost them.
Both the E.L.F and Deep Green Resistance are endorsing Commander Terra Zrinski, please if you bleed green vote for thr Gaian Goddess.
Blu Badger
Hopefully Bernie jinxed Sletvold and she's sent packing tomorrow. But if that's not the case, then there's something insanely wrong with our court system if someone like Sletvold can serve another 10 fuckn years and be held accountable to no one for the next decade. WTF?
As a moderate Democrat in Allentown I'm voting as follows:
LC Commissioner:
Hartzell(D)
Setton (D)
Alvarado (D)
Rivera (R)
I'm specifically avoiding Irons (D) who has been associated with Ce Ce Gerlach, Defunding Police efforts in Allentown and generation of the illegal referendum to send social workers to police call outs in Allentown. His judgment must be questioned
Allentown City Council
Babayan (D)
Napoli (D)
Affa (D)
These seem like solid candidates not associated with any radical movements to defund APD or send social workers out on Police Calls. Allentown needs elected officials who support our police officers.
ASD Board
Santana (R)
Brown Nowell (R)
These candidates who I know little about are non cross filed Dems. My party has made a mess of things at ASD. At this point, I'd vote for anyone with an R next to their name just for some alternative viewpoints and positions.
I'm voting No on Questions 1 and 2.
I predict a mixed bag. The Aaroe/Panella race is most compelling. I give him the nod. Cusick wins easily. County council goes officially back to D. I'm voting straight ticket R. D's Jew-hating and kid grooming is just too much.
Aaroe is much more qualified than Panella, but he'll win on his Daddy's name. How can someone practicing law for only 6 years be qualified for Judge? There should be a 10 year minimum!
Trinski, the forever candidate, is utterly unqualified for Controller- a McClure rubber stamp- but she may win! Vote for the qualified candidate- Cusick!
When Zrinski still claims that she is no longer "bullying voters" in her campaign and Panella continues to deny that he is "too young" upon hearing it from a potential voter, you know that they've heard it more times than not from others during their campaigns. I'll vote for Cusick and Aaroe. Of course I won't vote to retain Jack Panella, the father of Brian, who has solicited mucho bucks from lawyers outside of Northampton County to fund his son's campaign (better check that Easton Police endorsement again, Brian). I'l vote to retain one of the other two judges but one definitely is a strong "NO" vote. Hmm. I will be voting for school director candidates who are not supported by or endorsed by teachers' unions since I believe they seek only to continue the narrative of CRT and now SEL (critical race theory and social emotional learning). Book challenges - hurray but good luck. I never realized how "powerful" librarians can be. Will Northampton County ever be transparent? Voting for term limits will help.Exactly how much money does the McClure family need? Hmm.
Why in the hell would anyone listen to Matt Flower?????? Didn’t Sletvold send him to jail for Domestic abuse??? I guess he doesn’t have an agenda.
@moderate D 12:53 We're both rare birds actively claiming a moderate label in this divided day and age.
I'm happy we agree on Dan Hartzell for Lehigh County. Critical to re-elect Dan. He's served as Chair of the Cedarbrook Committee and has taken lead on that important issue over the last few years.
For me I'm voting for 3. Leaving the 4th blank.
Hartzell
Fedorcha
Rivera
Happy to hear at least one moderate D is critical of Irons. He's pretty far left.
Bernie
If Panella wins it will be a huge upset. He showed horribly in the primary. What are your thoughts??
Also, I feel Cusick is the better candidate, but haven’t seen much of him at all, which will probably give tZ the win
Nazareth Area School Board: We need to support our Democratic candidates SariAnn Knerr, Jeff Greener, & Jason Swails. Our district doesn't need the Moms For "Liberty" candidates who think they know better than other parents what books children should read. Parents should be the final authority for their own kids. MFL claim to be for family values and parental rights. The reality is, any organization that gets its inspiration from the likes of Donald Trump knows nothing of family values.
I agree with the above comment 10:45 AM. I'll be mostly voting Democrat but crossing over to vote for Robert Smith, a decent person who is qualified for the job and is not a far right Republican. I always admired Smith's toughness and taxpayer advocate positions on the ASD Board. Pinsley is really a bad candidate for Controller, I just do not trust him and I question his motives for public service.
Most folks who run for school boards have a specific agenda, whether it's saving a certain program or getting rid of certain administrators. This year, though, the agenda for about half of the candidates seems to be pacifying parents who have strong opinions on cultural issues.
Please chose school board candidates who have student achievement and well-being as priorities rather than those touting parents' rights.
Parents rights can also be for student achievements and well being. You can have both
Vote early and often tomorrow, Democrats! Republicans: stay home!!! Dominion Voting Machines will only change your vote from R to D. It's already rigged. Harvest plentiful.
Anon 2:29:
Panella will win. He kept his first name off his yards signs on purpose to ride daddy's name into office. Smart move. Plus, he's a nice guy and likeable. He was quite visible during the campaign and his demeanor probably swayed a lot of people to trust him. I think he will win quite comfortably especially with the advantage in unity and strength NorCo Democrats have over NorCo Republicans.
I assume you have recently seen Elvis
5:48 am makes me laugh. Not a funny laugh, rather a pitiful laugh. You refer to Judge Sletvold as a bully, yet a quick Google search shows you to be a dangerous bully. I will very proudly vote for Judge Sletvold’s retention and will do so knowing that Matt Flower has a problem with strong women.
Anyone but the ones listed in this election.
Your pals in the McClure gang are thrilled. They claim Zirisnki will be their puppet voice as Controller and Kraft will rule the new McClure County Council. Congratulations.
Spoken like a true pinko commie lib. 🤪
Voting machines should be designed as a puzzle, to prevent a straight party vote without intentionally checking off names. Too many people are elected because they happen to be hiding on a party that has more walk ins in the general population just like what will happen here in Easton City for example. Voters should have to be tax payers too. ,no matter how. , Twp. Municipal, holding something that they had to pay tax’s on to get voter registration card. I think . Also for President and Commander -In - Chief ,Honorable Military Discharge should be a prerequisite for candidates in this post. After having served this country. Lived in a military environment. Yes I know that would eliminate a lot of your favorite career politicians.
I'm on the fence, do I vote less experience for Panella or vote more experience and give my vote to another female who will let this power get to her head like the others?
I'll let Bernie decide my vote...who should I vote for Bernie and I will!
8:57- Nope. Haven't seen Elvis lately, but I had JFK Jr. over for dinner as he's the real president, not Biden. I watch Fox News 24/7 and pray a daily rosary for our Newest Speaker Mike Johnson and for the 6 "real" Supreme Court Justices. I follow the Gospel of Brother Steve and, therefore , know this sham of an election is already rigged.
Republicans, please stay home. It's rigged, Rigged, RIGGED.
God bless all the political prisoners who stormed the Capitol on January 6th. I mean, the undercover FBI agents (Ray Epps) who were planted there by Nancy Pelosi. Yup, praying for them.
Makes sense, right?
Terra will advocate for the 15 minute city a vital requirement to meet 1.5 degrees of climate change, she is the warrior for planet earth most desperately needed while a horde of angry boomers shouts down her fellow defenders like Greta
BLUE BADGER
John Irons, whose brilliant measure to send social workers to 911 calls failed, had a volunteer walking around INSIDE Bethany United Church of Christ WITH his campaign materials. I alerted the one worker to this and she told me to tell the guy in charge and pointed him out. It’s the same guy the Irons volunteer is conversing with. These people flagrantly disregard the rules or are too stupid to care about them.
Wide spread voting machine problems in Northampton County. Dems at it again lol
Until the republican party wakes up and uses mail in ballots to their advantage Tuesday's results will become normal. Add in machine issues and you see that you end up with.
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