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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, January 08, 2024

NorCo Council Appointed Democrat To Replace Republican in the Past

On Friday, I told you that NorCo Council member Ken Kraft is blowin' oil over the possible replacement of recently resigned member Tara Zrinski. His bid for Council presidency was rejected earlier in the week. He, Executive Lamont McClure and Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron complained on social media about the bipartisan vote leading to Lori Vargo Heffner's election as Council President. At last week's meeting, he made it clear that he would only support a Democrat to replace Democrat Zrinski. The Home Rule Charter provides that any US citizen who has resided continuously in the county for one year prior to the commencement of a term is eligible.  But Kraft insists the seat belongs in Democratic hands and called on 34,000 Democrats to show up at the next Council meeting to bully Council into doing what he wants.  

This mob rule tactic reminds me of when failed NorCo Exec candidate Steve Lynch called on 20 strong men to yank a bunch of elderly school directors out of their seats. But guess what? How do you think Lamont McClure first got his seat on County Council. Let me tell you the story.

After his election as NorCo Executive, John Stoffa appointed two Council members to his cabinet. He appointed Democrat Mike Corriere, a highly skilled attorney, as his Chief Public Defender. He named Republican Mary Ennslin as his Director of Court Services. They had to resign their seats on County Council, creating two vacancies. 

Did the Democratic majority on County Council appoint a Republican and a Democrat to replace the Republican and Democrat who resigned? Nope. They appointed two Democrats, giving them a 6-3 majority. One of the persons appointed was Democrat Lamont McClure.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is BS. Any qualified candidate can be appointed.

Anonymous said...

Would You support a democrat union boss that gave thousands of dollars to McClure's campaigns as well as generously funding the Kraft campaign? Well, think about it is because that is the "good government" democrat Mclure/Kraft want to appoint to his county council. Now there are three McClure rubber stamps on council. Another rubber stamp and a permanent ability for McClure to veto anything he dislikes, and council won't be able to override anything. Just like Washington, so county council is useless as an independent branch of county government. Worse than having three commissioners.

If you like this guy and his strongarm tactics, you will love the future.

Anonymous said...

No leak on who the elite few have chosen?

Anonymous said...

That was a large seat !

Anonymous said...

Priceless find Bernie!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, but BO you agree with Kraft.

Anonymous said...

In Ken’s defense he did say the law didn’t require it.

Anonymous said...

Can an individual be appointed more than one time to fill vacancies on Council? For example, wasn't Seyfried appointed twice to serve out unexpired terms? If he were appointed again, it would be the third time one individual was appointed to fill a vacancy on Council. Hmmmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

Didn’t KK say he thought the law should be changed.

Anonymous said...

Moved out of Norco and Bedlum years ago. They elect egos, not leaders.

Anonymous said...

God Bless Ron Heckman !

Anonymous said...

Ron Heckman is a statesman gifted with a great mane of white hair.

Anonymous said...

Bernie you’re absolutely right. The Democrats used the rules to benefit Democrats. Vargo-Heffner is supposed to be a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

Somebody needs to ask Lori what she promised the Rs for their votes.

Anonymous said...

Mccluless wants a rubber stamp council.
At this point, Lorry Virgo should run for CE.

Anonymous said...

Comparing McClure to Steve Lynch might be a stretch. But, it's definitely not a good look.

Speaking of Lynch, did any of his recent "career" moves ever solidify? Underwear model? Female Olympic Bodybuilding Team owner? Truck-video social media influencer? Lynch Built Construction? Podcast host? What's he up to these days?

Anonymous said...

Ken Kraft is Donald Trump light. Calling for an insurrection at the next council meeting. What an asshole.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Comparing McClure to Steve Lynch might be a stretch. But, it's definitely not a good look."

I'm not. I'm comparing Kraft to Steve Lymch. They are both threatening mob rule, although Kraft has made no calls for violence.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"In Ken’s defense he did say the law didn’t require it."

He did, and I did point that out in my story on Friday.

Anonymous said...

Heckman is the most erudite speaker in the history of County Council.

Anonymous said...

Bernie you’re right. 5 of them can appoint anyone they want, and those 5 can face whatever consequences flow from that politically speaking.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Can an individual be appointed more than one time to fill vacancies on Council? For example, wasn't Seyfried appointed twice to serve out unexpired terms?"

Jerry was appointed once for sure that I can remember. If he wanted to serve again, he would get all five votes from the Dems. He is probably the most knowledgeable person about county government. He gets along with Lamont, but is more than willing to tell him when he's going too far. But Jerry is actually phasing out of service bc he has plans to become a professional guide at Bear Swamp.

Anonymous said...

Thank God Ron is on Council to bring wisdom and civility to all debate and discussion.

Anonymous said...

Kraft will have his kid and antifa sit outside the courthouse. Trashing everything. That's a good, look if a member of the RNC would have suggested this people would be calling for their head on a spit outside county chambers. Two different rules for different parties

Anonymous said...

If only the other Ron, our fierce fiscal watchdog, were still on Council.

Anonymous said...

We are glad you left

Anonymous said...

840am. I’m
Told he is in a secret lab, working on making bleach the cure for covid

Anonymous said...

Did Steve Lynch ever decide to reveal his top secret information about Damar Hamlin? Lol. He also "found a good lawyer" and was going to sue BOH for "defamation." Yet, here we are. Bernie still has a blog while Steve's basement podcast DIED SUDDENLY.

Anonymous said...

"I'm not. I'm comparing Kraft to Steve Lynch. They are both threatening mob rule, although Kraft has made no calls for violence."

I seem to recall the good old days, when Ron Angle could summon up a mob for County Council meetings on a moment's notice. And as I recall, he fed them too.

Just a little historical perspective...


ah, good times, good times

Anonymous said...

BernieOHare to 3:19, most of the mobs who came out about Ron were there to lynch him lol.

Anonymous said...

Is Barron posting all his early morning digs from his work computer? Everyone associated with this thug administration are slimy.

Anonymous said...

Hate to break it to you but Jerry would get no support from the three rubber stamps. You still have false hope.

Anonymous said...

An appointment launched the McClure years - the darkest period in our county's history. Be careful. Lives may once again depend on your decision. A wiser decision way back then would have meant a lot more county residents alive today.

Anonymous said...

Now, now. Don't make fun of "people with size." You are flabaphobic!

Anonymous said...

Enslin was a snake rewarded by Stoffa for attacking Reibman and his people. She was a lousy council person and a backstabber. She along with Ferraro made sure the top County republicans would abandon Nyce for Stoffa.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic!
I would never again vote for any republican candidate in any election ever.
Especially after the Trump presidency and the MAGA insurrectionist who are the Republican Party.

Anonymous said...

You're a riot, a regular riot. 🤪

Anonymous said...

Since when is calling voters to show up in order to make their voices heard, considered mob rule?… though I doubt people will show up considering not many spend a Thursday night watching local council meetings.

Anonymous said...

Any candidate could but the question is should any candidate be appointed? Like it or not we have a two party system with very different views. When the majority votes for one party over another, shouldn’t their votes count?

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Since when is calling voters to show up in order to make their voices heard, considered mob rule?"

When you call on 345,000 Democrats to show up at a meeting, that is mob rule. When you go on a labor Facebook page and start demanding unions to do something, that is mob rule.

"When the majority votes for one party over another, shouldn’t their votes count?"

Actually, the majority did not vote for one party over the other, they voted for five people over five other people. Three of these people were Democrats and two were Republicans. The majority also voted to approve a HRC that does permits Council to appoint the most qualified person to a vacancy instead of someone who belongs to a particular party. Finally, Kraft does not really want a Democrat. What he really wants is someone who will vote the way he is told.

Anonymous said...

Bernie is love to know how many of these comments came from the same 2-4 people?…

Anonymous said...

Nowhere in the home rule charter does it say "Most qualified person" It says council should appoint within 30 days of the vacancy. Stop lying

Anonymous said...

I watched the meeting Bernie, he did not say 345,000. I believe he said 37,000 which is the number of people who voted for Tara. The only way for voters to have influence over politicians is to show up in numbers to let them know their actions will determine their re-election.

Anonymous said...

Unions represent working people and have influence. Asking Unions to withhold their support for candidates who don’t support labor makes sense to me. Wouldn’t consider that mob rule.

Anonymous said...

I disagree that people are only voting for an individual. Many voters vote along party lines and want to vote in party members who most align with their values. The fact is one of the key ways people gage a candidate is their party affiliation. With the current political climate the differences between our two parties is even more clear. In past years I may have voted for a moderate republican however at this time I wouldn’t even consider it.

Anonymous said...

Definition of a mob according to Merriam-Webster:
a large and disorderly crowd of people
especially : one bent on riotous or destructive action
2
informal : a large number of people
a mob of shoppers clogged the aisles
a team greeted by mobs of fans
3
: a criminal set : GANG
especially, often capitalized : MAFIA sense 1

Which form of the word are you implying Bernie?

Bernie O'Hare said...

10:26, He wants a mob of Democrats, and we by definition are disorderly, lol.

"he did not say 345,000. I believe he said 37,000" - That was a typo. I believe he said 34,000. Any of these numbers constitutes a mob.

Anonymous said...

Actually he asked for only the 6,000 d majority that cusick lost too in the last election to show up and declare why they like Tara so much over the Math Teacher

Anonymous said...

Actually, he demanded 34,00 voters show up. Watch the video and stop lying! You guys are disgusting.

Anonymous said...

The math teacher didn’t show up for controller class and his campaign was more like where’s Waldo? Expected more from a talented and seasoned former councilman. Czarinsky will show her true colors soon….not a word yet about her investigation into what happened during voting debacle. Barron better start tutoring!

Anonymous said...

Actually, as a new councilman with past experience, he should be guiding and offering suggestions instead of using his sledgehammer
testosterone tactics . Kraft will still try to be president without the title, he’ll just bully his way around.

Anonymous said...

aannon7:19, Ken Kraft is not really a council person he is McClures voice on Council. Kraft is an extension of the McClure administration that happens to be on county council. He does not believe in the Home Rule Chater he believes in his boss McClure. He owes Mcclue big time and that is why McClure got him elected to council. He has three votes in his pocket at all times. Now he wants the big union guy to be this fourth vote. Kraft was not going to get five votes for president. So, if they hate Hefner so much, why not nominate Heckman FOR President. He was president at one time, can work across the aisle and has years more experience than Kraft.

Anonymous said...

As long as LVH and Heckman are voting with the Republicans, why worry if McClure adds another Dem? They’re still in trouble.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, Lori at 7:19, your really worked up and completely hysterical! I don’t believe the rantings of unhinged prople.