Despite a plethora of highly capable candidates, eight members of Northampton Council were unable last night to agree on one person to fill the Council vacancy created by the January 2 resignation of Tara Zrinski, who was sworn in that day as County Controller. Despite numerous ballots, nobody was successful in getting the five votes needed in an acrimonious and lengthy conclave. No white smoke, the fumata bianca to signify a new Council member, billowed from the courthouse smokestacks.
A triumvirate of Democratic Council members consisting of Ken Kraft, Kelly Keagen and Jeff Warren remained steadfast in their support of IBEW Business Manager Paul Anthony throughout every ballot. Council member Ron Heckman voted for teacher Deb Hunter on every ballot. The rest of Council changed their votes several times.
Republican Council members Tom Goivanni and John Goffredo initially voted for psychotherapist Gennaro Landi, while Republican Council member John Brown voted on the first ballot for David Holland, a nurse who was once involved in the management team at Gracedale. President Lori Vargo Heffner, a Democrat, cast her first vote for former Council member Kerry Myers..
On the second ballot, all three Republicans switched their vote to Myers, a Democrat who opportunistically turned Republican in an unsuccessful attempt to get on the ballot last year. Perhaps unknown to them, he recently switched back to Democrat.
And so it continued through two more rounds of voting.
After the fourth round, Goffredo said he's be unable to vote for Anthony because he'd be a fourth vote that would prevent Council from overriding a McClure veto. "It would very much compromise the integrity of this Council," he said. Keegan retorted, "I don't understand why you find that so important." (referring to Council's ability to override a veto,) Heffner explained that she supported Myers because she know he would vote to override vetoes. "If you want to play partisan, just go home," she said to Kraft. "I'm tired of it."
Heckman explained that he was voting for Hunter because of her experience as an elections commissioner, in which she went against the grain and advocated for paper ballots instead of the Express Vote XL, which was improperly aligned in 2019 and improperly coded in 2023. He added that Hunter, like Zrinski, is a Democratic female. He said he could support Paul Anthony, "but thereis no path for a fifth vote."
In subsequent rounds, Vargo-Heffner switched her vote and joined Heckman in supporting Hunter. The Republican Council members switched their support from Myers to William Krzemien, retired FBI agent who told Brown in his interview that he'd support the sale of Gracedale.
After remaining deadlocked through nine rounds, Heckman complained, "It's frightening to me that, at this early stage, we haven't been able to consider compromise."
Kraft insisted that Anthony is bipartisan because he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, but that misses the point. The real concern of the five Council members is that Anthony would be the fourth vote in a McClure coalition who would make it impossible for Council to override Executive vetoes.
Heckman confronted Kraft at one point over his insistence on Anthony. "Do you really think the bullying tactic will work with these people (referring to Council members opposed to Anthony)? It doesn't work anymore.
Goffredo also suggested John Cusick, who did not apply but said he would serve if appointed.
The Kraft-Warren-Keegan trio adamantly denied they are rubber stamps, with Ken Kraft insisting that "[i]f you're basing your opinion on some crap from a blog that we're going to be rubber stamps for the administration you're sorrily [sic] mistaken." Goffredo later told the troika that their united actions makes it difficult to believe these denials.
After numerous failed attempts, Council eventually voted to table the appointment until they meet again on February 1. The vote was 7-1, with Ken Kraft voting No.
If Council is unable to agree on a replacement for Zrinski, this matter will go to the courts, The court can appoint anyone who is qualified, regardless whether an application is filed.
"I'm actually saddened by the state of government today," said Heckman.
The candidates sitting in the audience would undoubtedly agree.
The position pays $9,500 a year.
Borrow the “shoe” from the Pomfret Club down the street . The shoe and the black ball - use it for confidential voting . The process of illumination and hidden dynamics might proceed to a candidate.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea and makes total sense 3:58. It would help politicians focus on the constituents rather than for their party.
DeleteGot up and put on the coffee. Time before I leave so checked the news app and saw the county story. Had to read your blog and checked out the video. Fast forward to the vote. What a weird show. I didn't finish it but was stunned by what I saw. I think it is clear to anybody with any brains or sense that three people put no thought into their votes and came off like robots. Some of their comments were arrogant, especially the new people. I thought Myers would get it, but Heckman didn't vote for him. It looked like the three did more harm to their guy than helped. Where are the real good people in government today. Sadly, I agree with Heckaman's despair.
ReplyDeleteI'm comfortable with all of this. They're politicians, after all, one of our lowest lifeforms.
ReplyDeleteOff topic and I know it, so I realize you may not post it. Sometime, I would love your reaction. A state house member is pushing a law to let municipalities vote on Warehouses in their areas. The people would get to vote by referendum. Then, I saw Tara Zirisnki was on the news commenting that it is a bad idea. Isn't she the county controller and what the heel is her official capacity in this regard?
ReplyDeleteI watched the mess. As always I was embarrassed by our council. I often watch their meetings and see them blindly approve issues you can clearly see they are not informed about. I'm Embarrassed that these people were the best we could elect. Gofreddo couldn't even stay for all the interviews. If they elect Kerry Myers I swear I will do everything I can to make those who do will not be reelected. He's not there now because the people didn't choose him. It is sad what we have. Even sadder is the council president throwing fits lit a petulant child.
ReplyDeleteIs one of the candidates a close family member to and active GOP affiliate in another county? This stalemate is why the seat should be filed by a person of the same party that vacated the seat. We would have the same stalemate if it was a republican seat and Ds were trying to push one of their own. The person should be registered i. The same party at the time the seat was elected. No last minute party flippers. There will be controversy on every split vote if any council changes the majority make up of a board.
ReplyDeleteVoter participation should also be a consideration. A person that does not vote regularly or next to never should not be consider for the vacancy.
Council should put the party registration question to a voter referendum. This question. Has been voted on elsewhere.
If this process fails, No judge should change the majority vote of any board through appointment, particularly when there is a qualified list of candidates.
Sane party appointment requirement allow folks to focus on the person and less on the politics, especially on a split board.
It became obvious, after viewing this debacle, that Mr. Anthony was the chosen behind the scenes D choice , and Mr Meyers was the counter from the D/R choice. Wow. So now the dysfunctional divided council demonstrates no ability to work together and tosses the ninth council member choice to the courts. Heckman, talked too much , teed up the motion and Kraft , couldn’t get Anthony in, so he seconded it to go to the courts. They offended all the candidates through their disparaging and partisan remarks.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, personnel failure (elected county representatives) disrupt the county election process.
"The court can appoint ... "
ReplyDeleteDoes that mean a single judge? Whom do you think that might be, and/or how is that person selected for this duty? TIA.
Heckman ripped the new website. It looks like a kid barfed Skittles on my screen. But the worst part is that it's an overt campaign piece for the incumbent executive. McClure is personally loaded (insert joke here), and he has a huge war chest. It's his campaign site and he should pay for it. County taxpayers shouldn't. That seems to have gone right over slow Ron's house.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we need the other Ron, the one and only Ron Angle, back as our fierce fiscal watchdog on council. Someone to look out for the beleaguered taxpayers.
DeleteThe Rs and Heffner were very clear. They don’t want to check McClure they want to thwart him.
ReplyDeleteMan Lamont must be powerful.
ReplyDeletenorco council - a combination of the three stooges and the keystone kops. I would hope that voters remember this, but that is asking too much.
ReplyDeleteThey need a 6th vote to force Lamont to fix the website.
ReplyDeleteLori’s rationale for not voting for Anthony was laughable.
ReplyDeleteBullying & threats against council members to force them to vote for a candidate is NOT laughable- it is illegal!
DeleteLori doesn’t want Anthony that’s clear. Lori is in charge.
ReplyDeleteLori Vargas/Haffner is taking County Council back to the days when it was the laughingstock of the Lehigh Valley.
ReplyDeleteAs stated earlier on your Blog, the vacancy occurs on January 2, and February 1, is the 31st day. COUNT EM. Jan 2 is the first day of the vacancy. January 31 is the 30th day of the vacancy. The Courts (if properly requested in accordance with the Charter) can make the Appointment on February 1 and there isn't a thing Council or the Executive could do about it. THIRTY DAYS IS THIRTY DAYS. COUNT EM. Let the Courts make the appointment.
ReplyDeleteAfter Lamonster put Brownpants in his place on Graceland budgets, I can see why the need more anti-Lamonster Council members.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Heffner wanted to put serial loser Kerry Myers back on Council shows that she is just fine with dysfunction.
ReplyDeleteIt’s funny how the Democrats who stuck with Paul are rubber stamps doing McClure’s bidding, but no one considers it was their own politics they were looking out for not McClure’s.
ReplyDeleteI thought for sure Heckman would switch to Paul and deadlock it, but I think he’s agreed with Lori to block Paul.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how some national media outlets had followed Northampton County in recent elections as a bellwether political microcosm of the nation. Sadly our county legislature is confirming that it is more than just our voting behavior, but our county governance as well. Council appears to be gripped by same partisan dysfunction that has deadlocked Congress.
ReplyDeleteDeadlock, or gridlock, can be a good thing. That's why the Founders designed it into the federal systtem.
DeleteI feel like Peter Melan is a good middle ground. He’s a registered Democrat but leans conservative and could pass as a Republican. He deserves more consideration.
ReplyDeletePeter Milan can’t be trusted either. When he ran for mayor he attempted to have signs removed or reported back to city.code to fine people for signs on their private property. It was corrected by the city solicitor before harm was done
Delete@11:18 This is wrong. This was the Panto who did that. Bruno spread humor about Peter.
DeletePeter can be a great county commissioner.
I thought for sure Heckman would switch to Paul and deadlock it, but I think he’s agreed with Lori to block Paul.
ReplyDeleteIt’s clear, that the objection to Deb Hunter is that appointing her will give the D’s a leg up in the next Election.
ReplyDeleteKen Kraft is a knuckle head. Of course he’s a rubber stamp. The dishonesty and sense of entitlement permeates from him.
ReplyDeleteAs if the failed election of November, 2023, wasn’t bad enough, the results of that “election “ are now causing even more chaos and media attention. God help this county if the Union guy gets the position (like he needs $9500.00).
ReplyDeleteIt’s clear, that the objection to Deb Hunter is that appointing her will give the D’s a leg up in the next Election.
ReplyDeletePete Melan was let go from his manager's job. Look it up.
ReplyDeleteSo what?! People quit jobs all the time for various reasons. What a dumb thought.
DeleteI can't wait. This is just what I wanted. Judge Morgs to appoint someone. The true kingmaker!
ReplyDelete"Does that mean a single judge? Whom do you think that might be, and/or how is that person selected for this duty? TIA."
ReplyDeleteThat is up to the courts. The matter could be assigned to a single judge or it could be done en banc. I believe the President Judge makes that call, but am not sure myself. But once it goes to the courts, it is in their hands. It will be a sign that Council is completely dysfunctional.
I was appalled when four Council members supported Myers. That was a vote for obstruction. He was terrible on Council, but was a vote to torpedo McClure. I was equally appalled by the concerted effort of three Democrats to install Paul Anthony and basically make it impossible for Council to override a McClure veto.
Heckman should have voted for either Meyers or Anthony. Who does he think he is. I blame him.
ReplyDelete"The fact that Heffner wanted to put serial loser Kerry Myers back on Council shows that she is just fine with dysfunction."
ReplyDeleteThat was perhaps the worst thing she and the Rs could have done and did show obstructionism. Myers openly undermined our Sheriff. He pushed for a conflicted candidate for the elections comm'n solely bc she was black, and threatened council members when they tabled her nomination. He opportunistically switched parties to get try to get on the R ballot after failing to do so as a Dem. Now he opportunistically switched back to Democrat to get an appointment to a vacant Dem seat. He used Twitter to flirt with bots he stupidly thought were attractive women, and when called on it, dishonestly claimed he was hacked.
I was very disappointed that four Council members would vote to put this person on the board.
"It’s clear, that the objection to Deb Hunter is that appointing her will give the D’s a leg up in the next Election."
ReplyDeleteShe stated in her interview that she would not run, although I wish she would.
"Heckman should have voted for either Meyers or Anthony. Who does he think he is. I blame him."
ReplyDeleteHad he voted for Anthony, Council would still be deadlocked. Had he voted for Myers, he would have ensured an obstructionist Council.
"I feel like Peter Melan is a good middle ground. He’s a registered Democrat but leans conservative "
ReplyDeleteThat is true and he was fairly independent on Easton City Council.
Did Peter interview? And your comment makes sense as he was a life long R and turned to D just to win the easton election
DeleteThis is the campaign tactic that Sal Panto used to win his election and a stupid like yourself fell for that.
Delete"After Lamonster put Brownpants in his place on Graceland budgets, I can see why the need more anti-Lamonster Council members."
ReplyDeleteI will be covering that on Monday.
" Gofreddo couldn't even stay for all the interviews"
ReplyDeleteThat is true but he said last night that he wtached the final interviews on Youtube.
It was interesting how Keagan repeatedly referred to the republications as “you guys”. As if it wasn’t already known, there is a clear divide on council with the new members. Paul Anthony is a qualified candidate but to not nominate anyone other than he suggests that they know he’ll always vote with them. Even another democrat like Deb Hunter wasn’t good enough for them because she may not always vote the way they want her too. Myers was a terrible nomination. Kudos to all the nominees who put all the effort and time into applying for the open seat, only to sit there for hours and witness Northampton County politics at its worst.
ReplyDeleteWell, Lamont will undoubtably unleash the hounds of labor on Hefner and Heckman. The threats will begin, to see if they can make them crack and bends their knees to the crown of Lumpy.
ReplyDeleteLet's all take bets. All hail the great pretender to the throne. Your boy.
Kelly keegan looked very nice at least.
ReplyDeleteA good question to ask is why 3 of them sat on the Paul Anthony nomination when there were 25 highly qualified people and refused to budge
ReplyDeleteA good question to ask is why 3 of them sat on the Paul Anthony nomination when there were 25 highly qualified people and refused to budge
ReplyDeleteI have a suggestion. They should do Bethlehem a favor and nominate Willie Reynolds. Let him mess up the county for a while before he tries to move on to another office, my water bill can't take it anymore!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Monday’s update on Gracedale. The suggestion that it had/has a ten million dollar operational deficit is unheard of. At one time , the county was getting over 2 million a year from an IGT fund , a joint venture with other county owned nursing homes. That alone kept the financial burden off the taxpayers to keep Gracedale in the black. It was set up exclusively to help Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteBernie, you are for good government. Well I think that you will not see good government for
ReplyDeletea while in Northampton County. The 3 new dems will not compromise with the other five members of council. It is their way or the highway, just like the executive. The other 5 members put forth a compromise to their votes for a person the fill the seat.The 3 new dems did nothing to change their vote for the empty seat. Keegan can't understand the veto process.
The result will be no check and balances on the administration. This is sad and bad government for Northampton County. The executive was argumentative when Heckman, as he asked Barron why the new website wasn't as user friendly as the old website, and then he realize by walking away, that wasn't appropriate.
This is not what a I want as a Northampton County taxpayer. We should get things done at county council level of government.
Siting there waiting was tough. As to 6:04, yes, Mr. Barron did not address Mr. Heckaman's basic question and went off on terrorism and when pressed was condescending and evasive. I did not understand why Mr. McClure had to jump in to obviously shut Mr. Heckman down. Mr. Warren looked foolish explaining that as a professional computer user there are hackers in the world.
ReplyDeleteAS an aside someone should tell Mr. Barron he should learn to whisper when talking in the audience. Especially when making fun of government officials. I left after a couple rounds.
At least Stevey added a little levity before 5 hours of wandering in the mud. Ron asked him why the new site was so ugly, he got very defensive and ranted about security, and Ron, the mad man that he is basically said "Okay, but I asked why it is so ugly." And of course Ken Kraft set the tone for his entire term by jumping in and agreeing with Lamont and Steve by saying it looks good on his phone. It looks just as bad, because either on desktop or mobile, you need to scroll down before you can find any useful links. At least the mobile site doesn't have multiple pictures of Lamont plastered to the top.
ReplyDeleteI've known Ron a long time. I and few guys have got together over the years for lunch. I know how much he loves the county. One day he came in and said, "I don't want anyone to post anything related to me on Bernie's blog" He was dead serious. Didn't explain but was clear as friends he needed no defense attorneys. So now I must post and say I have seen a change in him, and I told him he should not even consider running again. Not really regarding effectiveness and age but just in general. The fighting, name calling, arrogance and attacks in politics have become far too poisonous. He has even said things are changing and not for the best. Frankly for his overall health he really should even consider resigning his post now, he won't but he should think about it. He serves on other boards.
ReplyDeleteSorry man, I know you will be pissed, and I await your call.
1/19 @8:20AM: “…back to the days when it was the laughingstock of the Lehigh Valley.”
ReplyDeleteWhen hasn’t it been?
That's why I keep asking: Can we ever be great like Lehigh County, or is it hopeless?
DeleteAs an outside observer, Mr. Heckman has become a bit reactionary. While he may have issues with Mr. Barron, it didn't seem to me that Barron was provocative in his explanations but Mr.Heckman who seemed to talk himself into being offended.
ReplyDelete"Deadlock, or gridlock, can be a good thing. That's why the Founders designed it into the federal systtem."
ReplyDeleteThat's nonsense. The founders provided a system of checks and balances designed to prevent one-man rule, but things have headed in that direction since the Civil War as Presidents have assumed more and more power. This happens when legislative bodies allow it to happen. The battle going on right now in NorCo is one in between obstructionism and one-man rule. The answer is balance. The three-member Council block pushing for Anthony accelerates the trend toward one-man rule. The four-member block who advocated for Myers was pushing toward obstructionism. The Executive has to know that County Council is the governing body and is vested with all the residual powers. The County Council has to know that the Executive manages the day-to-day functions of the county. There should be a balance.
Balance of power: , neither displayed by this council or this administration.
ReplyDeleteCouncil displayed a lack of understanding and respect for their elected positions and the HRC.
Their initial acts as a governing body have demonstrated they cannot function as an objective group. The administration has stealthily attempted to steer some council to their needs.If the council is set to retaliate rather than govern, and the administration is poised to veto and obstruct, then both are poised to fail
Northampton county.
12:22, His statement to you is probably based on a conversation I had with him. I spare no one on Council or in the Exec branch, regardless whether I support them. I view my role as akin to that of a sportswriter, which I wish news journalists would try. A sportswriter supports the home time, but does not shy away from pointing our when individual players are performing poorly. I support NorCo, but will tell you as honestly as I can when I think the team is screwing up. Sportswriters do not pretend to be "objective" but do try to be honest.
ReplyDeleteI have criticized Ron in the past as I do with everyone. He has one particularly rabid defender who usually comments around 2 or 3 am and overreacts to even the mildest remark. I once made the mistake of assuming that it was coming from someone close to him. He called me and rightly chewed me out. He told me then that he wanted no defenders and would make that clear to his friends. So that is probably what precipitated his remark to you.
We need Council members like him. He is a Dem, but his team is NorCo. He is not there to push the Exec agenda or be an obstructionist. He is trying to serve the best interests of NorCo and its Charter.
It is very clear that Council members Kraft, Warren and Keegan are pushing for whatever the Exec wants. I agree with most of what the Exec wants myself, but blindly pushing his agenda simply makes them a third wheel on a bicycle going over the cliff of bad government.
It is also very clear that Council members Brown, Giovanni, Goffredo and Vargo-Heffner were pushing obstruction. They could see themselves - they were sitting there - when he openly told Deputies to ignore orders from the Sheriff. They were threatened by him when he insisted on a conflicted nominee to the elections commission . They sat there as he used profanities at Council meetings. They are aware he was using twitter to flirt with bots he thought were sexy women. They know he was too damn lazy to get signatures for his nomination petition and then too lazy to get the few votes he needed as a write-in R. But he will do what they tell him.
The obstructionist block did back away from Myers. The rubber stamps need to back off Anthony.
Why is it the R’s think that the three people who feel Mr. Anthony is the best choice have to compromise with them when the five of them can’t compromise with each other? And it is obnoxious that they think the three people should compromise their choice so the R’s can have their obstructionist majority.
ReplyDeleteKelly Keegan is being groomed by Ken Kraft and doesn't even know it. She will be his mouthpiece to take some the heat for his arrogance.
ReplyDeleteGoffredo is being groomed by Heckman. Heckman is getting too tired to be a one man filibuster
DeleteFormer Council President Wayne Grube must be rolling in his grave watching this messerschmidt unravel 🤦♂️🙏
ReplyDeleteBernie - any gut feelings about what will happen if this goes to the courts? Would this be the first time this has happened?
ReplyDeleteCan someone translate annon 10:39 into readable Kings English?
ReplyDeleteMclure is making has plan to divide and conquer work. Also, how much money did Anthony's union give to the Kraft, Keegan and Warran group? Dem politics.
Lori Vargi-Hoffer should resign in disgrace. She is the worst leader in County history.
ReplyDeleteLori violated the Code of Civility about a dozen times. She should relinquish that gavel.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of gavels. Where’d you get Your’s Lori ?
ReplyDeletePeople need to stop posting negative comments her about Lori Vargo Heffner. She clearly has thin skin. She made several statements that she was governing the way she is because of the on-line criticism she receives.
ReplyDeleteThe Galactic Federation of Democratic Women are going to censure Lori Vargo for her anti-Democratic governance.
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely not true! She is the President of the Federation.
DeleteLori is rumored to be considering resigning from Council to devote herself full-time for her candidacy for State Representative.
ReplyDeleteVargo Heffner is not running for State Representative. They don’t want her, and she’s too lazy to get the signatures. Just like her Buddy Myers.
ReplyDeleteShe was asked. They did want her to run.
DeleteLori would get beat by 10% in that State House. Lori is very unpopular, and local Democratic Party officials have begun to quietly encourage her to switch Parties.
ReplyDeleteNobody likes Lori. She will lose in ‘25 if she’s dumb enough to run.
ReplyDeleteWrong! She would do well in that district & she is only unpopular with the Lamont team. There is a much larger constituency that votes & doesn't care about Lamont.
DeleteLori is mean and miserable, and that is on full display as she presides over Council meetings.
ReplyDeleteShe was polite & fair allowing everyone to speak. In command is not bossy - she is woman dealing with a bunch a male egos.
Delete@ 9:22am Is that why she told a fellow council person to “go home because she’s tired of him” at the last meeting? She really didn’t follow the new civility ordinance. For that matter Ron was attacking people too. Sad.
DeleteWow, Ken and Stevie are really scared of women with power.
ReplyDeleteHeffner and Heckman, the new conflicted semi-Republican couple on council. Democrats acting and joining with Republicans to stop fellow Democrats and Republicans from electing who they, or McClure want, based upon selfish agenda versus qualification.
ReplyDeleteThey all should be reprimanded , have their lunch pails taken away, and sent back to 4th grade.
@7:11am I couldn’t agree more.
DeleteThe women of NCCDW are buzzing about LVH and it isn’t anything good. Seems she is burning bridges everywhere. .
ReplyDeleteThis is a bogus rumor & ridiculous.
DeleteAnd SOON... The RATS WILL EAT EACH OTHER.........
ReplyDelete7:11 am "who they or McClure want"??? seriously?? you believe Council should then be a puppet of McClure. In Yoda speech "believe in good government you do not"!
ReplyDelete"Deadlock, or gridlock, can be a good thing. That's why the Founders designed it into the federal systtem."
ReplyDeleteThis is not a D v R thing. That is a false narrative. Heffner and Heckman think employees deserve more $. Does that make them Republican. McClure is not paying minimum wage to some of the county staff, though he should be there un about a year. Does that make him an R? McClure opposed a fund to help pay student debt by county staff? Does that make him aa D? Heffner and Heckman support it? Does that make them Republican?
They all have supported trade union issues like the responsible contractor ordinance. The resistance to Paul Anthony on Council is predicated on the very real concern that he will be another rubber stamp in addition to Kraft, Keegan and Warren. Despite vociferous denials, their actions and the virulent comments here pretty much establish that is what they are.
I consider the proposed a health center neither a R nor a Dem idea. Heffner voted No to the health center while Heckman voted Yes. They are not even in lock step with each other yet can still respect each other.
This has nothing to do with party. This is all about following what McClure wants and the attacks on LVH are getting out of hand. Do I think LVH or Heckman are wonderful and that McClure is evil? No. They all have their good points and their bad points. I happen to think McClure is a good Exec and support the health center. But I do not consider those opposed to it evil people.
To your point…….all of them are following a path to elect someone to do what “they” or McClure wants……they are not looking at what’s best for the county…they have failed the sniff test.
ReplyDeleteExactly why there’s gridlock in Washington!!
@ Bernie and 11:02, In your opinion “they are not looking to do what’s best for the county,” I doubt your opinion is based on facts though. It’s clear to me that everyone on council is doing one of two things when voting on a perspective issue. They are either trying to do what they believe is best for the county or trying to do a good job in order to garner re-election or advancement. There would be absolutely no reason for any of these people to side with the executive for any other reason then they agree with him. I do see a possible third dynamic though. I see certain individuals voting one way or another because they feel personally slighted. It seems the vote is being controlled by personal feelings. It’s all really juvenile.
Delete12:40, You and I completely disagree. They side with the exec and have already shown themselves to be rubber stamps. Fact: They voted in unison for Kraft as Council Pres bc he will follow Lamont's agenda. Fact: They voted in unison for a trade union business manager. He will follow Lamont's agenda and help them financially. I agree that there was some obstruction on the other side but it vanished as rounds continued. So no, I do not think the best interests of the county are being considered. And this is not D v R. This is about one-man rule.
ReplyDelete12:40, Don't be so naive. The crew of power hungry folks like Morganelli, Boscola, etc. are a vindictive bunch. If you vote against their boy McClure there will be a political and possibly policy price to pay. Why policy? If you thwart McClure and there is legislation that you want passed by Council, they will make sure you are voted down by your Dem buddies that are aligned with that crew. Make no mistake about it, that's how they roll.
ReplyDelete12:54, I went back and watched that portion of the meeting again. Council had been deadlocked on several votes with 4 for Myers, 3 for Anthony and 1 for Hunter. Kraft at this point correctly noted what is wrong with Myers. LVH might have found that offensive bc she did not want any of the candidates disparaged, but that is horseshit. If a candidate is seriously flawed, as Myers most certainly is, Kraft has every right to point it out. He also has every right to question the motives of those who voted for a seriously flawed candidate. Just as there is no doubt in my mind that the Kraft troika seeks to enable one-man rule, there is also no doubt in my mind that the four who voted for Myers were intent on obstruction. Where Kraft went a little off kilter is when he suggested that Brown wants to be Exec and began slamming Rs pretty much for being Rs. So while LVH was a little unhinged at that point herself, that's the context. It did not come out of the blue and Kraft is no altar boy.
ReplyDeleteKraft honest about Meyers, yes, but Kraft was pissed off when his attempt at setting up the newbies to vote for him for president failed.
ReplyDeleteKraft even picked on the blog suggesting that he was working the newbies to do what he said to vote for Anthony, which they did.Warren and Keegan displayed their inability to think independently by following Kraft over the lemming cliffs. By attempting to control the vote, Kraft , Keegan, and Warren displayed their lack of leadership.Heckman and Heffner attempted to play the middle without endangering the retribution they want against McClure, by offering options without result. LVH, Goffredo, Giovanni go with Meyers? The guy goes from a D to sn R to a D….any port in a storm… you kidding me? This is far from a well functioning governing
Council……not even close.
LVH is a very poor leader. If the Council can’t compromise it’s because of her poor leadership. She didn’t seem to help any with her violations of the Code of Civility. She is a nasty, eye rolling, thin skinned individual, all of which do not make for the President of the Council. Sad for our local government.
ReplyDelete7:59, Ok Ken, we no your still sore you didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteI'm #100, #99, I agree with you Kraft felt entitled. He was a poor council president as he would tailor the agendas to what McClure wanted and limited debate to only allow McClure talking points. He has no ideas what civility means. He left council in less than a year and was rewarded with a county job and increased pension. Other than the two McClure zombie voters on council he had no support. So, besides Hefner, who would they put in the position, a republican???
ReplyDelete@3:02am Kraft was on council for two terms. I think he left with a little time left in his 2nd term so about 7 years. Either your not very knowledgeable or your just spouting lies.
DeleteLet's call it what it is: Clownty Council.
ReplyDeleteBernie you sure the the word rubber stamp , if a republican was county executive and had the majority on council they would “ rubber stamp “ everything ! Be real about this republicans never have new ideas they just vote against thing to make peoples lives better
ReplyDelete7:15, When Brown was Exec, he had a rubber stamp Council that consisted of guys like Geissinger and Matt Benol, who did rubber stamp what he wanted. The result was bad government. Fortunately, there were RTs like Cusick and Hayden Phillips who stood against one-man rule.
ReplyDeleteYou are making a "what about" argument to justify blind partisanship. This simply does not work. On a purely partisan matter, like a Democratic or Republican policy, I can see Republicans voting Republican and Democrats voting Democrat. But in the case of one-man rule, some of the policies being promoted by the man in charge may actually differ from what his party advocates. Let me give you two examples with Lamont. First, employee pay. Democrats should support higher wages for the working class, but McClure opposes them. This is a Republican policy being blindly supported by Democratic rubber stamps. Second, Democrats support a student loan forgiveness program, but McClure opposes that on a county level and his rubber stamps have blindly supported him.
Northampton County Council meeting on Youtube 3 hours and 46 minutes in and Lori Vargo Hefner becomes totally unhinged. She is has a duty to her constituents to vote on a qualified candidate which Mr Anthony is. She is not voting for him because of her animosity and dislike of some of the other council members and County Executive. She continues to harass and bully other council members at council meeting and privately.Your right Ms Hefner enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteI don’t support a student loan forgiveness program, that is just plain stupid, and I would think illegal use of taxpayer money.
ReplyDeleteSame thing with tax breaks for volunteer fire fighters, illegal