Northampton County Council is seeking applications (see below) for the Council vacancy created by Tara Zrinski's resignation on Tuesday. They're moving fast because they only have 30 days to appoint someone.
Names I have heard include former Council members John Cusick and Kerry Myers, along with retired educator Deb Hunter. Both Cusick and Hunter would provide oversight, but the appointment of Kerry Myers would be a mistake and would be correctly perceived as an attempt to get even with McClure for Myers own failure to gather signatures for his own re-election or wage even a half-hearted campaign to secure the Republican nomination. As a Council member, Myers can best be remembered for undermining the authority of our Sheriff by brazenly stating that he would refuse to take orders from him if he were a deputy. To make matters even worse, he stupidly used social media to chat with bots he mistakenly believed were attractive women.
Notice is hereby given that the Northampton County Council is accepting the names of individuals who are interested in filling an At Large vacancy on the Northampton County Council. An individual filling the vacancy must comply with Northampton County Home Rule Charter Section 103 "General Qualifications" which provides, "During his term of office each elected official shall be a citizen of the United States and shall reside continuously in the County. Each elected official shall have resided in the County continuously during the year preceding the commencement of his term of office."
Individuals interested in filling the vacancy should e-mail a letter together with a written resume to lzembo@norcopa.gov or mail same to the Office of the Northampton County Council c/o Linda Zembo, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 or fax to 610-559-3106. Applications must be received in the Northampton County Office by Friday, January 12, 2024, no later than 4:30 p.m., prevailing local time. Notice is further given that the applications of those interested in filling the vacancy will be reviewed and the applicants interviewed at the Personnel Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, commencing at 4:00 p.m. prevailing local time, and at the Northampton County Council meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2024, commencing at 6:30 p.m., prevailing local time, in the Northampton County Council Meeting Room, Room 3116, third floor, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA. Individuals with questions may contact the office of Northampton County Council by telephone at 610-829-6596.
24 comments:
Welcome to the Jungle, is their theme song!
Tara should be replaced by a democrat. That is the only answer, they have 5 votes to our 3 so its a done deal
Bernie for County Council!!!
In norco being blind, deaf and having a lobotomy is a requirement
7:42, As I have said many times, even I would never vote for me. I believe I am best suited to observing and writing and hope it helps people as much or more than I could in public office. I am poorly suited to such a role. Lots of people are good for public office, but not me. You need people to write about it as honestly as possible and keep them on their toes as well..
"Tara should be replaced by a democrat. That is the only answer, they have 5 votes to our 3 so its a done deal"
Under the HRC, Tara can be replaced by anyone from any party who meets the requirements of office. I'd agree that the appointment should go to a person who belongs to the same party as the person who resigned. That is the case in Lehigh County's HRC. In this case, a female Democrat would come closest to replacing the person who left. That would be Deb Hunter. But I'd give strong consideration to Republican John Cusick, who is by far the most knowledgeable person in county government outside of Jerry Seyfried, Frank Flisser and McClure.
I absolutely disagree.
The HRC is very specific in that it does NOT require the position to go to a person of the same political party. This is a brilliant and intentional omission that guarantees nothing to either political party when voters elect politically self-serving individuals who decide they don’t want to finish the job they were initially elected to do. It also allows the widest possible pool of candidates to be considered, including independents.
I realize the position will likely go to a democrat, given the current makeup of council that you note and the fact that most there are political creatures (and therefore not most concerned with choosing the BEST possible candidate).
But by no means SHOULD political party (or sex/gender, or anything else) be the deciding factor (in an ideal world). It should certainly NOT be an actual requirement.
Yeah Baby = May allow Bernie to pick up a date !
Bernie would dress better than John Fetterman !
"Bernie would dress better than John Fetterman !"
No, I wouldn't. I wear suits to courtrooms and funerals, but do not like them and think they are silly. I prefer more functional clothing and reject the notion that someone is defined by what he wears. I have no issues with how Fetterman dresses.
"But by no means SHOULD political party (or sex/gender, or anything else) be the deciding factor (in an ideal world). It should certainly NOT be an actual requirement."
And it isn't. Your point is valid and I would be happy to see either a Cusick or a Hunter in office. But there is no way that the troika elected in November will vote for a Republican. I question whether they'd support any Democrat except someone who, like them, is bringing a McClure rubber stamp.
I think that the seat should go to a Democrat. The people spoke and voted her in twice to the seat and they would not be doing the will of the electorate that made it clear this seat is Democratic.
Should they not follow the will of the people that picked this spot ?
This council is already toxic. They had pre determined agendas for president/VP, they used closed door meetings to decide who gets what, and the next chosen one will most likely be programmed already to do whatever bidding needed. No one chosen person can fix what has been breaking over the year. Fair and trusting government…..not.
Relax. Highly doubt there were “closed door” meetings to discuss this. That would be a violation. “Closed door” meetings can only be held for specific reasons, not this.
What most likely occurred was calls and texts between them gauging support for one another or some face to face chats to discuss. Nothing wrong with that and it’s legal.
No to another McClure rubber stamp. I don't care if the person is D or R. I doubt this will happen, though. The Democrat wing already seems to a vapid, vacuous bunch, swaying to the beckon of McClure.
You didn't like my "Bernie for County Council?"
Oops, sorry. I see you did post it.
Okay then, sounds good.
Anonymous 12:13:
7:24 is correct. Elected members of councils and boards can discuss anything, even official agenda items that require a vote, amongst themselves in private. If a majority of the body is present, it must be a properly advertised meeting that is open to the public. If a majority meets in private (executive session), only certain topics can be discussed and a public acknowledgement of the executive session must be noted to the public. "Executive session was held (date/time/topic) and (list of members) were present."
The leadership of these bodies is almost always determined in advance. One person simply calls, texts, meets for coffee, whatever; each individual on said body and seeks support for president. Once that person has a majority that of the board or council, it's a formality to advertise and have the organization meeting that is open to the public.
Er, I think I said 7:34. I meant 7:14 PM is correct.
Legal back door decisions pre determining outcomes that serve….only the will of a few….Sunshine laws speak to meetings with illegal majority of members vs legal small unethical groups with intention to determine outcome for self purpose….nothing wrong unless you get caught or exposed by problems by circumventing laws
and playing the “nothing to see here” act.
Far from good government practices, unless you are this council.
The replacement is already picked by Lori and the 3 Rs.
Yes back door meetings did happen
Only assholes become politicians and only assholes vote for them.
If the choice was made, I guess no one leaked out who it was. I find that hard to fathom.
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