During a brief meeting yesterday afternoon, Northampton County Council voted to keep Lori Vargo Heffner, a Democrat, as its President in 2025. It also elected John Goffredo, a Republican, as Vice President. It will mark the first time since the inception of home rule in 1978 that Council's leadership is bipartisan.
Voting for Lori Vargo Heffner were Jeff Corpora, Tom Giovanni, John Goffredo, Ron Heckman and John Brown. She abstained from voting for herself.
Vargo Heffner did have competition for the Presidency. Ken Kraft nominated and voted for Jeff Warren. He also voted for himself and was supported by Kelly Keegan.
Before the vote, Warren stated there had been a lot of "discord" between Vargo Heffner and the administration, and that he would be a "conduit" who would "hash out issues and have an open dialogue." He added that Council's Presidency should go to a person other than someone whose name might appear on the ballot that year.
Heckman responded to Warren's claim of discord by observing, "If you want respect, give respect." He noted that, while he has great respect for the executive branch, "I am not directed by them nor will I ever be."
Keegan went on the attack. She noted that Vargo Heffner failed to meet with the Executive at all in 2024, even though he provided her with nine different dates and times. Yet she had time to attend numerous conferences, including a $3,000 taxpayer-paid trip for the National Association of Counties and that she has yet to provide a report on what happened. "If the county wants to move forward, we need somebody who is willing to work with the county executive and also be collaborative."
He agreed that there were times in which Council denied the Executive on proposals like the health center or a mega million-dollar bond, but added, "Sometimes gridlock is part of democracy. ..." Diving into his inner zen master, he added that "Sometimes no progress is progress."
He said he'd support Vargo Heffner because she has a lot of experience and is independent but stops listening right away when he hears all these attacks. Keegan responded that she stated facts.
Vargo Heffner responded to the "facts" set forth in Keegan's attack. "Sometimes facts are fiction," she said. "They are facts as stated by somebody who thinks they know something." She indicated that she and Executive Lamont McClure did attempt to meet last year, but he selected dates and times at which she was seeing patients even though she made clear what times she was available. On one agreed upon date and time, McClure canceled. She added that she retained all documents concerning their meeting. "After trying so many times, you get the message that somebody doesn't want to meet with you."
With respect to a report concerning her trip to the National Association of Counties, Vargo Heffner said she'd be happy to provide one just as soon as she hears Council member reports from the state association. She said several Council members attended last year. "I question whether they went to any workshops."
After Vargo Heffner was elected President, Jeff Corpora nominated John Goffredo for Vice President. Kelly Keegan nominated Jeff Warren. Ron Heckman nominated Corpora.
Goffredo was elected with votes from Giovanni, Brown, Corpora, Vargo Heffner and himself. Warren received votes from Keegan, Kraft and himself. Heckman voted for Corpora.
Two votes were unanimous. All nine Council members voted to retain Chris Spadoni as Solicitor. And they all voted to adjourn.
31 comments:
McClure told everyone to watch this meeting, I did. That Keegan woman is one mean and nasty person. Warren is so full of himself it is laughable. If these are the type of people McClure is pushing for council, he will be lucky if he gets re-elected. What a shat show!
Kelly Keegan continues her impression of a High School Mean Girl. Her Tik Tok videos insult her fellow commissioners then she speaks out at meetings, claiming her colleagues aren't acting professionally. She takes umbrage at being accused of being a shill for the County Executive but, when challenged, can't cite one instance of when she disagreed with one of his positions.
All elected officials should be independent thinkers when discussing proposed legislation. Unfortunately, we've yet to see that approach from Keegan, Warren or Kraft.
Congratulations to Lori Vargo Heffner and John Goffredo on their appointments.
McClure is a failure as a leader. What's the matter with a guy who ducks meetings, sends a partisan acolyte to complain for him, and can't achieve the majority support of his own party? He's the worst executive in the home rule era. But he's good for Rs.
Goffredo said the quiet part out loud. He was voting for Heffner for “gridlock”. He was voting for Heffner to make “no progress, because sometimes no progress is progress.” Watch the YouTube video.
Keegan is particularly vicious. I'm glad she has to wake every day for the next four years knowing NorCo's majority was nationally instrumental in electing Trump. She needs to step aside and let the grownups make NorCo great again.
The sad joke begets yet another sad joke on the citizens of norco
The MAGA Mistress that it what Lori is. She joins the Republicans to gain power and sells her votes. Then she pretends to be this super Democratic Woman. No more after voting for a Vice President that prefer she be in the kitchen as opposed to serving on council with him. No self respecting Democratic Woman should vote for Goffredo. I guess we know that Lori has shown her true colors. The MAGA Mistress
Lori should do less traveling and meet with the Exec. She claims she tried to and has proof. I noticed though she says she has proof, but never read the e-mail or circulates this “proof”.
I will say this at least Lamont and his leadership bring receipts and are transparent when it comes to how they operate. I’m sure you’ll agree there BO.
This council should don clown attire and makeup at their meetings.
Good for R’s he slaughtered Brown by 7, Lynch by 12, and will beat whatever you dig up by 15.
You should try to beat him.
BO--- AT-LEAST YOU WILL HAVE QUITE-ABIT TO WRITE ABOUT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS WITH HER (VARGO- HEFFNER) AT THE HELM AGAIN.
I HOPE SHE REALIZES BIDEN IS DONE SO SHE CAN'T MIMIC HIM ANY LONGER WAKE UP COUNTY
Keegan doesn’t know anything else but being a mean nasty being. Can’t say human because I don’t think there is a human as nasty as her. So full of hate. Must of had a hateful childhood. Even said her own colleagues in the EASD should be fired is they voted for Trump because Trump wants to get rid of the Department of Education. Imagine telling people you work with they should be fired because they didn’t vote the way she thinks you should have. I hope the union set her straight. She doesn’t know anything about government, she just takes her cue from McClure. Tie her to McClure and his re-election is over. Shows what kind of people McClure surrounds himself with.
God help Northampton County. We have NJ/NY people taking over the once beautiful and affordable farmland. We have idiots running the County.
McClure is a joke. He hates Hefner because he can’t control her. Then he send Keegan to attack her and it blows up in Keegan and McClure’s face. Love it! Remember, the county voted for Trump! They are tired of the Democrats hateful lying BS. McClure is next to go.
7:38, I agree that Lamont McClure has been highly transparent. He has responded to every message I've sent. I also like that he issues numerous news releases that keep us informed on a regular basis.
I do believe that LVH and the Exec did make an effort to meet. I encouraged them both to do so, both on this blog and in person. I am aware of the efforts made by both and they both are truthful.
All you have to do is watch the numerous Kelly Keegan and Jeff Warren videos that they post- two ignorant, ugly people who are out of their league and only care about themselves and the attention they grab. Unfortunately, NORCO attracts people of their ilk .
6:58, Goffredo is a true conservative. He believes that the less government we, have, the better. That's what he is saying, and it is consistent with his philosophy, I would disagree. believe that we need government and that it exists to help people. That is the basic difference between conservatives and progressives. We're both right and we're both wrong.
Oooooo, Keegan is so scary! Are you kidding me? You are a bunch of snowflake babies! She brought up a great point. Why didn’t the Council President meet with McClure?
The Commissioners don't like being called out and questioned. Did they think Kraft, Warren, and Keegan were going to come to the dais and anoint their feet? I’m happy the obstructors didn’t get more rubber stamps for themselves. McClure has been a great county executive.
I hope Keegan continues to be a “mean girl”. It’s refreshing to see someone with guts and grit!
8:57, I know nothing about her as a person, but I had heard she was very nice from others who do know her. I knew she was an active Democrat, and considered her a vast improvement over Kerry Myers, who really was nasty, lazy. He proved just how lazy he was when he failed to properly circulate his nomination petition. He proved how nasty he was when he went after the Sheriff. He proved how stupid he was when he attempted to talk with chatbots disguised as beautiful women.
I have no problem with her support of McClure's agenda. I happen to think he's right. But the way she goes about it just makes it more difficult for him to get five votes. You don't get people to vote your way when you constantly insult them, as she has done over and over on social media. It just turns people off, especially since she really did not have the facts right. She turns off people more when she brings forth controversial resolutions that really have nothing to do with county government. I have no problem with them when they are noncontroversial matters about which there is consensus bc they will not detract from the time the county council, a part-time body, has for county business. But her resolutions were divisive and were meant to drive a wedge in an already fractious council.
Her problem, in my view, is that she has failed to make the transition from activist to elected official. This is a problem that Tara Zrinski had, except that Zrinski never really got nasty with anyone in public. Zrinski does appear to have made that transition to elected official and is a much better controller than I had hoped for. I believe Keegan can get better as well. She does appear to work hard.
Lori’s easy to hate. Virtually everyone does. IMO, she’s a Grifter who mooches off her “friends” and stiffs her creditors. Just like Trump.
On one hand the council says "we are independent of the executive" and should be free thinkers, and then on the other hand they want Kraft, Warren, and Keegan to agree with them. It's brutal to have to listen to the same lecture over and over and over again.
I liked what Warren said about agreeing with McClure's projects. Even you Bernie like them, so why are they constantly being called rubber stamps. If they have the same ideals as McClure then they have that in common. It's no wonder why the three of them get annoyed. Maybe stop bullying the three of them and they will be more receptive.
I watched Warren's latest video- after 1 minute, I had to close it- this asshole is starving for attention!
I believe Heffner answered that question. McClure scheduled times she couldn’t meet after being told her availability and when they did agree McClure canceled an hour before the meeting. And being a mean girl or mean anything doesn’t get you far in life. Try working together and stop bashing one another. Be civil. What a concept.
As the president of County Council, you don't meet with the county executive after he had one conflict and had to cancel the meeting for the entire year?? If you're the president of the county council, you need to do better than that. How about rescheduling it? You just assumed he didn't want to meet with you after he cancelled once? Extremely lazy or lame either way.
It's well known that DPRKK is intolerant of others. During the pandemic, she was quite active fighting with parents on social media; some of it was about masking and getting the jab but much of it was attacking the parents who thought kids should be in school full-time. It would not surprise me if she thought her professional colleagues should be fired simply for voting for DJT.
The MAGA people are the good Americans not you left wing lunatics
Loved how Yellow Dog Democrat Ron Heckman forced DINO Lori Vargo Heffner to voted for rising MAGA superstar J.P. Goffredo. Lori tried to pass, but had no choice to vote for J.P. after Heckman voted for Jeff Corpse. (Corpse didn’t even vote for himself, but that wily partisan Heckman did.)
Your comment makes zero sense.
Keegan at 10:57, your flawed logic is again priceless. Take a basic logic course as well as fundamentals of democratic government. Oh, and why aren't you working?
I believe when someone gives you a list of times you can’t meet and then they deliberately scheduled a meeting during those times tells you the person is either stupid or didn’t want to meet with you. Which one?
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