First, she's a veteran. Most people, even those who run for council and get elected, have no idea what county government does. There's a two-year learning curve for most people who serve in this part-time position. With Ron Heckman stepping down, her knowledge and experience is very beneficial, not just to newer members, but to the public she serves.
Second, she's bipartisan. When Peg Ferraro served on Northampton County Council, she liked to say she was a Republican until the election was over. After that, she did what she thought was in the best interests of the people she served, even if that meant ruffling a few feathers here and there. Vargo Heffner has embraced this thinking. As President of County Council, she named Republicans to chair different committees and even voted to elect Republican John Goffredo as Vice President. We could use more, not less, of that attitude.
Third, she's independent. She's unwilling to be pressured into voting a certain way, whether it is for a voluntary employee health center or a new county building. While I disagree with her position on these matters, I think it's very important to have Council members who can think for themselves.
Fourth, she stands up for the working class. Over the Executive's objection, she insisted on a pay study for county employees that reveals most of them are stuck for years in the middle of their pay scales. She supported a responsible contractor ordinance that ensures people working in trades are paid what they are worth and are safe.
Fifth, she has weathered a barrage of personal and mean-spirited attacks during her seven years in office, most of which are based on her simple refusal to rubber stamp what the Exec wants. In fact, I half-expected her to simply bow out because it has had to have taken a personal toll. At all levels of government, Executive overreach has been a problem. She has made sure that the legislative branch has remained a separate and co-equal branch of government.
Is she flawed? Yes. There are times when she can get petty or make snide remarks and can be obstructionist at times. But we need people like her in office now more than ever.
From Lori Vargo Heffner's Campaign, Northampton County, PA (February 12, 2025): Northampton County Council President Lori Vargo Heffner will seek re-election to Northampton County Council as an At-Large member.
“I’m announcing that I will be seeking a third term to continue my service to all residents and fight for Northampton County’s working families,” said Vargo Heffner. “In addition to 7 years of no tax increases, including one tax cut, I have worked to ensure that core county services are available and accessible to all residents.”
“During my tenure I have worked across party lines to maintain quality core services, complete the P3 bridge project, and enhance good governance practices. I have led efforts to create an independent pay study for our workforce and an independent study of operations at Gracedale. I have worked with judicial services to support their service delivery needs and identify ways to collaborate on the statewide mental health population crisis in our prisons. I believe the essence of good government is to be an independent voice and work to ensure a high quality of life for all residents.”
“I have proven my experience, commitment and integrity during my seven years on Northampton County Council, and I would be honored to continue working to improve the quality of life of all of our residents,” adds Vargo Heffner.
As a member of County Council Vargo Heffner has served in a variety of leadership positions, including her current role as President, a position she has held for four years. Vargo Heffner also served two years as Vice President and Chair of the Human Services, Finance, Governance, and Election Integrity committees. She serves as the Northampton County Council liaison to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Discover Lehigh Valley. She also serves on the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Board as the Region 6 Representative, a position she has held for 3 years, as well as a member of CCAP’s Human Services and Court and Corrections committees. In addition, she currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women.
Her accomplishments on County Council include the creation of term limits for all elected county officials, a Responsible Contracting Ordinance which ensured that County residents earn a living wage for work done in Northampton County, distribution of ARPA funds to small businesses during the COVID pandemic, and support for all farmland preservation and environmental resolutions.
A nearly 30-year resident of Northampton County, and 23-year resident of Lower Saucon Township, Vargo Heffner is a psychotherapist employed by St. Luke’s University Health Network. She earned a Bachelors degree Psychology from Moravian College, Masters degree in Counseling from Kutztown University and Masters degree in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. She serves on the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Discover Lehigh Valley Boards and is a member of Assumption BVM Catholic Church where she serves as a lector and on the Liturgy Board.
Blogger's Note: Democrats Nadeem Qayyum (husband of Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana, Jason Boulette (Wind Gap Borough) David Holland (a nurse practitioner) and Theresa Fedem (Hellertown Borough Council) have also announced that they are seeking the Democratic nomination. There may be more.
46 comments:
Lori is a contender. The rest are pretenders. Enough said.
The taxpayer funded junkets to Florida are problematic. She spent $3,000.00 traveling to Tampa Bay last year. It was never authorized by Council and she has yet to give a report about the trip.
2 paraphrase the Boss, Lori Vargo Hefner’s got debts no honest woman can pay. She routinely tries to beat lenders out of money, and has been sued multiple times. She’s completely unfit for office.
Best of luck to Lori Vargo Heffner in this year's election. It isn't easy to stand up to bullies AND keep attending to government business. She's been a great role model.
I try not to vote for Ds, as they're mostly idiots who hate citizens. But I'll vote for this dope because she really pisses off other citizen-hating, idiot Ds. She's not independent. She just hated shiftless and careless McClure. Is he gone yet? Can we get him to leave early? Does he even show up?
Lori Vargo Hafer is anti-Union. She voted repeatedly against the nomination of the President of the Lehigh Valley Building Trades from being appointed to fill Tara’s seat. This caused SEIU and AFSCME employees not to get an employee doctor’s office. A benefit they didn’t even have to negotiate for. Lori’s very anti-Labor.
Heffner voted to cut funding for the removal of lead paint and lead pipes. I guess kids getting brain damage is good for a therapists business ?
Lori has been a reliable vote for the MAGA Republicans on County Council. In a Democratic Primary, all Democrats should ask her to pledge not to take a job in the Giovanni Administration. Easy enough.
Didn't Lori nominate Kerri Myers to be appointed to Tara Zrinski's position? As president of the county council she should've never appointed a proven liar who cheated to get on the ballot. Do you think that's good leadership Bernie?
Last year, Commissioner Warren introduced a resolution in support of state legislation that would cap lot fees in mobile home parks where many low income, disabled individuals, and veterans reside throughout our county. Lori voted no and sided with the rich mobile home park owners.
And me without a barf bag
If she a democrat a vote for her is vote for bad spending.
Last abstained Lori Vargo Heffner abstained against the resolution to codify Roe v. Wade. What a shameless way to vote no for a resolution that would protect women. She claims to support women, but clearly she doesn't. Action speak louder than words.
LVH is one of the best elected officials we have gotten in the last few years. Will be getting my vote and I foresee many more.
It actually was the correct vote because Roe V Wade has nothing to do with county government.
I like that she’s willing to stand up to people in her own party and not just roll over for Lamont
7;51 is a flat-out lie. Warren did introduce a nonbinding resolution to support a rent cap on mobile home parks, which is a state matter, and Lori was among the seven Council members who voted for it. The only No votes came from Goffredo and Brown. This is a link to my story at the time. https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2024/03/norco-council-supports-cap-on-lot-fees.html
8:16, Lori was one of three Council members who abstained. All three who abstained were Democrats. The reason Vargo Heffner abstained was bc she disliked the wording. It included this: "BE IT RESOLVED the County of Northampton, Pennsylvania declares itself a Right-To-Choose Sanctuary County, recognizing that anyone should have a right to abortion, on-demand, and without question."
When this resolution was offered originally, it was tabled so that author Kelly Keegan could change the language declaring the county a sanctuary county for abortion on demand. When it came up again, Keegan refused to change the language, and the resolution failed. At the time, she said she was abstaining bc she disliked that language. It should also be pointed out, as Tom Giovanni stated, "This is not county business and I'm not going to vote for it."
County government should not be a platform from which to play politics on national issues, especially those that rip this nation apart. https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2024/06/keegans-attempt-to-make-norco-abortion.html
7:47, She did vote for him in at least one of the rounds, and I agree that was an incredibly stupid vote. Myers was simply a bad Council member who debased the office when he was there with a constant use of foul language, absences and a blatant attempt to undermine the authority of the Sheriff and drive a wedge between him and the deputy sheriffs. I do not agree with some of her votes and believe her opposition to the voluntary employee health center was misplaced. But reasonable people of good will can have different views. This disagreement does not immediately make you an enemy.
David Holland is a good guy but I can't imagine why, at this point in his life, he would want to be a council member.
I'm struck by the frequent use of thought-ending cliches in the comments section of this blog, as well as in the coarsened political discourse of this time. A thought-ending cliche is one that stops all reasoned consideration, such as "idiots who hate citizens", "radical-left libtards" or, from the other side, "fascists" and "short-fingered vulgarian". I'm a moderate Democrat capitalist but who also believes that in the richest country on the planet we should not have people without enough to eat or without medical care, and that climate change is a real threat which cannot simply be papered over with simplistic slogans (Drill, Baby, Drill? ).
Typical opportunist Democrat; her Florida junket is comparable to Zrinski with a bullhorn at the BLM rally.
The longer Lamont stays, the more he stinks.
i almost peed myself laughing at this Lori
Funny how that bullhorn keeps coming up. Tara wielded so much emasculating power with it! Poor lil white snowflakes got so upset with a loud woman.
Lori has greatly disappointed her party. She screwed over the unions, she turned her back on women, she voted against nurses/Gracedale, she snuggled up with the Republicans, and she took a $3,100 Florida trip on our dime. Let's hope she doesn't make past the primary election. She also voted for term limits, so I'd like to see her time as being up
Did she screw the unions by supporting the RCO? Did she hurt women by joining other Dems and abstaining from a politically divisive resolution that has NOTHING to do with county government? Did she hurt Gracedale employees by voting for bonuses to the employees there? Or by voting to cut back on the money spent on outside nursing agencies? Ands that trip for a NACO conference was in the middle of July, not exactly the best time be in Florida. Even Trump stays away that time of year.
Look at you making an excuse for Lori utilizing $3100 of the taxpayer's money claiming that July isn't a great month to go to Florida. That is a weak defense. How about you act like a real blogger and demand that Lori give a report like she should've instead of being the self-serving blogger that you are, defending those who you like and beating down on those who you don't.
Lori Vargo Haffner cut 1.5 million dollars from Gracedale Nursing in the middle of a Global Pandemic. She is as bad as Peg was.
This person could care less about the general public and blatantly ignores the county residents when they're speaking during public comment. I have never seen an elected official spend more time on her phone DURING sessions. She exhibits a general distaste for anyone who she perceives as not in complete support of her "vision". Sadly, without a strong Executive to serve as a counterbalance, we'll see continued inaction, gridlock, and a total lack of collaboration from the board.
Lori was entitled to a $3000 trip as are all taxpayers
Remember this is the amount taxpayers spent for Federal Judge Smith’s wake
I will be submitting a receipt to the Commissioners once I return from Mexico next month
So it’s Heffner joining up with Amy to beat out Zarinsky, who has McCure and Baron backing her to beat Amy. This should be interesting to see what they focus on as major issues that actually pertain to council responsibility. Let’s see if they really understand their priorities and can stay focused without muddying up the campaigns.
Oh Kelly, you are the reason dems are getting beat everywhere even with Trump as prez. Keep typing and remain ineffective and not doing anything.. Listen to LaMont and Barrona and do whatever they tell you to do. You keep being you and you may get a Zirinski bullhorn merit badge.
Also, if Anthony wanted to be on council so bad why did he not run for office. oh hmmm?
Yes Bernie, it is a shame Heckman is stepping down. His decades of experience will be sorely missed. A true working-class Democrat who supported labor and those in need. The Dems are now populated with people like Warren and Keegan who believe they know everting before they even walk in the door. I wonder if the modern Democrat party will ever allow common sense and critical thinking to thrive in the Party.
Get lost, baby-killer!
Lies! The county has an RCO because of LVH
I will bet that the majority of the comments bashing LVH are from Patty “ Complete Disaster” Bruno Word has it, McClure won’t even endorse Patty.
Heckman was no gift to council, even with his years of experience. He on many occasions was just as unprepared to discuss county business as the newbies, and his tendency to wander into wordiness was aggravating. He rode the fence on many occasions not wanting to hit back against bad governance, while ensuring everyone that his years of selfless dedication allowed him to be the voice of council.
When will we see Mr. Heffner on the campaign trail ?
Warren and Keegan are, by far, the worst members to ever serve on Council!!!
Whether/ not She took the junket in July is a moot point- it was a waste of taxpayers money!
Incompetent fool, not a loud woman.
I lost whatever respect I had for her after that move!
"Those people" is one that gets me.
No, it just showed her true colors- Zrinski is a total embarrassment!
So very glad I moved out of Nor Co and the logistics center Lehigh valley hi Bernie keep on doing what you are doing
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