As a result of a conflict, I was unable to attend Easton South Side's candidates' night for county, city and EASD races this year. Thanks to Patsy Hitzel, you and I are both able to view a Facebook Live for those who are seeking office this year.
All three judicial candidates - Jeremy Clark, Bob Eyer and James Fuller - were there and responded to several questions posed by a panel who gathered them from the audience. In his opening remarks, Fuller said he approached his former soccer coach and asked him to sign his petition, only to learn that the coach had already signed one for Jeremy Clark.
"I played soccer for you for two years!" complained Fuller. The coach did give him a consolation prize - Fuller can put a sign in the coach's yard.
All three Executive candidates - Tara Zrinski, Tom Giovanni and Amy Cozze - were also there. They were asked to respond to questions about poor employee morale. Zrinski said that problem, does not exist in her office because she makes sure they are appreciated and know it. She got each of them a step increase. Cozze said county employees need higher salaries and more resources. Giovanni said morale is low and that needs to change. "Without them [the county staff], the work does not get done," said the Quiet Man. All agreed that Gracedale, the county nursing home, needs to remain county-owned.
There were several no-shows among County Council candidates. Patti Bruno was there, but left after being served with a petition challenge seeking to remove her from the ballot for failing to file her Statement of Financial Interests with the Clerk of County Council. That is a fatal defect. "Well, I guess I don't need to be here," she said after being served according to several people who were there.
Nadeem Qayyum, who is married to polarizing City Council member Taiba Sultana, was absent without explanation.
The other no-shows - Jason Boulette, Terri Fadem and Sam Elias - had conflicts. Boulette had a conflicting Wind Gap Borough Council meeting, so his wife stood in for him. Fadem had a conflicting Hellertown Borough Council meeting. Elias is a Bethlehem police officer, and Maria Montero spoke on his behalf.
The remaining candidates - John Brown, John Goffredo, Dave Holland, Juan Martinez, Daniel Campo and Lori Vargo Heffner - were there in person.
Four years ago, Republican Northampton County Council candidates eschewed Democratic strongholds like Easton as well as this blog. Their jejune attitude has changed, and it was nice to see.
Brown told the audience that, notwithstanding what pundits might say, "local government has the greatest impact on your life."
It was my first chance to hear from Campo, a Venezuelan immigrant and cargo pilot who also serves as a volunteer firefighter, said he has perspective from three different countries, and knows that "government doesn't always work as efficiently as it should."
Goffredo, who is probably Council's most unabashed conservative, acknowledged that he sometimes "says things that are not popular to say," and pledged to keep it up.
Dave Holland, believe it or not, is a Southsider who grew up on Williams Street. He is currently a nursing professor, but voters should probably know that he also served as an administrator at Gracedale.
Juan Martinez is a successful restauranteur throughout the Lehigh Valley and wants to give back to the community.
Lori Vargo Heffner is a practicing psychotherapist, and if one is needed anywhere, it's at Northampton County Council. "We are the check and balance function of government," she stated, and that attitude has made life difficult for her as a Council member who has sometimes disagreed with the Executive. "We're not here to just give somebody what they want, we're here to work together and represent you and your interests."
Easton City Council West Ward. - Sharbel Koorie, a former Easton code inspector, owns the very popular Daddy's Place and "has a lot of love for the city." Julie Zando-Dennis recited her background. Lance Wheeler was a no-show. I am informed his nomination petition has been challenged, which I will confirm tomorrow when I check on challenges.
Easton City Council South Side - Susan Hartranft Bittenger is a lifetime south side resident who lives un the home where she grew up. She is finishing her second term as a school board member and is an insurance investigator. "I would do anything for them [south side residents] and would always be a good advocate." Taiba Sultana, like her husband, was a no-show.
Easton City Council District One - Frank Graziano is a lifelong Easton resident and serves on both the Planning Commission and Block Watch. Roger Ruggles was a no-show.
Interestingly, Sultana and Qayyum skipped this south side candidates' night to attend the general monthly meeting of the Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America. According to her Facebook page she was there. "It's a privilege to speak at the Lehigh Valley DSA meeting, where we're building a movement that embodies the values of justice, equity, and solidarity. I'm excited to be part of this momentum and look forward to continuing our push for meaningful change."
Updated 8:19 am.
Updated 2:20 pm
26 comments:
Morale will be very low indeed when Giovanni’s Admin Man Brownie brings back Co-insurance. There are still people in debt from Brown’s time. Brownie and The Silent Man are best buddies.
The only reason Zirinski 's 'staff' got a step was because McClure made it happen. Everyone knows he wants her elected for the sake of the clan's jobs. She is a figure head for Barron. Her record is clear and underwhelming. Always had been Krazy on council.
Discussions about morale especially where Aimee Cozy is concerned should happen. The people who worked for her in Elections hated her. In fact, she was so bad at managing people she had to take a class in it or something.
Amy Cozze is leading the charge to get Patti Bruno kicked off the ballot. Patti, a professional campaign manager, forgot to file her Ethics form with the Governing Body. It’s a fatal defect. She’s going bye-bye. Ann Wakabyashi Amy’s partner is the political assassin behind the move. Ed “Santa Claus” Nelson is also somehow involved.
Incompetent Patti Bruno. Lol. Learn the rules. Bye.
According to Taiba’s FB page she had another speaking opportunity she apparently felt was more important.
Last night she spoke at the Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America meeting.
No word if her fellow no vote Roger Ruggles tagged along.
Amy Cozze is a failure. She failed in her small business. She failed in her race against Joe Emrick. She failed as Elections Director. She is one of the primary reasons Casey lost in Northampton County. She’s very unlikable.
I believe she got several positions reclassified so that her lead auditor is paid more appropriately, which Council considered and voted to support. In the most recent budget, all career service got a step. That was McClure's proposal, and Council supported it. If you watch the Facebook Live, I believe she demonstrated she is knowledgeable about county issues. I do not understand, however, how reducing census saves the county $. The lower the census, the less $ Gracedale gets in reimbursements. Census has to be higher.
Without question, she was a poor people manager. The staff in elections were not unhappy to see her go. She would walk in, not say a word to the people who worked for her, walk into her office and close the door. She could be heard cursing on the phone all day. But she did run some good elections and made some important changes. She has touted herself as able to secure federal funding, but I doubt she has any such ability with Trump in office.
First Patti Bruno ruins other peoples campaigns. Now she’s ruined her own.
Can’t wait to hear her say that it was a “set up” and that “the power” worked against her.
That's really weird. Why would she skip an opportunity to talk to her own constituents for the monthly meeting of Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists? But you are right. Her Facebook page shows she was there, and of course there are the obligatory photos. The DSA does not like it when photos of their members are shared publicly. They blur out the faces on their own photos of membership meetings.
Let's not forget the endorsement of two losers who are irrelevant. Casey and Wild. She is going to get smacked around by Tara so bad she will be not be able to be elected dog catcher!
Yep let her lead that charge in a low turn out primary (which it will be if there is no primary on the democratic side) favors the candidate with more name ID. That would be Tara Z. Why hasn't Anne the political assassin explained this to Amy. Oh, it must be a suicide mission. My bad.
Terri Fadem is running for county council and also wasn't there last night, just FYI.
Casey did not lose Northampton County because of Cozze there were other factors that hurt Casey mostly he forgot what got him elected in 2006. The majority of the people in the county didn’t know she worked for him
As someone “ In the know” regarding healthcare finances, from large skilled nursing facilities lat the size of Gracedale to large acute care facilities like the local systems, volume is the key to financial success. You cannot cut your way into prosperity. Large organizations need to spread those fixed costs of operations across as many patients as possible. Gracedale is probably one of the best economies of scale healthcare organization, examples that you would see in the United States.
Blur out their faces? If the policies are so bad they blur out their faces maybe you need to rethink your politics. Democratic Socialists of America are a bunch of crazies! Even they know it, that’s why they blur their faces. They’re ashamed.
If she’s a poor manager then why would anyone elect her the County Exec… ie the manager for the whole county. Look at what Tara has done in the controller’s office. She’s the person we need.
Congratulations on becoming a member of Team Tara! Your new approach to her after ONE year of keeping her mouth shut and following the pre-determined program, she has gone from unqualified krazy person to very qualified to be county executive. Not only that you have drunk the McClure Koo aide on Cozzi. The story about staff and voting machines and abandoning the county is great theater. The staff is not wanting to lose any jobs. Also, Barron and Dertinger were down there far too often.
You are also part of the Team Tara 'shock troops' like some others who post on here. They attack former Sen. Casey who was great until he endorsed Cozze. That is the same for anyone who endorsees her. They have even attacked Ms. Cozze's marital status and her partner. What about Ms. Zirinskis marital status and judicial past? it unless you allow the other side to be told. And 7:52, Ziirinski got beat by Ann Flood.
Bernie O’Hare to 11:26, I am by no means a member of Team Tara. I like both her AND Tom Giovanni and think both have much to offer. My criticism of Cozze is based on what I saw with my own eyes. She is without question a poor people manager. That is a bad attribute in someone who is boss to about 2000 workers. I saw myself how she treated the people under her and I have no respect for a person who threatened to resign 10 days before an election unless she got more $. I don’t care about her personal life. Make that complaint to someone else.
Leading what charge? Bruno got herself thrown out do to her laziness. All that know her realize she is mostly talk and little tenacity. It’s a shame that she has fooled so many.
Well said Bernie and to the point
In what universe was Casey “great”?
"Cozze was summoned before a delighted Council. She said the credit for this election belongs, not with the technology, but her staff.
"I cannot say enough about my staff. The hours that were put in to make this happen, and I didn't have to beg them to do it, they were there seven in the morning every day until seven, eight, nine, ten o'clock every night, Saturdays, full days .... . They can say what they want about the technology but that is not what made this election go smoothly. "
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2020/06/norco-council-delighted-by-successful.html
"I had sworn I was done as a pollworker, but they even lured me back. If we ran into trouble, they were only a phone call away. And throughout the day, we received periodic visits from runners.
"They also gave me a very nice thank you note, signed "The Two Amys." I read it to my pollworkers and we were all very touched. Little things like that go a long way. The judge in the precinct next to me got a nice note, too."
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-two-amys.html
12:25, Yes, she did praise her staff before Council. ... Once. I've noted in the past that she did very good job administering elections, but she was also terrible with the people both under and over her. How do you explain away a threat to resign just 10 days before an election and leave the county in the lurch. That was selfish and irresponsible. We don't need that in a county exec.
It's also interesting that Ms. Cozze proffered her resignation letter of October.8, 2021 (effective October 22, 2021) based on the fact that the job was too stressful and that it had taken a toll on her mental and physical health. Miraculously, the only cure was a salary higher than the one to which she had agreed and it was such an emergency that she was unable to continue for another 2 weeks without the medical intervention of cash. It raises the question of how Ms. Cozze will fare under the much more stressful position of County Executive? What happens when she realizes that the money isn't worth it?
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