Amy Cozze is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for Northampton County Exec in this year's municipal primary. Her opponent is Controller Tara Zrinski. Let me start by conceding right away that Cozze has many positive attributes. I believe she excelled as a member of Lamont McClure's administration. In fact, she did so well that he appointed her as Elections Registrar. Thanks to the Executive and County Council, she prevailed against an Elections Comm'n that wanted to scrap the controversial Express Vote XL voting machine and that rejected her request for electronic pollbooks favored by most pollworkers. But as time marched on, she exhibited flaws. She had terrible people skills, refusing to even acknowledge her staff when she came to work, although they could hear her cursing like a sailor behind her closed door. Her biggest flaw, and this is what I believe disqualifies her from elected office, is that she blackmailed the very county she now wants to lead. Upset at her salary. she threatened to resign just 12 days before the November 2, 2021 general election. Her blackmail worked. She would later rescind that resignation, but only because Council President Lori Vargo Heffner promised to get her more money. Cozze put her own personal interests ahead of what is best for the county. In my mind, that damns her. I have every reason to believe that is exactly what she'd do as Executive.
Below is Cozze's resignation letter, obtained in response to a Right-to-Know request. She states quite clearly that she is leaving the county as its Chief Elections Registrar on October 22, knowing full well that a general election would take place just 12 days later. In her missive, she makes clear that the reason she was quitting was because her request for a raise had been denied. (She was getting a raise, but she wanted more). She also complains about "the toll this job has taken on my physical & mental health ... ." She dislikes "the scrutiny and stress."
Now she wants to be Executive, where the scrutiny and stress would be far greater.
How did Cozze manage to rescind her resignation? In an October 12 email, she advised the county that "[i]n light of the good faith agreement reached between the County Executive and Council President, I will be withdrawing my notice of resignation."
There was no good faith agreement. Vargo Heffner persuaded County Council to give her the raise she wanted in a budget amendment by reducing the overtime allotted for corrections officers at the jail. McClure vetoed. Council overrode him.
It was not long after this that Cozze resigned for real. Her two weeks' notice is dated February 21, 2022. She presumed to name her successor, even saying that "failure to fill the vacancy immediately would be grossly unfair to the current staff." She didn't think about how "grossly unfair" it was for her to resign just 12 days before an election.
If Cozze has demonstrated anything during her brief stint as a public employee, it's that she puts herself and her own interests in front of what is best for the county.
Resignation Letter Cozze by BernieOHare on Scribd
62 comments:
Lamont McClure has done that also with every choice he makes. Lol.
You're like an old dog with a bone that really isn't a bone. You take whatever version of a story you want to believe and run with it right to the end. over the years you have shown your willingness to believe anything fed you by McClure and his gang. You have maligned councilmembers and others for standing up to his BS and protected his gang, mostly your little "friend" who feeds you the most the BS.
There is a completely different side to this story, and I believe that is what council agreed with, as they have said over the years they have been lied to as well.
Old, white, and (presumably) straight guy says what???
As a former County employee, I will not be voting for Amy Cozze on May 20th. I suspect a lot of people who worked with her at the County won't be voting for her either.
But she is our lesbian, screams Lehigh Valley Roar and Susan wild
Sounds like she was unhappy with the job and wanted a raise. Kinda like Tara seeking to leave the Controller's office for a 20k raise after a year on the job.
It’s all right there in Amy’s own words.
Obvious mental problems won't be able to handle the stress. Perhaps she could run for prez of the vagina club
If you're going to attack her campaign I think you have to link her website.
Attacking someone for the color of their skin and not the contents of their message is really progressive.
Lamont lives rent free in a lot of empty heads.
The letter speaks for itself. She’s unfit to be executive by her own admission. She can’t handle the stress or scrutiny.
Let the one without sin cast the first stone. Anyone is better than Tara. Amy it is!
Oh my, you should see the photographs!
Since "bullhorn" Tara is the worst possible candidate, I was going to support her- until I read your post a couple of weeks ago about her partner. She's just as crazy as Zrinski- I don't want a crazy activist as my Executive, so Giovanni has my vote.
I can't believe you went a day without bashing Trump- there is hope for you!
As a current employee of the county elections office, I will be voting Cozze. Tara will be more of the same
Bernie, I enjoy reading your insights but your blog isn't gay enough.
She is not worthy of any elected office and should go back to cleaning toilets. Nothing but an opportunist that NorCo doesn't need in public government. Her physical and mental health is what she needs to address with her DIRTY POTTY MOUTH. No NorCo employee should come to work to have to be subjected to filthy mouth language a s behavior.
It is quite obvious that Amy Cozze is respondent number 3:23 AM and respondent 5:51AM. Amy has to learn to work with other people. Her staff (for the most part) has nothing nice to say about her and the employees at the Courthouse dislike her tremendously. Give credit where credit is due. She did a more than decent job in following the laws of the commonwealth as they pertain to County Registrar's Office and the County was recognized for that office doing a good job in the conduction of the election, unfortunately her people skills Suck.
8:59, Yes I am aware of one elections office employee who will be supporting Cozze, but she was not employed by the elections office until after Cozze was gone and will not vote for Tara bcx she thinks Tara is too much like McClure.
That mindset is how you lose elections
then don't work in the prison, if words hurt you so much
I disagree i thik it isw as left as you can go
"DIRTY POTTY MOUTH"
Hey now, let's not paint with a broad brush here. The County has a long and storied history of foul-language use.
You are really tying yourself in knots to believe that every employee that worked for Amy Cozze hates her. Stop believing the word of one temporary employee as gospel.
Please, anyone but Tara "bullhorn" Zrinski!
Tara Z belongs on the campus of Berkeley with other radical left lunatics or maybe in a cell with Machmood Khalil deep in the Louisiana bayous where here propaganda is muzzled. Amy Cozze stands for the LGBTQIA+two spirit community while Tara is a cis gendered milquetoast neo liberal astroturfing pretend environmentalist
Her people skills don't just suck. They are nonexistent.
Yeah Tara ran and won her jobs. Amy tried to blackmail the county. Tara chosen by the voteres and Amy was trying to screw the voters out of that right to choose with her dubious resignation.
Oh this blog is just fine with me big boy. You shouls drop on in ans aee me sometime Vlad.
What the F**K is wrong with you on this blog comment section my virgin ears... oh wait can we say virgin. I am not sure that is allowed in a woke setting.
She fine tho.
It's time for NorCo Democrats to step away from the old white patriarchy and into the 2020s. One more puff piece about Seyfried, McClure, or the wonderful white, male judges and I'll throw up. Our target is an old white Italian fascist dude from 19th century Slate Belt. Give me a freaking break. Be progressive and progress, already.
The Cozzeby Show. Bad idea.
It’s amazing where having the complexion for the protection can get you in the Lehigh Valley. The person in the same role in Lehigh County did the identical.
What a ridiculous comparison! Amy Cozze held the county hostage by demanding a pay raise 10 days prior to an election. The job of registrar was so stressful that it took 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.
Tara Zrinski is choosing to run for a vacant office knowing that she is the most qualified person to fill that position! Based on her 6 yr. experience as a County Commissioner and as County Controller, (a position she will have held for 2 yrs. by the time she's sworn in as County Executive), she understands all of the stresses the job entails INCLUDING oversight of the Elections Office along with every other department. Do you know who else understands the job and believes that Ms. Zrinski is the best candidate to meet its' challenges, every living Democratic Northampton County Executive who has ever held the seat! She has been endorsed by McClure, Reibman and Seyfried.
There really is no comparison.
Cozze should run for congress. They don’t do anything anyway and that’s where her experience lies since working for Casey. She’ll be a horrible executive and her spouse Ann will be the true voice. Let’s have a Democratic debate for executive. She will conveniently get sick and send Anne to speak for her. She’s a bully and a coward.
7:49, I plan to host a debate prior to the general election. I would ask both Cozze and Zrinski to participate in a primary debate, but the room I wanted to use is unavailable and am unsure I could get the turnout I want at other venues.
Can we get a debate for MDJ? Maybe an article at least? All I see online is Flower and Kingsley trying to outshine eachother in Facebook groups, I'd like to see more from Kemmerer. His wife or someone is sharing his stuff but I want to see and hear from him.
Bernie would a virtual debate work for the primary? Zoom? It doesn't cost much.
Cozze cakes are decadent, savory, and made with love Tara regularly burns her kids pop tarts and doesn't know a whisk from a ladle. Baking is. A science Amy has the experience and has never stomped on the pavement crowing into a bullhorn like some radical Left lunatic vote Cozze stop the insanity of far left environmentalists like E.L.F Terra
It would want it in-person.
Looks like you suffered a stroke during both posts. You okay?
I agree- she'd fit right in at Berkeley or NYU with her bullhorn
I just can't get the image of Zrinski with the bullhorn out of my head- she's deeply unqualified for even dog catcher, but she's Lamont's & Barron's lapdog
It’s a shame you missed candidates night at Shiloh where Cozze shined like a 300 watt incandescent bulb, Zrinski flickered and flared, and Giovanni missed the light socket completely. If I were Cozze, I’d welcome a chance to show off my skills to a much larger audience.
If using a bullhorn is your standard for candidate disqualification, we would not have elected Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, or Biden.
I’m mean this sincerely. It is nice to see Ann is still in love.
Wow. That is so bad. I was leaning Cozze, but after reading that letter there is know way I could vote for her now. She can't handle one department, how the hell does she think she can handle all of them. She should have known this was out there and not even run and let someone else challenge Tara.
Sorry, both these candidates are flawed to the point of being unsuitable to be th county executive. Neither is emotionally stable enough to do the job.
I'm comfortable with this suggestion. Look what that cadre inflicted on us. Bullhorn = immediate disqualification.
Local and state politicians are corrupt as federal politicians let get after them too,
It’s all about what she was yelling into the bullhorn while looking like a wide eyed crazy person.
Wait. Wasn't Tara on council when they passed this???? So Tara was ok with this and passed it??? Now your using this against Amy. Shouldn't this be placed against Tara because she vetoed for this????
That is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Letting the County go into a election without the head of the department? That would have been a disaster no matter who was threatening to leave. If Cozze felt that strong about her salary vs. responsibilities was that out of kilter , then she should have did the right thing and stayed and got the County through the election safely and then resigned. What she did was so unethical and irresponsible to the voters and residents of Northampton County and for that she should never be elected or put in a public office ever again!! Yes, thats harsh. But seriously consider what she tried to pull. Complete lack of professionalism and ethics.
Annon12:46, Ziirnski may not have voted for the raise. McClure opposed it and Zirinski always voted the way McClure wanted her to vote.
Tara vs Amy. Amy vs Tara.
This is one hell of a local Democrat sh$t show unfolding before our eyes.
Well if you read the article it states that council over ruled the veto. So???? How did she vote. You just don't want to say because someone is pointing out tara was for that raise and ok for the way they were going to give it to her
Amy lied about Federal Funds. Amy lied about her departure from the County. Might Amy have a problem with the Truth ?
Amy lied about what happened. She complained that she wasn’t being paid the same as other election registrars. It would be nice if all of the heads of each division were paid commensurate to what other counties pay their heads of divisions. Had she really cared like she said she did she would not have left the county high and dry right before the election. She would’ve stayed on, finished the election and then left afterwards. I think they should both debate. Cozze won’t show up. She will conveniently become ill.
Her timing was wrong. She should not have pushed back before the election. When dealing with a lying bully sometimes you may act impetuously. When council heard the facts, they acted accordingly.
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