Northampton County Council, established in the county's 1978 Home Rule Charter, is arguably its most powerful branch of government. In addition to "exercising the legislative power of the county," it sets the salaries of all employees, levies taxes, adopts the budget and confirms executive appointments. It also exercises the county's "residual powers." It consists of nine part-time members who are paid an annual salary of $12,500, with the President getting an extra $500. They serve for four-year terms and may serve no more than three consecutive terms. Four members are elected from districts consisting of the Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth and Slate Belt areas. The remaining five member are elected at large, meaning they are elected by the entire county. The five at-large seats are up for election this year.
Republicans have five candidates for five seats, meaning that the GOP nominations of John Brown (inc), John Goffredo (inc.), Juan Martinez, Sam Elias and Daniel Campo. They are running together as a united front.
Democrats also only have five candidates on the ballot, but they are far from united. They are Lori Vargo Heffner (inc), Theresa Fadem, David Holland, Jason Boulette and Nadeem Qayyum. In addition to the five on the ballot, Patti Bruno is waging a write-in campaign after her nomination petition was rejected for the fatal error of failing to file her financials with the county council clerk.
As one of my readers observes in a comment wondering whether Democrats have learned a damn thing after being beaten by Donald Trump. "In Northampton County they have a full slate for council, but the democrats are icing out an incumbent who is on the ballot for a person who was unable to get on the ballot." This is a reference to Lori Vargo Heffner. The reason they want her out is because she has committed the mortal sin of governing in a bipartisan fashion and has been an independent voice. They would prefer a blue MAGA like Kelly Keegan, who is just as blindly loyal to Executive Lamont McClure as MAGAs are to Trump.
Lori Vargo Heffner should be the top vote getter in the Dem primary. David Holland, a psychiatric nurse who also served as an Administrator at Gracedale, could very well be the voice the county needs to arrive at some long-term plans. Jason Boulette comes from a conservative district but appears to understand the importance of working with and listening to Republicans. The others, not so much.
39 comments:
The Boulette guy is part of the Patty get Hefner club. Don't we have enough partisan haters on council. Maybe the republicans will sweep. They have solid citizen candidates, no haters.
Keegan has supported good policies that were presented to the Council. Even you Bernie have agreed with those policies and said McClure has been a good County Executive. We don't want Democrats that are going to choose an anti-LGBTQ Maga conspiracist like John Goofredo over a good Democrat like Jeff Warren for VP. Lori Vargo Heffner isn't a democrat. I don't think this has anything to do with Keegan being loyal to Lamont. I think Kelly Keegan is just a good Democrat with good Democratic values and Lori Vargo Heffner hasn't portrayed that in past years.
Lori Vargo/Heffner installed a MAGA Republican bigot as VP of Council. Now that she spends more and more time away from Council he will be serving as Council President more often. This is in direct contravention of the will of the People.
What we learned from Trump was that when MAGA sticks together they win, Keegan is a good Democrat and she's sticking with good Democrats, Lori Vargo Heffner has felt the icy cold shoulder of her own party because she is a snake in the grass and Keegan has a whole swath of reasons why she dislikes her so stop giving Lamont McClure all the credit.
Nadeem Qayyum and his wife have to be spent packing. Those two have done nothing but create havoc and use the popular talking points of the moment to gain attention. Perhaps their best public service would be getting their own (literal) house in order and paying attention to their children (middle school and up) so they grow up to be good citizens. Wait, that would be too much work.
Bruno has no chance. Dems will win 4 or 5 seats because of mail in ballots and MAGA not showing up without Trump on the ballot.
I don't know that to be true. The President of Get Heffner is blue MAGA Kelly Keegan, and the VP is Patti Bruno, who wants the seat. I don't believe Boulette has injected himself into that matter and has worked with Rs in Wind Gap.
I have supported McClure on issues that have little to do with party politics, like the health center, parking deck and new county building. I also supported LVH on her desire for a pay study, which any real Democrat should want, and a performance review at Gracedale. I supported Council's desire to see more $ in the pockets of county employees, which real Democrats should want, but which have been opposed by McClure and a trio on Council. One of them, Ken Kraft, even blasted COs who are forced to work overtime for a "sob story" about the officer's special needs daughter. What you faIL to understand is that the fact that someone does not think we need to have tampons in a rest room does not make him anti-LGBTQ. Also, instead of bringing up those kinds of goofy non-county issues, it would be nice to have a Council that focuses on county business, which is what happened at the last finance committee and Council meeting. The county's and Gracedale's finances were reviewed. Blue MAGA Kraft tried to stop it and blue MAGA Keegan was absent.
I don't agree with Goffredo on much of anything when it comes to national issues. But he has been an attentive and dedicated member and has actually listened to county workers and tried his best to get them more money. Where I come from, that is what Democrats do. We take care of working people. Sure, we respect the rights of everyone to be who they are, but there's no need to get absurd about it.
I support free menstrual products in women's or family rest rooms bc there are many people who simply are unable to afford them. But there is no need to insist they go in men's rooms as well. That's just goofy.
No, Trump won because Dems lost the working class. You still don't get it.
At most, Dems win three seats.
Is there really a Get Heffner group?? Because if there isn’t then you’re just making things up and reporting fake information. Is that what you want your shitty blog to be known for?
I just hope that whoever wins the fall sticks to county issues. Worry less about who's in the Oval Office and more about the county. An none of that vacuous "welcoming county resolution" crap or "we will not assist ICE resolution" garbage or any other stupid statements that solve nothing. Keep my taxes in check. Spend my money wisely. Be civil. No rubber stamps because the county exec. matches your party letter. Stop using your current office to campaign for your next office or next term. And, keep reading this blog! I know they all do and I will continue to make acerbic comments about elected officials, to the point Bernie allows me to.
As a recall it was LVH who said she supported menstrual products in men's bathrooms. Is she goofy?
Like you, Keegan supported the health center, parking deck, and new county building.
And the pay study I believe was before Keegan's time.
What makes Goofredo anti-LGBTQ is not that he doesn't support menstrual products in men's bathrooms. It's his egregious posts on Twitter calling teachers groomers who are watching a student parade.
Jason Boulette knocked on my door and asked to sign his petition which I did after asking him several questions. I believe that he was sincere and is independent of any in party fighting. He is the only one I’m voting for
If Cozze is the nominee, the Rs will defy the national winds and win the Exec’s Office and win 4 of the 5 Council seats. Lori will then be entirely irrelevant.
The funny thing about Keegan is she came out swinging when she started talking about county employees. She used as an example herself. Why are we talking about steps?? Employees get them every year!!!! Then it hit the fan, Lamont started texting. Telling her to shut up!!!! She was finally seeing how the sausage is made for Lamont. Make your numbers by screwing over the county employees. And she fell right in line. Never brought it up again. If she would have stayed true to her heart think she would be doing better. And Warren is just a tool.... and Kraft well you wouldn't post what I think of Kraft.
Kraft only said that if the guards would have taken the offers from McClure on the contracts (3 of them i think) that they would be further ahead in steps. the sob story he was referring to was not the guards but the unions sob story to council that they never get paid well and its unfair, but they did concede in public that Kraft was right and they would be one step further ahead. The senior people over there down vote any contract that increases pay for new people, and they live on the overtime that they get. Stop lying about what Kraft was referring to on the Sob story comment and start telling the truth.
Warren & Keegan are the absolute worst!
Kraft said exactly what I said he said and was taken to task for it. https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2024/10/corrections-officer-calls-out-kraft-for.html
LVH said she supported items like incontinence products in restrooms, which is a problem for older males.
You are right Bernie, Kraft did make that statement about the COS. And I believe a CO went there and called him out on it. And he sat there like a little kid looking at his phone texting Lamont probably while Lamont interrupted the officer speaking.
I remember you doing an article on the jail back then. Any follow up? How is the staffing doing?? Remember the director saying something to the effect the staffing issues would be solved earlier this year??? They fully staffed? Or better off now??
And I believe Kraft made the statement about how far ahead they would be if they would just take what crumbs they are given.
I can't tell if you are being snide about the incontinence remark or not, but those products are far more expensive -- and a lot more embarrassing for the users -- than tampons/pads. Why not provide them? Seniors may be far more worthy of a freebie than a young woman who can afford a manicure, but not pads.
There are women who have transitioned and identify as male and still have their lady parts. They will use male restrooms but may need feminine products since they still have their female reproductive parts. People only care about what they see on the outside and that’s why judging others still continues.
Why is Ron Heckman not on the ballot? He is a standup guy and good with Human Servcices issues. Years ago, he helped me with parents' problems. Bipartisan old school democrat.
You make over 100K a year and all you ever do is whine.
I have had the pleasure of working with Jason Boulette on several campaigns and have gotten to know him quite well. He is by far, the most outstanding candidate currently running for Northampton County Council. Jason is a unicorn. As a financial data analyst he is always aware of his fiscal responsibility which is balanced by a big heart and empathy for the needs of the community. We are fortunate to have this intelligent, knowledgable, kind, even-tempered candidate running for a seat on council. He will work with anyone who wants to move our county forward with consideration of the best use of our tax dollars. I plan to vote only for Jason Boulette in the primary election in the hopes that he will receive more votes than any other Democratic candidate, thus moving him to a higher position on the General Election Ballot.
"The Boulette guy is part of the Patty get Hefner club. Don't we have enough partisan haters on council."
I don't know where you're getting your information from, but it isn't accurate. I've spoken at over two dozen different forums and public events at this point, and I haven't said a negative word about Lori at a single one of them. I am 100% focused on making a positive case for myself.
I don't agree with every vote Lori has taken (nor would I agree with every vote anyone has taken). But the very first time I met Lori in person, I thanked her for amending the county budget to provide a grant to Wind Gap to convert our municipal complex to natural gas, at the request of our Republican mayor. It helped us out a lot. And the bottom line for me is that I don't know who is going to win, and whoever wins, I'm going to need to work with them to try to deliver for the people that elect us. So that is why I stick to talking about myself, my skills, and what I plan to do.
Jason, Except for the anonymous comment above, I've heard nothing but good things about you. And yes, I disagree with LVH on a number of topics as well. Keep working hard! You come from Wind Gap but need to get known in Democratic areas as well. You and Lori will both have my vote now and in November.
S9 why does Boulette go in these uber dem events and do the same dog and pony show as people like Keegan and Warren. He then thinks he will be top vote getter. The Party is in trouble. It is now all virtue signaling, and your loyalty to McClure, nor the people, but McClure. They have no idea what an independent branch of government is there to do. All they can do is whatever they are told by the executive. Are they not the governing body of th county. They get the texts a telling them how to vote just like McClure did with Zirinski and does with Kraft. They are no different than the Maga people they hate, since they are only doing what their leader Trump wants them too. Mcclure is not Jesus he is just another ambitious pol. Rs will take three of five seats.
COs don't make a 100,000 or 90,000 or even 70,000 they earn it. They don't work 40 hour a week and make that kind of money get your story straight. They work 60 hour weeks some 80 hour WEEKS!!! director makes 100,000 because he is there at 8 and leaves at 4
Monday through Fri. the same way all the administration does. If they stay to 4. So get your story straight. Pretty sure that came from one of the offices.
Same for HR...
He’s still a Muncy tool..
Jason Boulette may not be part of that group against LVH & Cozze, but his wife is in that group with Keegan and Patti Bruno
Well said Vlad. No more “resolutions” that are just national political talking points. Stick to governing Northampton County.
Is this the same David Holland that was the interim administrator at Gracedale while Premier Management managed the facility. If so he is wonderful . I worked with him for several years at Gracedale. He’s fair and uses common sense.
Yes, he would be excellent on council!
Glad someone is noticing.
Let’s not forget last spring when Nadeem and Taiba’s kids spray painted and stole her opponent Bob Freeman’s signs. If I recall correctly, dems owe that pair joining the throng to Lauritzen and Munsey and they’ve proved to be the gift that just keeps giving like herpes.
Your comments are far from representative of many area dems. I think you’d be surprised to know what we really think.
I wish you’d consider Holland who’s had much experience with Gracedale. He worked for the team that made Gracedale a success until the new regime came in and insisted it be run in house.
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