UPDATED: NorCo's Three Judicial Candidates to Succeed Judge Tony Beltrami

Bob Eyer

Three lawyers - Jeremy Clark, Bob Eyer and James Fuller - are running for the judicial seat that Judge Anthony Beltrami is leaving at the end of the year. It's known as Common Pleas Court, a court of original jurisdiction, established under Pa.'s Constitution. These judges handle it all, from slip-and-falls to first degree murder. Unlike most elected public offices. judges serve for 10 years because their first obligation is to the constitution and the law as opposed to mob rule. If they want to stay another 10, they can simply seek retention. Once elected, a judge in most instances will be on the bench until he goes tets up or turns 75. There is no overhead, and the salary in NorCo is $229,393 this year. It's tied to the cost of living, and goes up automatically every year. Judges get excellent benefits, including health care and a defined benefit pension that vests in just 10 years. 

Of the three candidates in this hunt, Clark and Eyer have cross-filed. Fuller is seeking only the Republican nomination.

Bob Eyer

I am reluctant to give him the kiss of death, as I am often correctly accused of doing, but I'm going with Eyer. Over the past 33 years, he's been an assistant DA, served under former GOP Exec John Brown as Chief Public Defender, and currently is the First Assistant DA. He clerked for Judge Jim Hogan fresh out of law school and also clerked for Bob Freedberg when he was a Superior Court judge. He also has been in private practice, and once successfully represented one of my customers after I blew a title search. He was and might still be a runner, and I sometimes ran in raced with him. I'll never forget how he'd stop periodically to light up a cigarette. 

Last week, DA Steve Baratta was before NorCo Council to seek several upgrades to his staff. He told Council he's still five attorneys short, and that if Eyer wins, he'll have to replace him too. 

Baratta, who has endorsed Eyer, said his top assistant "is an animal when it comes to moving inventory and doing work. He is in my office virtually every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday." 

Eyers' PrePrimary campaign finance report reveals that he has raised $108,975 between January 1 and May 5. This includes $62.775.80 he lent to his campaign. I should note that in addition to filing the required report with the Department of State, Eyer has filed a courtesy copy with the county elections office. This demonstrates transparency to the public. 

Of Eyer's smaller ($250 or less) contributors, 23 are from Northampton or Lehigh County.  

His only PAC donation is $250 from former Mayor Bob Donchez. 

Of his 46 larger ($250 or more) donors, less than half (21) are from attorneys who might appear before him. 

A 24-hour report also reveals that he lent his campaign an additional $12,000.

Jeremy Clark

Jeremy Clark

I like Clark, too. He's a combat veteran who served in the 82d Airborne, which happens to be the unit in which my daughter served. I've seen him at Easton City meetings and have also watched him represent clients seeking plan approvals and zoning relief. He has been campaigning hard and has hot a lot of doors. I know that he does most of the research when Easton City Council has a legal question.

He's working hard on his campaign as well. He has been knocking on doors throughout the county, and I see his signs in numerous yards. 

One local lawyer tells me he wishes Eyer and Clark could take turns serving six months on and off. 

Clark's Pre-Primary report is filed but fails to appear as a courtesy copy on the county website or with the department of state. He tells me this is because it failed to include a notarial seal. His report is considered timely but is unavailable to the public at this time. In addition, he failed to include his April expenses and will need to amend what he filed.

He did send media sources his report, but I would prefer to see it out there for everyone to see, especially since readers often pick up on things that reporters miss. 'm unable to do that in this instance because his Preprimary report only loads on my iPhone. On my PC, it is blank. 

Clark reports having received $94,222,12, which includes a $70,000 loan to himself. There are no PAC contributions. His warchest includes $4,003.87 in 26 contributions of $250 or less, and $90,130.26 in contributions over $250. 

Of his 26 smaller contributions, 13 are local. Of his 21 contributions over $250, only 10 come from attorneys who would be expected to appear before him.

Some attorneys gave the same sum to both candidates. 

He has spent $63,480.71. His biggest expense is $12,500 paid to Easton City Council member Franks Pintabone and another $12,500 to Baron Vanderburg to manage his campaign. He also spent over $8,200 for signs and $4,500 for a poll. (Report below)

James Fuller

I'm unable to vote for James Fuller unless he gets the GOP nod. Although he is personable and has plenty of experience as a criminal defense attorney and prosecutor, it's in Monroe County. I would prefer a judge who has experience in this county, not somewhere else. 

Fuller reports that he neither raised nor spent any money. I'm told he has campaign signs everywhere, but I've seen none.  

Jeremy Clark AMENDED-campaign Finance Report 2nd Friday Pre-primary by BernieOHare on Scribd