Following the Money - Lori Vargo Heffner on an Island

I've written many times about Lori Vargo Heffner (her report is here) over the years, both bad and good. She can be testy at times, as she certainly was when she told Executive Lamont McClure to "Shut Up!" at a recent County Council meeting. But she also has been a forceful voice for asserting Council's power as a co-equal branch of government. She has stood up against executive over-reach, which is something sorely needed in all levels of government. A healthy disdain for one-man rule was the basis of our Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Constitution.  She also taken a bipartisan approach to governing, which included voting for a Republican as Council VP. This apparently is a sacrilege to Council members like Kelly Keegan. And Lori has paid the price. She had no support from Lehigh Valley For All (who agree with us) during the primary, and trade unions run from her even though she supported their cherished responsible contractor ordinance. Many of the more partisan Dems like Keegan and Kraft have worked against her. So she's been on an island. But I have admired her courage in standing up for her beliefs. I really wish she and Lamont could sit down and talk. Life is too short for this kind of acrimony. I did not expect to see much in her campaign coffers, but she did better than I thought. 

She started with $1,412.45 and raised $6785.00 through October 20, giving her a grand total of $8,197.45. She did have 10 individual contributions of $250 or less. One of them came from Lisa Pektor, who with her father has an industrial development in Upper Mount Bethel. Vargo Heffner supported a LERTA (in which tax increases are phase in over 10 years) for that project based on assurances that it would lead to badly needed jobs in the Slate Belt. 

She accepted $500 from developer Nat Hyman, who spoke against a tax break for luxury apartments in Wilson Borough. 

She also accepted $1,000 from Nimita Kapoor Atiyeh, who also donated to Tara Zrinski. Nimita is married to Abe Atiyeh, who owns the work release facility leased to the county. 

She also accepted $1,000 from Blue Valley Holdings, LLC, a corporation apparently owned by natural foods importer Murat Guzel. I'm unsure whether a LLC contribution is considered a corporate contribution. If it is, it's illegal.

Although the trade unions have run from her, Vargo Heffner did get $500 from the PSEA. 

Now you may wonder if it's legal to accept donations from county vendors or those seeking something from the county. Unfortunately, it is both legal and common practice. Zrinski accepted money from Atiyeh and numerous county employees and hopeful county employees. Tom Giovanni took money, at least indirectly, from Lou Pektor. I have long suggested this needs to change, but it is far from the top of the list of issues that people consider important. Until the law changes, this practice will continue. 

Don't hate the playa', hate the game.