Now that he's been elected to the state house, Jeff Warren will need to resign his seat on NorCo Council. He takes office in early December, so my guess is that he will resign before Exec Tara Zrinski's budget comes up for a vote. That way he can avoid being tagged with a tax hike. My question is who will replace him?
Warren is a District, as opposed to an at-large, Council member. His District, District 3, consists of the Townships of Bethlehem Tp, Lower Nazareth, Hanover, East Allen, Allen and the Boroughs of Northampton, N Catty, Freemansburg and Nazareth. It pays $10,000 a year. Anyone appointed to replace him in his final two years would have to be a resident of that district. NorCo's Home Rule Charter imposes no requirement that the appointee be a member of the same party as the resignee, but I seriously doubt that the eight remaining Democrats on County Council would appoint a Republican.
Possible replacements include former Exec Lamont McClure, former Exec Jerry Seyfried, former Council member Jeff Corpora and Joe Welsh, who has been attending lots of meetings in recent weeks.
I doubt very much that Lamont could get more than three votes. Jerry Seyfried would be an excellent choice, but I'm unsure he'd want it. Jeff Corpora has experience, having served two years as a court appointee. Joe Welsh is knowledgeable and amiable, but his frequent soliloquies to County Council might have hurt him if he is interested.
I am sure there are several people already making inquiry.
UPDATED 8:24: In the original report, I neglected to include Freemansburg as part of District 3.
Appoint Bozo the Clown. He would do much better than rambling Warren. Mr. President.
ReplyDeleteSomebody sober?
ReplyDeleteFeel sorry for the appointee joining this unfocused dysfunctional group of wannabe commissioners and arrogant administrators.
ReplyDeleteIt won't make a difference. That's how dysfunctional council and the administration is.
ReplyDeleteYour Forgot Fremansburg is in his district as they took that from District 1 the last census
ReplyDeleteI did not see that. You are right. https://northampton.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=41ca24c8d79e4b6b96c991f42b8968e7
DeleteFreemansburg
DeleteIdeally, the person will be someone who stands up to the county executive and not another lapdog who sniffs around the hydrant and then weakly yelps once or twice and does nothing else after Zrinski marks her territory.
ReplyDeleteI will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected - LGM
ReplyDeleteThank goodness. No one wants you back at the county anyway.
DeletePersona Non Grata
Put your name up...you might find doing it is harder than it looks.
ReplyDeleteI have been closely following the county my entire adult life and have been writing about it since 2006. I think the exec job is difficult. I think the council job can be difficult or easy, depending on the person and the amount of time he is willing to spend. I have seen lazy council members like Kerry Myers and hard workers like Tom Giovanni.
DeleteTrue. A council member doesn’t have to do anything if they don’t want to while an administrator faces tough tasks every day.
DeleteTaiba Sultana
ReplyDeleteHahaha
DeleteFortunately, she does not reside in the district.
DeleteLying to get on the ballot isn't unusual for her so who knows. I just hope if she did actually move she updated the Court with her new address.
DeleteIf Welsh gets on the council, meetings will last 12 hours.
ReplyDeleteAll bad choices
ReplyDeleteHaha maybe a Gracedale employee. Then they can let TZ and council know the truth about what's really happening there!
ReplyDeleteBernie, certainly you jest when mentioning LaMont McClure. He holds the record for the worst attendance record for County Council Meetings since the beginning of the new government. Rumors have it that he is looking for a Judgeship and even considering running for District Attorney. The appointment will be for only one year.It would be nice if we could get someone with past experience and a proven record of public service but I don't see that happening. Keep us posted and by the way, aren't you in that district. Bernie for County Council could be the next campaign slogan. Go Bernie.
ReplyDeleteUm, Man's gotta' know his limitations. I consider myself an effective observer of county government and believe I have something to offer in that capacity, even though there are many who would disagree. In the course of doing what I do, I have alienated far too many people over many years. Moreover, I lost my license to practice law as a result of unethical behavior during my drinking days and believe there are many people who have a better character than I. Most people, in fact. I must atone for my sins as a disreputable, bottom-feeding blogger, lol. Also, I lack the personality. I've noticed over the years that post politicians, even those who whom I've attacked, really want to be liked. That's a positive quality in a person, but it's one I lack. I don't really care as long as I like me and the people close to me are happy with me.
DeleteI agree - please not Joe Welch. He still thinks the Democrat party has the values it did under JFK. He is involved with the “Justice Institute “ so he internally knows better. Agree there would be 12 hour council meetings if he’s appointed. Jerry Seyfried could be helpful with budget/maybe Gracedale but I doubt t he’d want the hassle of this council. Thank you Lamont for declining (whew). Don’t know much about Jeff Corpora other than what’s on media. Someone willing to listen (really listen) and respond to residents would be helpful (Warren stopped doing that this year - now I see why). Someone who has not only the knowledge base but also the courage to stand up to the executive (even as a “newcomer”). Those who voted for Jeff will soon see who they’ve voted into the PA House. Anyway, that’s over and done for now. Gracedale is teetering and that’s an issue too. Long time Norco residents are frightened about losing their homes to tax increases/reassessment - even those who voted for Tara. Please help us here in District 3, council. We haven’t had an effective or responsive representative with Mr. Warren. We deserve one, please.
ReplyDeleteJoe Welch would be worse than Warren- if that's possible.
DeleteMcClure is not qualified. Not enough relevant experience.
ReplyDeleteBERNIE For COUNCIL VACANCY. C"mon Bernie. You know the Charter and you're certainly not bashful when it comes to speaking your mind. BERNIE FOR DISTRICT THREE VACANT COUNCIL SEAT. HIP HIP HOORAY IT"S BERNIE ALL THE WAY.
ReplyDeleteI'd really like Jerry Seyfried to give it a go. He is in great shape and no one is more knowledgeable about the HRC. Plus, he has the right personality and is respected by everyone.
DeleteNeed fresh blood able to
DeleteRead and research
Jerry endorsed Tara in person. I think he maybe regrets that but he did it for some reason. No idea why! Not a good council candidate. Maybe not up to it.
DeleteJerry's time has come & gone.
DeleteTara cannot have Lamont on County Council. He’d immediately be running the County behind her back while she suffered all the slings and arrows.
ReplyDeleteShe kept most of his cabinet members. Maybe he already is running it.
DeleteNah, we’d of had another tax cut.
Deletehe's already running things.
DeleteBernie, do you live in the district? If not you can rent a room from Lamont to qualify.
ReplyDeletePlease not Lamont!!
ReplyDeleteJoe Welch is a liberal joke.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it- he just babbles on- needlessly.
DeleteDid you watch the election results on Tuesday?? Most people want democratic change and guess what that means.... more liberal views!!
DeleteCan’t we find professional, late 20-early 30 interested candidates? God I’m tired of 60-70- year old candidates
ReplyDeleteanyone with a pulse can run, look at Muhamad on council now. what good is a 20 year old if they do not know anything about govt.
DeleteAnd what good is a 70 yo if he understands nothing about county government?
DeleteThey’d be crazy not to appoint McClure. His knowledge and experience alone would be invaluable. Don’t worry Haters, they won’t. No human being would vote to make him or herself look inferior.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the County is in the predicament it is in is because McClure put us there. No one complained about the taxes four years ago but McClure lowered taxes one mil (approximately ten million dollars per year) because he knew he was running for a higher office and he mistakenly thought it would look good on his resume'. Think about it, that ten million per year adds up to 40 million dollars over the four years. That's what the budget is short right now. thanks LaMont for screwing the taxpayers. Gracedale is an embarrassment under his control, The employees are underpaid, the county understaffed, our Nursing Home in horrible financial condition not to mention poor working conditions for the employees and poor care for our residents. AND YOU WANT MORE OF MCCLURE???????????Are you nuts
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