NorCo Council Clerk Uses Her Official Office to Play Politics For Council Members Seeking Re-election

In July, Northampton County Council voted 8-1 (with Kelly Keegan dissenting) to pay Council Clerk Aline Shafnisky an annual salary of $107,482. Just a few short months later, when County Council adopted its budget for this year, her salary increased by $4,836. A Council Clerk works for all nine Council members, and through them, the people who put those elected officials in office. As a law school graduate, she should know that it is unlawful to use her office to play politics for certain Council members. Yet that's precisely what she did yesterday in a voice message she left with the elections office. 

Three members of County Council - John Brown, John Goffredo and Lori Vargo Heffner, seek re-election. Like anyone else running for office, they must circulate nomination petitions signed by registered voters. That's their business, not the people's. It's political. But yesterday afternoon, Council Clerk Aline Shafnisky left a 36-second voice message with the elections office, asking for advice on behalf of "a couple of Council members" who wanted to be "sure they were accurately filling out the forms." She asked for a "ring back" for what is "hopefully an easy answer." 

Here's an answer. It is a theft of services to engage in political activity while you are supposed to be performing the duties of your office. They do not include political activity. If you doubt me, I have one word. Bonusgate. 

At the very least, Shafnisky should be admonished.