McHale MCalled Out Over Sunshine Act Violation

I've told you about Ann McHale's behavior at Thursday's Council meeting, where she lashed out after being caught in a Sunshine Act violation. Not only did she engage in childish name-calling, but she also said I should mind my own business. Last time I checked, the Open Meetings Law is my business.

This violation occurred in the presence of Easton Patch's Tom Coombe and The Morning Call's Jenna Portnoy. I was disappointed that neither reporter wrote about a Council member who thumbed her nose at a law requiring a basic level of transparency. And sure enough, anons began suggesting that the whole thing was made up. there was this - "This is another O'Hare slam piece. He never lets facts get in the way of one of his attacks." - and this - "Bernie seems to have made an accusation, without any substantiation."

It took awhile, but in Sunday's Politics as Usual, Portnoy corroborates what happened.

"Ten minutes before the start of Thursday's Northampton County Council meeting, council members trickled in and gathered behind the dais.

"A majority of the nine-member board began discussing a union contract listed on the upcoming agenda for their official action.

"Blogger Bernie O'Hare, a player in the county's effort to sell Gracedale nursing home, was sitting in earshot – as were two reporters – and called up to the council: 'You are engaging in deliberations and that is a violation of the Sunshine Law.'

"Councilwoman Ann McHale, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election this year, shot back: 'Shut your fat mouth,' and later: 'Mind your own business, jerk.'

"They traded barbs for a few moments and then council solicitor Phil Lauer took his seat.

"McHale said to him, 'Apparently we're not allowed to discuss anything.'

"O'Hare to Lauer: 'It's a good thing you're here.'"

McHale Lashes Out After Sunshine Act Violation Noted

6:20 PM.

It was still ten minutes before Northampton County Council was scheduled to convene, but lots of us were there early, making small talk, before the meeting. Five Council members were present, too, sitting atop their perch in the Star Chamber. But instead of making small talk like the rest of us, it soon became apparent that they were discussing County business. In fact, they were quietly arguing, among themselves, the merits of a matter on that evening's agenda, a labor contract.

The meeting would be underway in ten minutes, and I'm sure they had no intention of violating the Sunshine Act, but that's precisely what was happening. A quorum was deliberating, i.e. discussing County business for the purpose of making a decision, and was doing it ten minutes before the public was on notice to be there.

I objected to what appeared to be an inadvertent violation. Four Council members, immediately recognizing they had slipped into an improper private discussion, stopped. But a fifth member of Council, Ann McHale, furious that a bottom-feeding blogger like me would dare interrupt her, snarled "Shut your fat face." She later told me she had actually said, "Shut your fat mouth."

Take your pick.

This former Council President then proceeded to call me a "pig" and denied there was any Sunshine Act violation because there was no "official action." I disagreed, noting that even deliberations must be conducted in the glare of public scrutiny.

She then proceeded to repeat her "Shut your fat face/mouth" pronouncement, adding "I can do whatever I want."

McHale has decided against seeking reelection.

Good call.

Is Ann McHale a Ten?

Council member Ann McHale, who represents Bethlehem on Northampton County Council, has told The Express Times she's calling it quits at the end of this year. She and Ron Angle have tangled incessantly, but last night, he called her a 10.

Before she smacked him, he explained.

"Mrs. McHale's not running for re-election. I'm a 9.5 and she's a 10 on representing the Districts we come from. And I respect you for that. There's nobody who ever fought more for their District and got more for their District than you have."

McHale: "That was my job."

Angle: "And that was your job. You got me on that one. I'm a 9.5, you're a 10."

Angle's a 9.5? Then I'm an 11 at least.

McHale and the Middle East Menace

Last week, Norco Council Prez Ron Angle invited Continuum Care Holdings, which manages the former Dauphin County nursing home, to make a presentation to the Finance Committee. "We exceeded the expectations of the Commissioners," stated CEO Chas Blalack. Wages went up between 4 and 7%. Benefits packages were "right-sized." $1.7 million was spent in capital improvements. Employees participate in a quarterly performance incentive. The home went from 60% to nearly 100% occupancy.

They made changes to make the facility profitable, including a "vent" unit for people suffering from respiratory problems.

Most important of all, Continuum execs made clear that no indigents would be thrown into the streets or denied admission. It's an "unfounded fear," says Blalack, who told Council that most residents (7/8) are Medicaid, i.e. indigent.

Dauphin's one difference from a traditional nursing home is their emphasis on rehabilitation. "We do not really want to warehouse people, but rehabilitate and let them go back to their lives,", said Blalock. That may or may not work at Gracedale.

In what turned out to be a three-hour meeting, Council members had lots of questions. Ann McHale, when it was her turn, told them she's sure there's problems, and then left.

She's a bitter beerface. She's had a tough time coming to grips with the beating John Stoffa gave her in the Exec race last year, where she even lost in Bethlehem. She's angry about being deposed as Council President in favor of Ron Angle. She's fighting a losing battle over looming changes at Gracedale.

But none of this is an excuse to play on an anti-Middle East sentiment already so prevalent in this country. A Kuwaiti real estate investment firm helped finance Continuum Care's purchase of Dauphin County's nursing home, and McHale snarked about it to Morning Call reporter Jenna Portnoy.

"For a foreign country having holdings, especially with what's going on with Afghanistan and Iraq … , I don't think a governmental entity should be involved in something like this."

Why would McHale oppose direct foreign investment in a U.S. Company? According to Pennsylvania's DCED, "Pennsylvania is the ideal choice for international businesses looking to establish a presence in the United States." Some of the Lehigh Valley's top employers, like B. Braun (German) and Essroc (Italian) are foreign.

I suspect McHale is lobbing every grenade at her disposal in an effort to prevent fellow Council members from learning what exactly has happened in other counties that sold their nursing homes. I've never heard her grumble about Braun, Essroc or other foreign investors.

But this one is from the Middle East. In fact, it's from Kuwait. We fought a war so that country could remain independent, but is its business to be discouraged from investing here? Must we refuse to listen to a presentation by an American company that accepted some dirty Arab money? What the hell does Afghanistan have to do with Kuwait?

What McHale is really doing is playing on the latent and not-so-latent prejudice by many Americans against the Middle East. It's OK to be anti-Semitic so long as the Semite is an Arab.

Ron Angle, Cigar Thief

I allow anonymous comments here. It allows people like The Banker and others to share their perspectives, without worrying whether it might damage their business. It also allows some government officials to participate in discussions without fear that what they write will haunt them down the road.

But there's a disadvantage, too. It also allows people to launch vicious personal attacks without accepting responsibility for their words. It enables them to spread disinformation.

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa's nonpartisan approach to government, his emphasis on doing the right thing over what is politically expedient, has rankled some, especially within his own party. So his biggest opponents on County Council have been its Democratic representatives. He's been attacked here since I started blogging.

When he ran for re-election, those attacks intensified, both on and off the blog. Seven hundred of his campaign signs were stolen over the course of a single weekend. His primary opponent, Ann McHale, placed her signs within inches of his, effectively preventing the public from seeing them.

In the end, it made no difference. Stoffa easily defeated McHale, even in her own Bethlehem district. She's been bitter ever since.

Doubt me? Take a look at her petty behavior during Council meetings, which you can now see for yourself.

So it should be no surprise to see Stoffa viciously attacked here for just about everything, even on blogs that have nothing to do with him. But yesterday, when I noted that former Exec Jerry Seyfried agreed that Stoffa was right to keep the courthouse open during our snownami last week, I never expected to see him attacked, too.

I was wrong.

Anonymously, the 3 AM troll went after Jerry, claiming that he had only served on Council so that he could get a $20,000 check to write a "history" of the County. "Nice of the taxpayers to give away $20,000 in taxpayer money to Jerry. Just how much debate was held?" In addition, and completely out of the blue, Council Prez Ron Angle is also attacked.

"While at the opening for Cigars International, he stole three cigaRS THAT WERE CLEARLY MARKED FOR DISPLAY ONLY. HE WAS OBSERVED BY MANAGEMENT TAKING THE THREE CIGARS, WHO DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A SCENE, BECAUSE HE IS A PUBLIC FIGURE. Go figure, Angle gets away with shoplifting (STEALING AGAIN)AND HIDES BEHIND HIS OFFICE AS PRESIDENT OF COUNTY COUNCIL."

A few minutes later, someone - probably the same person who posted the first comment - adds this.

"Can you validate that story...if so let me know so we can go public."

In answer, this anonymous comment appears.

"call Cigars International ask for the manager."

Now, I have no idea what Jerry's history of Northampton County has to do with Stoffa's decision to keep the courthouse open. And the serious accusation directed at Angle has no bearing at all on my original story.

This is what I mean by disinformation. These two anonymous personal attacks have nothing to do with my original story, and were posted just to muddy up Seyfried and Angle.

This is the kind of vicious crap I ordinarily delete, but I thought I would check out both of these claims.

1) Jerry Seyfried enriching himself with $20,000 in taxpayer money.

Jerry was deeply involved in preparing a history of the County's first 200 years, but think it's important that we chronicle the most recent fifty years, while those who were present during the decline and fall of Bethlehem Steel and other industry can still remember it.

In his last act as a member of County Council, he introduced a resolution authorizing $20,000 for that history. (Resolution Number 111-2009). It passed unanimously, and contains language providing that any sum not spent on this history must be returned. I have asked for and obtained a copy of the check, dated December 16, 2009, in the amount of $20,000.

The payee is the Northampton County Historical Society, not Jerry.

I know, I know. There must be some secret deal between Jerry and the Historical Society, which we all know is a front for international jewel thieves.

I never called Jerry. All I can say is that it is very sad when someone besmirches his integrity in a twisted attempt to hurt Stoffa.

2) Ron Angle, Cigar Thief

A few weeks ago, cigar afficiando Ron Angle and WFMZ-TV 69 were both present when Cigars International opened its new headquarters in downtown Bethlehem. "I thought I might get a free cigar and I did. And a good one!" is what Angle told reporter Stephanie Esposito.

The film clip does not show Angle stashing three cigars in his pocket, but we all know how tricky he can be. I decided to call the manager as directed.

When I asked him about Ron, he answered, "If that's the case, then everybody stole cigars. I should be charged as well because I lit one up myself, and I gave Ron a cigar." He later added, "I can confirm no cigars were stolen because they were out there for public consumption."

I also called an employee, who told me he had heard no such rumor, either.

I decided to confront Angle, who told me that he lit up a cigar the second he walked into the place, and someone gave him a cigar on his way out. He told me Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan offered him a box, but he accepts no bribes from Democrats.

"Ron, would you steal a cigar?"

"It would have to be a Cuban," he told me.

Now, it's impossible to prove a negative, but I learned enough to know that the 3 AM troll hates John Stoffa so much he's willing to lie about anyone who might be the least bit friendly to our Exec.

I also know that the $20,000 resolution never appeared in a newspaper, so the 3 AM troll learned about this from someone who was physically present on December 10th, when Council authorized this history. This is most likely a member of Council.

Ann McHale, I know you're still bitter about losing to Stoffa, but it's time to call off your goons. You know who they are because you told me they call you.

Ann McHale Turns Motion Into Commotion

Last night's Northampton County Council meeting was the first ever meeting webcast for viewing by the general public. In fact, during the meeting, I received a few text messages from friends who were watching the show. This meeting will be available for you to view yourself here. (Just click on "County Council Meetings").

What should have been a relatively uneventful meeting was disrupted by former President Ann McHale, who is obviously still bitter after her primary loss to Executive John Stoffa. After having gone through all the business for the evening, McHale insisted on revisiting a pending decision to use a different law firm as outside counsel.

Ron Angle, as Council President, had already referred the matter to the Finance Committee. He allowed some dialogue on the topic at the end of the meeting, but put his foot down when McHale called for a vote on a motion to approve the outside contract. You see, there was no resolution or ordinance that she could move to support.

McHale: "I can make a motion."

Angle: "We're past new or old business, quite frankly."

McHale: "It doesn't matter, the meeting's not over."

Angle: "Well, it matters. You're not the President anymore, quite frankly ..."

McHale: "I don't care."

Angle: "We're past old and new business."

McHale: "You've done it many, many times."

Angle: "If you want to put it on in two weeks, put it on. In the meantime, the Finance Committee will have met."

McHale: "I'd like to make a motion that we approve the contract for the law firm of Flamm, Walton. Is there a second?"

Lamont McClure: "Second."

Angle: "Just a second ..."

McHale: "There's a motion and a second."

Angle: "And you know what? One more time, you're not the President. Mr. Flisser [Clerk of County Council], do you want to explain to Mrs. McHale what's wrong."

Frank Flisser, Clerk of County Council: "I believe the Administrative Code requires you do this by Ordinance or Resolution."

Angle: "Thank you, now ...."

McHale: "Even though the County Executive has already signed the order."

Angle: "That's what it says, Mrs. McHale.

McHale: "Yeah, I understand [sarcastically]."

Angle: "I know you choose to do it your way. I want to do it the right way."

McHale: "Oh. Since when?"

Angle: "Now if you want to put it on for two weeks, I'll put it on myself. In the meantime, the Finmance Committee is going to meet and deal with it in two weeks on a Wednesday. Now, that being said ... "

McHale: "There's a motion and a second."

Angle: "Mr. Solicitor, do you have anything under your report."

Solicitor (Phil Lauer): "No."

McHale: "There's a motion and a second."

Angle: "As President, I'm ruling it out of order because we're not meeting the codes. I don't intend to accept it. You've got to meet the book, what it says. That's what the laws are."

McHale: "Is that the case, Mr. Lauer?"

Solicitor: "If it requires either resolution or an ordinance, then I think yeah, absolutely ...

McHale: "OK, we can still have a verbal vote on this. It may be nonbinding, but there's a motion and a second."

Angle: "Man oh man. You're on a fishing trip there now. OK, anything else."

McHale: "I'm trying to give the Executive the opportunity to go forward and deal with the huan resouce issues that are before him."

Angle: "And you know what? Under my presidency, we regularly meet. Mr. Stoffa, did you and I agree, prior to the meeting, to move it to the Finance Committee, and you' be satisfied?"

Stoffa: "Yes."

Angle: "Thank you very much."

Blogger's Note: Blogger comments enabled.

Should Northampton County Scale Back Gracedale, Parks & Open Space?

Something very strange happened at yesterday's budget hearing. Northampton County Council actually listened to Ron Angle.

He told them they are wasting time trying to save money on paper clips and should instead be looking at some long range plans that will save real money. "We're gonna' spend four nights worrying about paper clips and rubber bands and whatever we're going to worry about, and we need to be worried about the big picture." Noting problems everywhere, Angle claims "[g]overnment is failing. That's the reality of this. Government is in the beginning throes of failure."

Executive John Stoffa agreed with Angle's assessment that, as bad as things look next year, 2011 and 2012 will probably be worse. That got people's attention.

Angle suggested (1) selling Gracedale and using the money over a number of years to reduce the impactt of taxes; (2) getting rid of county parks by giving them to municipalities or outright auction; and (3) using the half mil ($3.6 million) set aside for open space to reduce the tax burden next year.

In past years, these suggestions have always been met with stony silence. But something strange happened.

Gracedale

Council member Michael Dowd started things off. "Mr. Angle's right. I think we need to look at some of these issues. I frankly plan to introduce in the new year a resolution to ask the administration to review Gracedale and the practicality of privatizing Gracedale. ... We need to look at who might be able to do it better than we can."

Council member John Cusick jumped aboard, too. "This list of capital improvements is not going to get any shorter, and it's not going to get any cheaper."

Council Prez McHale and Lamont McClure both expressed reservations. McHale repeated Wayne Grube's often-made assertion that Gracedale is the "jewel of the County" while McClure called Gracedale a "moral obligation."

Addressing Council, Stoffa told them we spent $11 million on Gracedale this year and will be spending another $7 million next year. He advised a study could be completed at a cost of about $20 thousand. "I monitor the waiting list every week and I can tell you there are fewer and fewer people on that list." In response to questions from McClure, Stoffa stated it has never been this low. As of last week, just one woman was on a waiting list.

But it still costs money. "If you took the total budget to number of patients, it's about $102 thousand per patient," Stoffa said.

"My recommendation would be that we look at downsizing the facility in an economical way rather than just ... I mean that's something we could do now."

Stoffa suggested closing a floor to patients and relocating some human services' offices there. That swayed McClure, who seemed to be concerned about being able to reconvert back to a nursing facility should the need arise.

Parks

Believe it or not, Council Prez McHale told Angle to prepare a resolution for consideration next year. She doubts any municipality will agree to take over a county park, but Angle insisted that the next step would be a sale.

Open Space

County Exec Stoffa indicated that he might relent from open space projects for one year if there was some assurance that Council was not killing his "pay as you go" plan. According to Director of Administration John Conklin, eliminating the open space tax project this year would save the county $3.6 million, which would cut the proposed tax increase in half.

McHale's Navy

McHale Post Primary Campaign Finance Report
Last summer, Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale became visibly upset after learning that Exec John Stoffa had negotiated an IT contract $1.8 million lower than the one she and the Long Dems had tried to shove down the county's throat. Hellbent on embarrassing Stoffa instead of governing, they even ignored their own Solicitor's legal advice. When the late, great Wayne Grube reminded McHale that Stoffa was just trying to work with the legislative branch, she blurted out, "Nice guys finish last."

Looks like she did instead. In addition, her post primary campaign finance report makes pretty clear that her candidacy represented a return to the Long Dems pay to play world. During a one month span, Charles Dertinger's unions kicked in $3,300.00 Baltimore lawyer Peter Angelos, who just happens to be Lamont McClure's boss, donated $500. And state senator Lisa Boscola, anxious to control both the judicial and executive branches in Northampton County, wrote a $4,500 check. Glenn Reibman also donated $500.

How Did Stoffa Fare in Angle Country?

Northampton County District 4 is Ron Angle country, where men are men and the woman are, too. How did Stoffa do in the much maligned, oft-ignored Slate Belt?

Bangor: Stoffa - 83 votes; McHale - 84 votes.

Bushkill Tp.: Stoffa - 131 votes; McHale - 107 votes.

Chapman: Stoffa - 8 votes; McHale - 3 votes.

East Bangor: Stoffa - 21 votes; McHale - 14 votes.

Lehigh Tp.: Stoffa - 323 votes; McHale - 196 votes.

Lower Mount Bethel: Stoffa - 105 votes; McHale - 55 votes.

Moore Tp.: Stoffa - 284 votes; McHale - 166 votes.

Pen Argyl: Stoffa - 80 votes; McHale: 72 votes.

Plainfield Tp: Stoffa - 171 votes; McHale - 133 votes.

Portland: Stoffa - 16 votes; McHale - 14 votes.

Roseto: Stoffa - 37 votes; McHale - 35 votes.

Upper Mt Bethel TP: Stoffa - 138 votes; McHale - 92 vites.

Upper Nazareth: Stoffa - 129 votes; McHale - 64 votes.

Walnutport: Stoffa - 24 votes; McHale - 31 votes.

Washington Tp: Stoffa - 104 votes; McHale - 87 votes.

Wind Gap: Stoffa - 74 votes; McHale - 45 votes.

District Total

Stoffa: 1781 votes (59.8%); McHale: 1198

McHale's Attempt to Attract NIMBY Voters

On April 2, 2009, just in time for the Primary, Ann McHale suddenly decided she's opposed to the treatment center proposed by County Executive John Stoffa. She claimed she had no idea it included a work release component, although it was described that way from the beginning.

Morning Call columnist Bill White cited several articles in which the work release component was made very clear, and wondered whether she has amnesia. I cited several examples myself, and concluded she was pandering to NIMBY voters in Bethlehem Township. The Express Times called her maneuver "political grandstanding." Stoffa would rather lose an election than do the wrong thing. McHale failed to realize that picking up a few votes in Bethlehem Township might really annoy Easton voters, who have been shackled with an overcrowded prison and work release facility.

So how did that strategy work out for her? According to the Voter Registration unofficial report, she did win Bethlehem Township by a grand total of one vote, 460 to 459. But she also lost by a landslide in Easton, 587 to 368, where Stoffa picked up 61.5% of the votes.

That's one vote she might wish she could take back.

McHale Loses On Own Home Field

When Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale first ran for county council, lots of voters thought she was married to former Congressman Paul McHale. But if Tuesday's election is any indication, the McHale magic is gone. She even lost to Northampton County Executive John Stoffa in her district, which consists of Bethlehem, Hellertown and Hanover Township. An unofficial tally from voter's registration reveals she squandered her home field advantage.

Bethlehem: Stoffa - 1,394 votes; McHale - 1,267 votes.

Hanover Township: Stoffa - 343 votes; McHale - 238 votes.

Hellertown: Stoffa - 184 votes; McHale - 219 votes.

District Total:

Stoffa: 1,921 votes (52.7%); McHale: 1,724 votes.

How Did Stoffa Do in Sleepy Nazareth?

I live in Nazareth, just a stone's thrown from the Jacksonian Club. That's where Ann McHale was endorsed by the Joe Long Dems over incumbent Northampton County Exec John Stoffa. That news never trickled down to the unwashed masses. He won here, 195 to 127, with 60.5% of the vote.

McHale Uses RoboCalls to Spread Angle's Message

616-712-1796 is becoming quite a famous phone number. It's the number Charles Dertinger used to place a robo call to my cell phone a few weeks ago. Rob Hopkins and Jimmy Spang used used that number for an anonymous weekend smear against Allentown City Council candidate Lou Hershman. And last night, Ann McHale used it for yet another robo call to my cell phone, complaining about Ron Angle's newspaper ads.

In an automated message, Ann disdainfully dismisses Angle's "eleventh hour attack," claiming it is full of "lies and half truths." She never bothers to set the record straight, but just urges everyone to pull that lever for her.

What McHale just did, whether she realizes it or not, is to draw even more attention to Angle's message. A commenter mentions a person who got McHale's call, but never saw Angle's ad. She immediately tracked it down.

So McHale has just spent her campaign money to advance John Stoffa's campaign.

Thanks.

How Did Northampton County Dems Pay for Mailer?

According to the Northampton County Democratic Party's most recent finance report, it has just $3,986.08 in the till. That's not enough for a mailer to county Democrats. Yet this weekend, that's exactly what happened. A mailing "Paid for and Authorized by Northampton County Democratic Party," i.e. the Joe Long Dems, tells voters how to cast their votes. It even includes a checklist, implying we're too stupid to get it on our own.

Committees must report contributions $500 or greater within 24 hours of receipt at this point in the election cycle. I've seen no reports of any contributions, but Joe Long Dems make it up as they go along.

Ron Angle Has Some Advice For Northampton County Dems

This little love note, penned by The Northampton County Bulldog, will appear today in The Express Times and Morning Call. It's a political ad. I'm in complete agreement so I'll publish it here for nothing. I added the picture.

Northampton County Democrats

You have a very clear choice on May 19 between John Stoffa - a man who can't be bought - and a return to the back slapping, insider's world of pay to play machine politics.

If you want someone who thinks she's better than you, vote McHale. She walked out in a huff when Michelle Obama came to Cedar Crest last September. The front row was reserved for military families, but McHale insisted on sitting there. She thinks they, like you, are her social inferiors. (LV Ramblings, 9/30/08)

Like high taxes? Vote McHale. In ten years on Council, she's voted for every budget and even supported a 63.5% tax increase over just two years. (LVDC Bluestreak Election Letter, 2005)

Like wasteful spenders? Vote McHale. She spent nearly $650,000 of your money for some cheap furniture and a paint job in council chambers, but hasn't bothered installing cameras so the public can actually watch meetings. (Council minutes, 1/7/08; Finance Committee, 1/16/08)

Want a promise breaker? Vote McHale. After promising Martos Gabriel her support for a cabinet level position, McHale went back on her word. McHale also denies knowing about a proposed work release facility in Bethlehem Township, although it has always been described that way, leading Morning Call columnist Bill White to wonder whether she has amnesia. (Morning Call 4/9/09)

Like stupid financial decisions? Vote McHale. Last year, she nearly forced the county to accept an IT contract that was $1.8 million larger than the one Stoffa negotiated. (Express Times, 9/26/07).

Like government in the dark? Vote McHale. When the late great Wayne Grube told her that Stoffa was trying his best to keep council in the loop, her response was "Nice guys finish last." (Express Times, 9/26/07; LV Ramblings, 9/27/07).

Here are just some of the moneybags paying for Ann McHale:

United Brotherhood of Carpenters, AFSCME, Laborers Local 1174, Ruggiero Trucking & Excavating, Bracalete Construction, MCS Industries, Consultant Shanna & Vince Schascia, Lobbyist Robert DeBeer, Lawyer Christian Perrucci, Consultant & Lobbyist T.J. Rooney and Insurance Agent Ryan D Graham.

Here's who's paying for John Stoffa:

John Stoffa.

We deserve better than McHale. We have better. Get off the sofa and vote for Stoffa!

Proudly paid for by Ron Angle because Stoffa won't accept my money, either.

Express Times Endorses Stoffa Over McHale

I thought The Morning Call's endorsement of Northampton County Executive John Stoffa was pretty damn good. But The Express Times endorsement, which appears in today's paper, hits it right on the head. "[Stoffa] offers an experienced hand, a balanced vision for growth and tax restraint, on-the-job insight into human services and corrections, and a feisty independence from party-first politics."

The editors realize that Stoffa represents a new kind of politics, in which a nonpartisan approach to government has priority over the blind party loyalty that has led to past county abuses. "We hope Democrats will take the time to measure the performances of the candidates and see in this case that the status quo -- Stoffa -- is the argument against complacency and against a return to the laissez-faire, party-run management style that dominated the county administration before him."

In contrast, McHale couldn't even answer whether she'd turn down the salary increase (from $65,000 to $85,000) that she previously opposed. "McHale couldn't remember casting that vote."

Seems like there's lots of thing McHale has trouble remembering. Although the work release component of the proposed Bethlehem Township treatment facility has been common knowledge from the beginning. Morning Call columnist Bill White suggests McHale has amnesia. I'd use another word.

As gratifying as it must be to have the blessings of both local papers, the only endorsement that matters to Stoffa is the one he lists at The Express Times Voter Guide: "The people of Northampton County."

That's a pretty good endorsement.

McHale Explodes at Shiloh Baptist Church

I had my FlipCam with me last night and was prowling all over Northampton County, looking for trouble. I found it, too, at a meet 'n greet for magisterial candidate Tony Sortino. But I'll have to tell you about that later. The BIG STORY last night was in a church.

Last night, the NAACP sponsored a candidates' night in Shiloh Baptist Church. Ann McHale, who wants John Stoffa's job, must realize it's increasingly unlikely she's going to get it. So she spent most of the night shooting arrow after arrow at the incumbent Northampton County Executive, in the vain hope that one of them might find a target. She missed.

I was scarfing down hot dogs and bahklava at Tony Sortino's shindig while all this was happening, but latecomers were quick to provide first hand accounts of McHale's ugly display. From what I'm told, Stoffa calmly deflected her arrows and then asked her why her company had three insurance contracts with the county when he took office. "Did you compete for them?" McHale went ballistic.

After the fracas was over, Stoffa was approached by several people who told him they came in undecided but now were definitely voting for him. He was also approached by a reporter who told him McHale said she had the dirt on Stoffa and was going to start telling everyone ... like her goons haven't been doing that here. The reality is that this campaign is over.

McHale is obviously desperate, and for good reason. Within hours of meeting with The Express Times editorial board, they endorsed Stoffa over McHale. This comes on the heels of The Morning Call's Sunday endorsement.

HRH Ann McHale Still Refuses to Address Unwashed Masses

As of Tuesday, Northampton County Executive candidate Ann McHale had no answers to questions posed for a detailed voter's guide prepared by The Express Times. Three of twelve council candidates were also delinquent.

By late Wednesday, all but one council candidate had their answers online. But not Her Majesty Anne the First, by the Grace of God, of Greater Bethlehem, West Behlehem South Bethlehem, and the Hanover Township Dominions beyond Schoenersville Road, Defender of Special Interests and Duchess of the Long Democrats. Now HRH wants to expand her empire to include ALL of Northampton County, and actually sat down with The Express Times editorial board for an interview yesterday, so you'd think she would have filled out the Voter Guide. But speaking to editors is probably even more annoying than talking to mere commoners. Besides, she much be too busy preparing for her impending coronation to answer questions about her future reign.

With an election just five days away, this is what the Imperious Ann McHale tells the unwashed masses:

How have your personal and professional experiences prepared you for public office?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

What is the most critical issue facing the county?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

If elected, what would you do to keep property taxes in check?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

With the economy stalling and county revenue decreasing, how would you push for job development and fund open space preservation?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

John Stoffa has said the county will likely face a tax increase in the next four years. Do you agree? If not, what's the alternative?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

The county needs new prison space. Do you support expanding the current prison or building a new one? Where could a new prison be built?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

As county executive, would you push for property reassessment?

Ann McHale: The candidate has not responded to this question.

If she's too busy to complete a simple questionnaire, do you really think she'll be able to manage a county with a $330 million annual budget?

Follow the Money: Who Is Funding John Stoffa's Campaign?

On Friday evening, I posted the campaign finance report filed earlier that day by Northampton County Executive candidate Ann McHale. Incumbent John Stoffa's, filed earlier that week, seemed less important because his campaign is self-funded. He is by no means a rich man, but believes campaign expenses should be kept at a minimum in this uncertain economy. He also wants to avoid any question of "pay to play."

I have posted his report, and you can look at it here.

Why Doesn't Ann McHale Want Voters to Know About Her?

Election day is just a week away. The Express Times has prepared a detailed voter's guide so that we all can make informed choices. Five of six Democratic candidates and all six Republican candidates for Northampton County Council have taken the time to respond to six questions as well as provide detailed biographical information. So has Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, who answered seven questions. But Ann McHale has so little respect for the voter she hasn't bothered to tell them about herself.

Now this voter's guide costs a candidate nothing. It enables candidates to tell voters about their platforms without costing a dime.

McHale's refusal to participate in this voter guide reveals what she really thinks about you - not very much. Amazingly, she has refused to fill out a questionnaire that costs her nothing. Maybe she considers that slumming. But McHale has solicited donations from special interests and her country club pals, all of whom have their hands out. She intends to buy this election.

Mea culpa: Last night, I reported that ALL Republican council candidates have participated in this Voter Guide. That's wrong. With seven days left until the election, Tom Dietrich and Bruce Gilbert have yet to inform voters about themselves. The same is true of William Wallace. This guide has been online for several weeks and has been discussed in several posts. If these candidates were doing their homework, there would be responses.