LC Comm'r Race: Candidate Chicken Lady Cries Fowl

Amy Zanelli is the establishment candidate for Lehigh County Commissioner in District Three, which includes west Bethlehem and Allentown's east side. Incumbent Tom Muller endorsed her on the very night that he decided against seeking re-election himself. Two other Democrats, opportunist Basilio Bonilla and longtime citizen activist Dennis Pearson, were also running. Muller shoved them aside without doing his homework. Had he done so, he would have learned she was fired in 2012 for failing to show up at her job as a caseworker for child protective services in New Jersey.  He would have known that she was fired from a similar position in Northampton County in 2015. Muller told the crowd that Zanelli had been an announcer with the Lehigh Valley Roller Girls, but this is what Lehigh Valley Roller Girl Michelle Torte MessaHess said on her Facebook page: "DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS WOMAN. I care too much for Lehigh County and its residents. She is mentally unfit, financially irresponsible, and devoid of familial accountability. She has caused tyranny in several, local non-profit organizations within Lehigh and surrounding counties. DO WHAT'S RIGHT. SHARE THIS POST AND VOTE NO TO AMY ZANELLI."

Muller failed to mention that Zanelli is Hanover Township's chicken lady. Before she got canned by Northampton County, she lived in Hanover Township.She showed up at a Supervisors' meeting one night, asking them to do something about the Township's ban on backyard chickens She received permission to make a presentation at the following meeting, but never showed.

I spoke with Zanelli about these allegations, which she said were dismissed by the newspaper and WFMZ-TV69. She told me her termination in New Jersey was the result of discrimination. In Northampton, it was a misunderstanding about her hours. My own view of the information I had is that there are too many red flags for her. So after some thought, I posted a story entitled, "Why You Need to Vote for Dennis Pearson for LC Comm'r."

Zanelli published this comment, I wish to share it with you.

Greetings Mr. O’Hare and friends. My apologies for being late to the game here, but I didn’t realize this piece ran until I received a message from Dennis this morning. I will be the first to tell you that I have the utmost respect for Dennis and have no qualms about your endorsement of his candidacy. However, I think it’s important to note that the allegations regarding my raising chickens and my former places of employment are unfounded. For the record, I did not need to show up to the next township meeting. I was granted permission to raise my chickens into adulthood and re-home them for the sake of the children who were helping to care for them. And I did. In addition, the controversy surrounding my previous employment is untrue. In fact, it was at the hands of my competition that several news sources in the area received this false information and this was the only website where it appeared. Several days ago, I spoke to Mr. O’Hare and offered to meet with him to show him proof that in both instances, I was exonerated of all false claims. He refused. Neither case involved FMLA and since leaving Northampton County, they have since sent correspondence offering me two similar positions of employment, both at higher levels and pay grades. I have proof of those as well. I do not know who made a post on my behalf last night, but for that I am grateful. I can assure you it was not myself and my camp is too busy working to get me elected to spend their valuable time entertaining false accusations and fake news. With that said, this would not be the first time in history that an intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful woman has intimidated a man who then feels the need to spread rumors and lies in an attempt to tear her down. But as my grandmother used to say, if you have a target on your back it’s only because you’re so far ahead that it’s all they can see of you. See you all at the polls.

Unfounded claims.- Nothing I wrote is "unfounded." She was terminated in 2012 from a child protective services agency in New Jersey at a time when  staffing shortages and increased complaints had reached crisis levels. She appealed her Jersey termination and an arbitrator ruled against her. I have a copy of the lengthy decision. She simply refused to work, letting our most vulnerable element, our children, go without protection.

While refusing to come to work, she was being treated for a mental illness of some kind and was both receiving medication and undergoing therapy. Though too sick to work, she was still selling Avon products and brought them in for other workers.

The same thing happened in Northampton County, where she was terminated before her probation was up because of a disagreement over the number of hours she would work.Once again, she let down the most vulnerable element of our society.

Newspaper coverage.-  With limited exceptions, newspapers run for the hills from election stories. While there is always the danger that they are being played, failure to report at all is in my view irresponsible.I believe voters have a right to know that Zanelli was terminated from two positions and that some people take a very dim view of her role in ventures like the Lehigh Valley Roller Girls.

The chickens.- Zanelli now claims she had no reason to return to the Supervisors because the Township made special accommodations for her. She had50 people sign a petition for her and then let them all down because she was given whatever she wanted. Are you beginning to see a pattern?

Refusal to meet her.-  She did offer to meet with me concerning this matter, but she answered my questions so I saw no point. She may have concluded that I refused to meet her, but why would I call her if I didn't want her side? She gave it to me, and those flags were still there. I certainly would have met her if that is what she wanted.  

Sexism. - Zanelli finished by asserting that she is "an intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful woman" who "has intimidated a man who then feels the need to spread rumors and lies in an attempt to tear her down." Actually Amy, what you look like is irrelevant to me, as is your sex. There were no lies. No rumors. Just facts.

Dennis Pearson and Bob Smith are both head and shoulders above these other candidates They have integrity something missing from Zanelli and Bonilla. They have their roots here,and do not move every three seconds.

Why You Need to Vote For Dennis Pearson For LC Comm'r

Dennis Pearson

Never say never. At age 70, Dennis Pearson is finally a married man. I also believe the time has come for the people of Lehigh County to elect him as a District Commissioner representing West Bethlehem and Allentown's east side. He has been a tireless advocate for neighborhoods, and has taken a keen interest in local government for decades.  While his delivery has always raised eyebrows and snickers, his dedication and knowledge are beyond dispute.

Dennis has two Democratic rivals.One of them is Basilio Bonilla, a former Bethlehem School Director who , when he bothered showing up, managed to piss everyone off. A grandstander, he was yanked from every committee post after Bethlehem's School Board had to apologize for a second time to Allentown's School Board after he attempted to interfere in their business. Some say he's matured. I'd prefer to see him spend more time serving his community instead of being a professional candidate.

Then there's Amy Zanelli, the supposed establishment candidate. I remember her as the chicken lady.

In 2015, Zanelli lived in Hanover Township, Northampton County and appeared at a Supervisors' meeting to complain about the Township's ban on chickens in residential areas. She told Supervisors she was a caseworker in Children and Youth. Flashing her badge,she accused Manager Jay Finnigan of fowl play for refusing to allow her to own backyard chickens. She asked Supervisors if she could make a presentation at their next meeting, and they agreed, but she never showed up.

That was the last I saw of the chicken lady until early this year, when Tom Muller announced he had decided against running for re-election as Lehigh County Executive Muller singled the chicken lady out as his preferred candidate in that district. She was identified as a Rutgers grad who worked in child protective services in New Jersey and now is a realtor.

What Muller failed to mention is that the chicken lady had been fired.

Zanelli had been employed as an intake worker in Somerset County, but was terminated in 2012 because she refused to return to work after receiving a number of leaves of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Though she refused to work, she dropped in on her office one day to deliver Avon products to co-workers.

Zanelli appealed her termination and lost.

She told me she was a victim of discrimination.

Zanelli worked in Northampton County Children and Youth as a caseworker between  March and October 2015. She was terminated there as well, and during her probationary period.

She told me this was because her hours had been expanded beyond the time she had agreed to give.

Dennis is far superior to both of these candidates.    

Basilio Bonilla: Because Village Idiots Need a Voice in CityGovernment, Too

Basilio Bonilla is seeking an appointment to Karen Dolan's seat on Bethlehem City Council. I know they'd like to have more diversity in their ranks. This is their chance to select the Village Idiot.

Last week, I posted a poorly-written fundraising missive that Bethlehem School Director Basilio Bonilla recently sent to suckers constituents. But that's nothing. Get a load of this 2012 epistle.

Bonilla 2012 Fundraising Letter

Amazingly, he won. We really do get the government we deserve.

His record of absences has been called into question by another school director,  He's also been stripped of all committee posts after his goofy complaint to Allentown School District, in which Bonilla misrepresented that he was speaking on behalf of a Hispanic group.

If City Council is interested in continuing the tradition of unethical behavior championed by Dolan, he's their man.

Basilio Bonilla Reportedly Interested in Bethlehem City Council

Bethlehem School Board Director Basilio Bonilla called a news conference earlier this year to announce that he's bisexual. He claimed based a strong belief in honesty compelled him to go public on a "Who cares?" issue. He also has a strong belief in dishonesty. He exhibited that with an insulting memo to the Allentown School District about racial inequality. He falsely claimed he was acting on behalf of the National Hispanic Council of School Board members. He'd like to bring this dishonesty to Bethlehem City Council, and is reportedly applying for the seat opened up by Karen Dolan's resignation.

Good for him! He can carry on in her tradition. Dolan, if she hasn't run off to Canada yet, should be thrilled to see a fellow liar replace her.  

And incidentally, I agree that he'd fuck everybody.

Below is an email that Basilio sent to his fans earlier this year. Reading that should tell you all you need to know. In the meantime, my own strong belief in honesty compelled me to call a news conference yesterday to announce that I am heterosexual and am willing to put on a clinic.

No takers.

Here's Basilio's importance email.

Dear Friends:

With your support over the last 3 years, I have had the honor of serving on the Bethlehem Area School District’s Board of Directors.

Having been involved in the Bethlehem Area School District since December 2011, I have long worked for positive change in not only our school district, but also in our community. Over the last 3 years I have fought for safer schools, a more diverse work force, and fair/responsible budgeting.

Importance Accompishments:
- Worked to appoint the first minority candidate to the Northampton Community College’s Board of Trustees
- Worked with members of the community to close down “Scoobies Gentlemen’s Club” in West Bethlehem following the murder of a youngman.
- Worked to continue our district’s early childhood education program (SPARK) for our most needy families.
- Worked to expand all-day kindergrden within our district for our most needy families.
- Voted against’s the 2014-2015 budgets that called for a 5% tax increase.
- Voted to increase the number of school resource officers within our high schools and middle schools.
- Voted against the outsourcing of our district’s substatue teachers.
- And much more.

As many of you know, I have always been very concerned about the saferty of our community. I believe there are workable solution avaliable that will enhance the qualitiy of life in Bethlehem. Give the recent increase in violence within our city over the last few weeks now more then ever we need to fight crime head on. Together with your support we can once again make Bethlehem the best place to raise a family.

My term on the Bethlehem School Board is quickly coming to an end. The last three years have gone by fast and I am sure my final year will go by just as fast! However, I am not yet done serving the citizens of Bethlehem. Therefore, in order to continue my service for the citizens of Bethlehem I will need your help.

I cannot do it all alone. That’s why I’m turing to the people who know me best, and inviting them to get involved in my campaign and help make a difference.

Your early conribution, made payable to “Friends of Basilio Bonilla” will give our race a tremendous boost. Your gift of $25, $50, $100, or even $250 will help me raise the intitial funds needed to launch our campaign.

Our gaol is to raise 2,000.00 by the end of this month. I ask for your support in this great challenge.

Thank you in advance for your encouragement and support

Regards,
Basilio A. Bonilla Jr

PS: Checks can be mailed to 1002 Center St. Bethlehem, PA 18018 ATT: Friends of Basilio Bonilla.