Brace Yourself!

Geoff and his family

On Monday, Lehigh County Exec Tom Muller announced his non-election campaign inside the hallowed halls of Brookside Country Club, where my chief concern was being tossed by the waitstaff. But Thursday night, things will be a little different for Comm's Geoff Brace. He promises he really, really, really will be running for re-election. Instead of supplying food and booze at his announcement, Geoff is asking supporters to bring canned juice, bread and jelly for the Jubilee Ministry of Zion UCC. That's a ministry to the homeless Brace and his family support with time, energy and finances. And that's where he will take his stand. Technically, it's at Zion “Liberty Bell” United Church of Christ (620 West Hamilton Street, Allentown), 6 pm., in the church basement. You can park in the rear for free. That's where Pip the Mouse lives. Whether he shows up depends on whether anyone is bringing cheese. He doesn't do juice.

Echoing some of the remarks made by Muller on Monday night, Brace claims "[w]e’ve ended pay to play politics in Lehigh County and strengthened the safety net for citizens of Lehigh County by re-committing to Cedarbrook nursing home by supporting the work for children and youth, providing stronger services for mental health, the homeless, intellectual disabilities and rehabilitation. We’ve also managed to find addition resources for farmland preservation.”

Brace's district includes Allentown's west end, which is no different than Nazareth or Bethlehem. But it also includes Center City. That's NIZ Island. But it's surrounded by a sea of poverty. And that's where Geoff, his wife Sara Jane, and his son Isaac, reside. He walks the walk. I've known him since I started blogging about 11 years ago. Over that time, I've grown to know him as a person who has deeply held religious beliefs, and who tries to put them into practice.

Unfortunately, none of his good qualities ever rubbed off on me.

He's a graduate of Ursinus College, after which he obtained a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Lehigh University in 2004. He began his career in public service by working for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, visiting the Main Streets in small communities statewide. Then he went to work as the Executive Director at Kutztown Community Partnership. Currently, he is a legislative assistant to State Rep. Michael "Darth Voter" Schlossberg.

I can only hope that his ethics and integrity are contagious.

He may be running unopposed.

Fr more information about Brace’s re-election, visit www.geoffbrace.com.