Today's one-liner: “In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance.” T Jefferson
As the Republican primary for Lehigh County Executive begins to unfold, the endorsement have begun. Glenn Eckhart has picked up endorsements from former Allentown Mayor Bill Heydt and former Lehigh County Exec Jane Baker. Brad Osborne has received a rare primary endorsement from Congressman Charlie Dent.
Bill Heydt on Eckhart: “Glenn has served the taxpayer’s of Lehigh County faithfully. He worked hard to reform pensions in Lehigh County, saving the taxpayers millions of dollars.”
Jane Baker on Eckhart: "[E]xperience matters, we need to be electing people who can make tough decisions when it matters most. I know Glenn is that individual with just the right executive experience.”
LC Controller Glenn Eckhart would like to be LC Exec Glenn Eckhart. So yesterday, he issued a news release. He announces no new initiatives. He makes no pledges. The reason for his missive is to announce that he's honest. You know things are really bad when a politician actually thinks it's newsworthy to announce that he's being honest. And perhaps it is.
But Eckhart starts off with a canard. Here's his first paragraph:
(Lehigh County, PA) Glenn Eckhart, Lehigh County Controller and Republican candidate for Lehigh County Executive makes good on his promises to the taxpayers of Lehigh County. In the heat of a campaign, politicians tend to make one empty promise after another, Eckhart observes. Eckhart believes it is a good thing he is not a politician; but instead represents a rare breed of true public servants. “Talk is cheap, but I am proud to say that I have followed through on three very important promises that I made to the people of Lehigh County.” Said Eckhart.
Can you find the lie? Yes, it's his claim that he's not a politician. He went from Salisbury Tp Comm'r (2000 to 2005) to Lehigh County Comm'r (2006 to 2011) to Lehigh County Controller (2012 to present). He's also an elected state committee person for the GOP. He proves he's a politician with this obvious falsehood.
He goes on to say that he's really cool because he kept his word when he said he'd take no payraise, no pension and would present a plan to save $5 million.
“I think it is important to be honest with people. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me all the time, but when I say I am going to do something, I am going to do it.”
In case you missed it the first time, he says it again.
"What I say I am going to do, I am going to do. It is just that simple. I am going to be the advocate for the taxpayer. ”
Eckhart never bothers telling us what his plan was, or whether it was actually implemented.
When it comes to honesty, what I know is that Eckhart pretended to support an anti-pay-to-play ordinance in Lehigh County, but behind the scenes, he attempted to kill it. In a 10-31-16 email to Comm'r Dan Hartzell, Eckhart claimed he wanted to "repeal the whole thing," calling it a "bad ordinance." He said his Solicitor opined that the law is unconstitutional, but correspondence from her says no such thing.
So when Glenn wants to brag about his honesty, I suppose you could say he's honest compared to Fed Ed But that's not saying much. I see no difference between Glenn and his opponent, Brad Osborne, when it comes to honesty. They are both politicians.
Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart will be announcing his candidacy for Lehigh County Executive tonight at Big Woodys' Sports Bar (1841 South 4th At, Allentown Pa 18103). The event runs from 4:30 - 8:30 pm, with pizza and soda on Eckhart.
"Republicans, democrats and independents welcome," he states. "Formal announcement will be at 7 pm. I hope you can share this time with me."
Eckhart is a conservative Republican currently serving his second term as Lehigh County's Controller. In the primary, he will face Lehigh County Comm'r Brad Osborne, who announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination in late January.
I am unaware what w=either candidate plans to accomplish if elected, but will certainly tell you about their platforms as soon as I get them.
According to incumbent Executive Tom Muller, Phillips Armstrong will be seeking the Democratic nod. Armstrong is a Whitehall Commissioner and a retired teacher.
Despite the lure of free food, I will miss Eckhart's announcement to cover a Hanover Township meeting tonight.
In Lehigh County, like Northampton County, the Controller is supposed to be an independent elected official. He ensures that proper internal controls are in place, assesses compliance with statutory requirements, evaluates operating procedures, and audits the accuracy and completeness of records and files pertaining to the receipt and disbursement of County funds. It's no job for a partisan hack. It is a job for an accountant. But in both counties, the position is held by partisans who have no particular skills as accountants. In Northampton, it's partisan Democrat Steve Barron, who just finished helping Lamont McClure lose a race for County Executive. In Lehigh, it's partisan Republican Glenn Eckhart, who just had a picnic for Exec candidate Scott Ott and Commissioner candidate Mike Schware. Neither of these political can perform an audit, bit they sure know how to play politics.
Over the years, I've complained numerous times about Barron's political activity, but have pretty much left Eckhart alone. That's because, until recently, there was some legal question whether he could hold the job, which was ultimately decided in Eckhart's favor. Also, I have to admit that I like Glenn. There's no getting around the fact that he is a good-hearted soul. But he plays politics, too. Just as Barron compromises his independence, so does Eckhart.
Instead of watching the henhouse, he's joined the foxes. There is no way that he can conduct a fundraiser for an Executive candidate Scott Ott and Commissioner candidate Mike Schware and then claim to be independent.
But something else bothers me even more. He recently had prominent Attorney Blake Marles on the County payroll for $1000 per month. Though Lehigh County's Controller never had a Solicitor before, it strikes me that one who can't perform an audit needs a lawyer more than most. But he just hired a new lawyer to replace Marles. It's Christy Schlottman, who will charge him only $550 per month.
So what's wrong with that? He's saving money, right?
No. Christy Schlottman is a Republican candidate for District Judge. His decision to hire her is in effect a back-handed campaign contribution of $550 per month. And you're paying for it, not him.
Eckhart denies this. "West Easton just hired her 3 months ago and the DA in Monroe County just hired her 2 months ago and we all knew she was running," he argues. In my opinion, it really makes no sense to do that unless the money is intended as a back-handed campaign contribution.
I love to torment Glenn Eckhart, with whom I rarely agree. But fortunately for me, he's leaving the Board of Commissioners to become Lehigh County's new Controller, so I'll still be able to pick on him, especially if he is as political as his counterpart in Northampton County.
But nobody can deny that Glenn is a genuinely good person who cares about other people and tries to help them. He gets it. When kids were tossed out of a gym in Salisbury because there was no security at basketball games, Glenn dug into his own pocket to pay for it. This is all the more amazing because Glenn is a blue collar guy who looks uncomfortable in a suit and tie.
In his final words as a Commissioner, Glenn remarked that when he left Salisbury Township, "they gave me a bag of leaves because I complained about the leaves all the time. ... Maybe somebody should have brought me some tea leaves because it seemed like I was always on the wrong side of the vote."
Can you provide a caption to the picture above? One that avoids reference to male organs?
Whitehall, PA --- Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart will formally announce his run for Lehigh County Controller on Sunday, March 6Th at 7:15pm at Fullerton American Legion Post 367 located at 609 Fullerton Avenue, Whitehall, PA 18052. Supporters will be on hand from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to sign petitions.
The fur is flying as Lehigh County Commissioners squabble over Executive Don Cunningham's proposed 16.1% tax hike, which they'll be voting on tonight.
According to a news release from the LV Tea Party, Commissioner Glenn Eckhart will propose a "ZERO" budget increase, eliminating the need for a tax increase. It also eliminates the need to decide exactly where cuts need to be made, which is why Commissioners are elected.
Tonight's meeting will take place in the meeting room at 7:00 PM, and the local tea party plans to descend en masse.
Republican Chair Dean Browning has previously stated he will support Cunningham's budget. Last year, he was called a barbarian. This year, he'll be called a spendthrift. But he's right, and so is Cunningham.
I stopped listening to WAEB a few years ago, when Bobby Gunther Walsh and John Brinson once stated that they only wanted to hear from people who thought invading Iraq was a terrific idea. Don't tell anybody, but I finally tuned in last week to listen to Allentown watchdog Lou Hershman. He's not in it to help the unions or developers or as a springboard to his next political office. He just cares about the City, and that came across.
Walsh will host Lehigh County Comm'r Glenn Eckhart today.at around 8:45 AM on WAEB 790 AM. (You can livestream it here). Glenn will discuss the 16.!% tax hike looming in Lehigh County.
Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle has already suggested that Lehigh start some buffalo hunting expeditions at the Trexler Game Preserve,and has offered to be a guide.
Up until yesterday, unsuccessful Lehigh County Commissioner candidate Hillary Kwiatek had little chance of being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation of Democrat Bill Leiner. Now she has none, thanks to a vicious personal attack against her erstwhile opponent, Glenn Eckhart. She accused his campaign of launching an anti-Semitic whisper campaign directed at her.
Here's how she puts it: "[T]here is a very likely possibility that some of Mr. Eckhart's supporters started a whisper campaign about my Judaism, which I am not sure had any influence on the outcome of the election but was still completely inappropriate."
Do you want to know what's completely inappropriate? Making a serious accusation like she did, with absolutely no evidence to back it up. When she makes such a claim so lightly, she demeans the victims of the very real anti-Semitism that still exists, right here in the Lehigh Valley.
Soon after her scurrilous charge, an impressive gentleman named Wayne Woodman called me. He's in the running to be Lehigh County's next GOP chair. He's also Glenn Eckhart's single largest contributor, and gave him $2,600 for his race against Kwiatek.
Wayne tells me, "I'm incensed that a fellow Jew would use anti-Semitism to obscure her own political deficiencies. Hillary Kwiatek, have you no shame? How far are you willing to drive partisanship?"
Commissioner Glenn Eckhart, a conservative Republican who nominated Lehigh County's first ever African American Commissioner, refuses to dignify Kwiatek's smear with a response. He does tell me his most active campaign worker is Jewish, but prefers to keep his name out of this sordid affair. "Religion is a private matter," he tells me.
Kwiatek later cites the evidence. One anonymous comment. Posted here. Quickly deleted. For all I know, she could have posted that comment herself, in an effort to build up sympathy. Or it could have been the bizarre rant of some nut. It certainly is no evidence of a whisper campaign.
Yesterday, I posted LC Comm'r Andy Roman's explanation for his poor meeting attendance. He failed to make the sale with me. But recently re-elected Glenn Eckhart, known affectionately as Comm'r No, was more persuasive. I think I was wrong to have called him a showhorse. Here's what he tells me.
"Bernie, if you look at my attendance, I have a 96.3% at regular board meetings which puts me tie for second. I am tied for second as committee chairs go on attendance at 94.4%. The others committees on which I sit - Planning as Vice Chair 66.7%, Development 61.1%, and Judicial 50% - are a more accurate account of my attendance because in other committees, I have no vote.
"My full time job as a Service Manager for Scotts Lawn Service is a job at which I wear no suit. I have to come home and take a shower before every meeting. My job requires that I go to customers with lawn problems. I also spend time training and working with pesticides. I am unable to leave work before 5:00 or 5:30. You aren't discriminating against me for working in a blue collar field are you? In fact, the blue collar Democrats who elected me this year and every time I am up for election tell me all the time I am one of them. That is what they like about me. They like where I come from.
"I would make it to every committee meeting if I could just leave my job and come straight to the government center. But I can't and am sometimes delayed. I am sorry you feel that I am just a show horse but I do what is best for my constituents, my family and my full time job, which I have to have to pay my bills. I am extremely engaged in my job as a commissioner whether you like it or not, and my attendance at committee meeting does nothing to change that.
"The meetings that count most are the regular meetings. I missed just one, and that was only because I was in training for my full time job out of state. I even held a press conference explaining my position on an important vote last year before I left town so everyone knew how I felt about it."
Not very long ago, a candidate would never dream of asking an elected official or other candidate to dig into his own campaign fund for money. In these different times, office seekers felt they had an obligation to those financing their campaigns to restrict those funds only for their own political quests. In recent years, all that has changed, and it's now rather routine for candidates to give each other this monopoly money. Most of the time, it's pretty innocent. But when an elected official uses donated money to solidify and expand his power base, it's time to pay attention.
Campaign finance reports filed Friday reveal that Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham is using his healthy, $700 thousand, campaign warchest to build his powerbase, stacking the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners. It's a political power play, although I'm sure he'd justify it as an attempt to make government more efficient. The downside is that, instead of an independent legislative body that asks questions and provides oversight, you end up with rubber stamps.
This year's rubber stamps are candidates Hillary Kwiatek, running against incumbent Glenn Eckhart in District 5; and Jeanne McNeill, running against Tom Creighton in District 1. They've been so excited to take Cunningham's money and help that they can't be bothered to follow election disclosure laws. Instead of informing the public, their filed campaign reports actually mislead them. Let me explain what happened.
This month, Kwiatek and McNeill sent out four, professionally prepared, 8 x 11 mailers each. One of Kwiatek's missives is a hit job against incumbent Glenn Eckhart, complete with grainy black and white photo. Take a gander. Hillary Kwiatek Campaign Flyer
Sure, Kwitek's slam is inaccurate. Rather than being against police, Eckhart actually voted to increase the size of Salisbury's force 40% when he was a township supervisor. But hey, I admire the quality of the work.
Now two of these mailers for each candidate arrived before the Monday, October 19th cutoff for reporting campaign expenses. The third must have been in the mail because those pieces arrived on the 20th. The cost of all three mailers was obviously incurred before the cutoff date.
Where did Kwiatek and McNeill get the money? Campaign finance reports filed Friday, which covers the period between June 8 and October 19th, not only fail to answer that question, but are downright misleading.
McNeill reports receiving $8,900 and spending just $2,900, leaving her with approximately $6,000. Kwiatek is a mirror image. She pulled in $6,800 and spent only $3,000. They both report only one $250 donation from the Cunningham camp. (Their reports can be downloaded here). The cost of these mailers is reflected nowhere.
So who paid for these mailers? Cunningham. Let me tell you how I know.
Cunningham's campaign committee made two contributions to the Pennsylvania Democratic party on October 5 ($22,000) and October 9 ($50,000), totalling $72,000.00. The state party took that money and spent it for the following:
* Postage for Kwiatek mailing (10/16/09) $1,170.70. * Postage for MacNeill mailing (10/16/09) $1,179.54. * Payment to Gumbinner & Davies for Design, Print, Mail House for unspecified "Lehigh County Candidates" (10/16/09) $52,447.49. * Postage-mailing for Don Conningham (10/15/09) $4,670.51. * Postage-mailing for unspecified "Lehigh County Candidates" (10/13/09) $5,074.75. * Postage-mailing for unspecified "Lehigh County Candidates" (10/6/09) $4,767.52 By October 19th, Cunningham had paid nearly $70,000 to promote Kwiatek and MacNeill.
Hillary Kwiatek was actually an active participant in this Cunningham-financed mail campaign. On her Facebook page, in a post entitled The Impact of Mail, Kwiatek muses "A candidate pores over her mail pieces making sure everything is accurate and reflects who she is as a candidate and then hopes for the best." She is very excited by how her "first mail piece" was received, noticing it has increrased traffic n the Internet. But she's not excited enough to tell her readers that Cunningham is paying for those mailers. She's not excited enough to include its cost on her finance report, as required by our election laws. Neither McNeill nor Kwiatek bother to tell you that County Executive Don Cunningham is trying to buy their election, to the tune of nearly $70,000 so far. Both attempt to mislead you into thinking he's only given them $250 apiece. If Kwiatek and MacNeill are this deceptive as candidates, what will happen when they're elected?
Summary:
* In early Oct. Don Cunningham’s campaign transferred $72,000 to the PA Democrat Committee. * Through Oct. 24th, Kwiatek and McNeill have sent out 4 mailers each with a total combined cost of approximately $25,000. * Two of the mailers for each candidate arrived before the Monday, October 19th cutoff for reporting campaign expenses and 1 for each candidate was in the mail at that point, arriving on Oct. 20th. * Three of Kwiatek’s mailers and three of McNeill’s mailers list them as being paid for by the PA Democrat Committee. * The three Kwiatek mailers that arrived (or were in the mail) before the 19th were all paid for by the PA Democrat Committee. * The three McNeill mailers that arrived (or were in the mail) before the 19th were all paid for by the PA Democrat Committee. * Kwiatek wrote on her Facebook page on Oct. 15th about reviewing the mailers and that the first had arrived, so she knew that they had been sent. * The PA Democrat Committee reports spending $52,447.49 on Oct. 16th for “design, print and mail house” for “Lehigh County candidates” * The PA Democrat Committee reports spending $1,170.70 (enough for 10,000 to 12,000 mailers) on Oct. 16th for postage on Kwiatek. * The PA Democrat Committee reports spending $1,179.54 (enough for 10,000 to 12,000 mailers) on Oct. 16th for postage on McNeill. * Neither Kwiatek nor McNeill reported any direct expenses or in-kind contributions on their campaign finance reports that reflect the money spent (design, production and postage) for their mailers that went out before the Oct. 19th cutoff. At a bare minimum the postage needed to be reported. Kwiatek, in particular, can not claim ignorance of the fact that the mailers had gone out since she talked about them at her Facebook site.
Update: Kwiatek Amends Report! In an email, Hillary Kwiatek announces that she has amended her report to reflect the state party's in-kind contributions. She claims she received that documentation on Friday, after her report had already been prepared, and opted to amend it today rather than wait for the next reporting period "in the interest of greater transparency."
Kwiatek adds, "I want to say in the strongest terms possible that I would never intentionally deceive or mis-report information on these reports. I take the oath my signature represents on those forms very seriously, and my integrity means a great deal to me. The fact of the matter is, I simply didn't have the documentation of these contributions when my treasurer and I completed my report. As you realize, you cannot document an in-kind contribution without the necessary information. Once I received the information, the report was amended in as quick a manner as I could manage, given my treasurer's work schedule and the like."
Last Thursday, Northampton County Council unanimously adopted a resolution asking Lt. Governor and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to reverse himself on scheduling a special election in the 24th Senatorial District on September 29th. It would be much cheaper to simply wait 35 days and conduct the special election along with the general.
It was Lehigh County's turn last night. After a contentious committee hearing, which I unfortunately missed, everyone went along with Glenn (Commissioner No) Eckhart's proposal. A Republican, Eckhart deserves some credit for taking on the heavyweights within his own party.
Eckhart had an unlikely ally last night - his opponent in this November's election. Softspoken Democrat Hillary Kwiatek told Commissioners "I'm in perfect agreement with Commissioner Eckhart on this. It's inappropriate to have a special election 35 days before a scheduled general election. It's a waste of taxpayer dollars."
Chairman Percy Dougherty was a little more blunt, calling the decision "idiotic." After the resolution was adopted, Eckhart claimed it would most likely end up in Scarnati's trash can. That's s probably where Northampton County's resolution has already been carefully filed.
Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart must have had Wheaties for breakfast today. He's decided to take on the heavyweights within his own party, urging Lt. Governor and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to reverse a decision to hold a special election in the 24th Senatorial District on September 29th.
The State already faces a $3 billion budget deficit and this special election will cost $400,000. For some reason, Eckhart thinks that payjackers in the land of midnight payraises might listen to common sense and wait a few short weeks for the November general election. Holding two elections within 35 days of one another will confuse voters and reduce turnout, but it's pretty clear that's what Scarnetti wants.
Commissioner No will actually propose a nonbinding resolution at the next Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting urging that the special election be delayed for the general election on November 3.
Won't this get Glenn in trouble within his own party? Eckhart acknowledges that, but claims it's still the right thing to do. “The decision on when to hold this election should be based strictly on dollars and cents, and on promoting the greatest possible voter turnout,” says Eckhart. “While taking this stand may not make me a popular guy with some people in my own party, I firmly believe that political considerations have no place in this decision. We need to put taxpayers first.”
I'll let you know when I find out about his funeral arrangements.
OK, I lied a a little bit about yesterday's trip to Allentown's Scottish Rite Center. LC Comm'r Dean Browning really did meet me at the door. I never was forced to eat haggis. There really were free sandwiches, and from Primo's, too. Finally, there really was a news conference starring three of Lehigh County Commissioner candidates - incumbent Glenn Eckhart (facing Hillary Kwiatek in District 5); Allentown School Board Prez Bob Smith (opposing appointee David Jones in District 3); and Mike Welsh (challenging incumbent Dan McCarthy in District 3). Chairman Percy Dougherty (District 2), on vacation celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary with his lovely bride, was unable to make it. Neither could candidate Tom Creighton (District 1), who was unable to get away from his job.
Lehigh County Republicans are very entertaining because they have a flair for the dramatic. Don't let those suits fool you. Not terribly long ago, before Snarlen Arlen Specter saw the light and jumped into the warm embrace of the Democratic party, Lehigh County's rank and file were trying to censor him or burn him in effigy or something. They can really get fired up. If you pop on their site, they actually seem to have some sort of loyalty oath. Most Democratic sites, in sharp contrast, are little more than directories of local bars and clambakes.
What I remember best about Lehigh County Republicans is the way they reacted after then County Exec Jane Ervin - herself a Republican - imposed a very unpopular 70% tax increase. Before you could say Newt Gingrich, there were all prancing around in tri-corner hats, signing all kinds of important declarations and carrying muskets and stuff like that.
A lot of these dudes should be doing Shakespeare.
GOP commissioner candidates certainly lived up to their reputation yesterday, this time unveiling a “Contract with County Taxpayers," a hand-me-down of Newt Gingrich's 1994 Contract with America. Here are the salient points.
1. Balance the county budget without increasing property taxes or raiding county reserves by 2012. Only support budgets for 2010 and 2011 that significantly cut spending and make credible strides towards that end.
2. Not approve any public employee union contract that allows wages to grow faster than county revenues or the COLA received those on Social Security.
3. Oppose any effort by Lehigh County to levy a 1% local sales tax in addition to the current state sales tax of 6% as is now being proposed in Harrisburg.
4. Limit to $3,000 the cumulative amount of contribution, either direct or in-kind, we accept from any single campaign donor during the upcoming general election.
5. Reject the taxpayer-funded pay raise we’d be eligible to receive if we win election in November.
Now, this pledge is being sent to all the Democratic candidates, too. Commissioner Dean Browning, who was on hand yesterday, mentioned that all ten candidates - Democratic and GOP - are in this race because they care and want to do what is right for our children. Noting that all county legislators serve as both fiscal watchdog as well as a check and balance for the administration and elected officials, he is asking Democrats to sign on, too.
But Democrats appear to be troubled and slightly offended by this pledge. They adamantly deny "raiding reserve funds," as claimed by GOP Comm'r Glenn Eckhart. They admit using a tax relief fund to balance the budget, but that's exactly why that fund was established in the first place. "The stabilization fund is our reserve or rainy day fund. We have not touched that, nor will we," said one administrator who asked to remain anonymous.
As far as saving money goes, administrators pointedly note that Republicans actually added to LC Exec Don Cunningham's most recent budget. Instead of reducing wages or planned increases in salary, administrators have curtailed spending by reducing the actual number of employees who work for the county, noting that the current county employment is at its lowest level since 1995.
After the news conference was over, the reporters all left without eating any sandwiches. The Morning Call's Scott Kraus looked really hungry, too, but he's known me for years and knew I'd dime him in a heartbeat. I stuffed all the sandwiches in my laptop bag and met Ron Angle outside, where we unloaded them on Hamilton Street for 50 cents each. I made $3, and bought a Rolexx from some guy on 7th.
Below, I've posted the statements made by Eckart, Smith and Welsh, along with links to the video. For Smith, I posted his actual video because he is such a passionate speaker.
. . . and miles to go before they sleep. Here are the statements they released at yesterday's news conference.
Glenn Eckhart: LC Administrators Raiding Reserve Fund to Cover Deficit (See video here.)
"We stand here today with a simple belief: That it is important for county voters to know where the candidates for Lehigh County Commissioner stand on critical budget, tax, spending and open government issues before they vote in November’s District Commissioner elections.
"The 'Contract with County Taxpayers' that we are unveiling today is the cornerstone of agenda to address those issues.
"Here is the plain truth: The County can no longer gloss over its massive deficit by raiding reserve funds that were never intended to be an excuse for irresponsible spending practices.
"Four years ago, the current County Executive rightfully ran on a campaign against his opponents’ fiscal irresponsibility. The problem is that since his election, he’s done nothing to change the bad habits of the previous administration.
"In fact, he’s made them worse.
"County government now spends 12 million dollars more than it takes in - with no plan to change course.
"If a business does that, they’ll be out of business.
"If a homeowner does that, they’ll be homeless.
"If a politician does it, they can just raise taxes to bail themselves out.
"We can’t allow that to happen here again.
"My opponent likes to call me 'Commissioner No' because of the hard line I take on tax and spending issues, and my refusal to budge from that position.
"In an attempted contrast, she likes to chatter about 'change' without any real plan to accomplish it.
"That’s the difference between us.
"With the announcement today of our “Contract with County Taxpayers”, it is…
* We are the ones with a plan that will deliver positive change for taxpayers.
* We are the ones with substantive ideas and real solutions that will help make Lehigh County an even better place to live for Republicans, Independents and Democrats, alike.
"On the other hand my opponent is offering no new ideas, just rhetoric, while she waits on marching orders from the State and County Democrats running her campaign. This is the same State and County Democrats, by the way, who want a 1 percent sales tax in Lehigh County, in addition to the state sales tax of 6 percent we already pay.
"I pledge today that the Republican Commissioner candidates I’m running with will never vote to approve this tax here in Lehigh County.
"That’s right. I’m saying - Never.
"But what else would you expect from 'Commissioner No?'
Bob Smith: We Know This Will Make The Unions Angry (Video is above).
"For far too long, politicians have backed away from the tough decisions and the difficult fights necessary to run an effective government.
"They were too worried about the next election.
"That stops today.
"In these tough economic times, there must be shared sacrifice by everyone in government, including the employees.
"We know this is going to make some union bosses angry, but we believe our fair approach will earn the respect of taxpayers across Lehigh County.
"We pledge not to approve any public employee union contract that allows wages to grow faster than County revenues or the COLA received by those on Social Security.
"The days of guaranteed, annual 4 percent increases for County employees, without any regard for the current economic outlook or corresponding county revenue growth, are over.
"Our plan will reform the way County employees are compensated to bring it more in line with what county residents employed in the private sector or receiving Social Security are facing."
Mike Welsh: Payraise Simply Not Right During Recession (You can see Mike's video here).
"That sacrifice also needs to extend to the County Commissioners themselves.
"That is why we will reject the taxpayer-funded pay raise we’d be eligible to receive if we win election in November.
"In the midst of unprecedented economic hardship, it’s simply not right for politicians to take a pay raise, like my opponent sadly plans to do if re-elected this November.
"We will all reject this pay increase, encourage every candidate to do the same, and ask those who have already accepted it to give it back.
"Finally, we want to build upon the comprehensive campaign finance reforms we pushed for earlier this year by limiting to $3,000 the cumulative amount of money we accept from any single campaign donor, either direct or in-kind, for the upcoming general election.
"It was gratifying to have been part of the team who helped enact a more open, transparent system for the reporting of campaign contributions in Lehigh County earlier this year. We believe those reforms are already making a difference.
"But we’re not done.
"We want to prevent the potential for one campaign donor to underwrite most, or in the worst case scenario, all of another candidates’ campaign.
"We believe this kind of financial control over a campaign raises serious questions about whether the person giving the money will have undue influence on the person receiving the money once elected to office.
"To prove our independence, we are pledging to accept no more than $3,000 in the aggregate from any one donor for this election cycle.
"We challenge our opponents to do the same.
"The people of Lehigh County don’t want puppets that are bought and paid for, they want leaders.
"And if they elect us, leaders are what they will get."
Ever meet Lehigh County Commish Glenn Eckhart? Take a look at the picture, where he's trying to pretend he's some badass, like he's running for Sheriff or something. True, he's big enough to be an NFL lineman. But if you look closely enough at his picture, you'll see the hint of a smile. The Glenn Eckhart I know is a big, jovial man with a warm smile and a little twinkle in his eye, kinda' like a young Santa Claus.
He's generous, too. He once invited me to tag along on a Gettysburg bus tour. Maybe he intended to throw me out one of the windows or ram me into one of the cannons, or even worse, turn me into a Republican. Unfortunately, I overslept that day and missed the trip, so we'll never know.
What puzzles me is that, despite his jovial appearance, Glenn's political philosophy is more akin to Ebeneezer Scrooge than Saint Nick. But he makes no sense on paper, as evidenced by his rant about Democratic Commissioner Bill Leiner earlier this week.
Get a load of another Eckhart special, sent to a gazillion Republicans this week. Glenn is reacting to LC Exec Don Cunningham's plan to spend some of his vast, $700k campaign treasury, to seize control of the Board of Commissioners.
"Don will get involved in the commissioner races if the candidates are of like minded [sic] to his. That is clear [sic] he wants people who will vote the way he wants them to and I will not. I understand on my opponents [sic] facebook sight [sic] she is calling me commissioner NO and [sic] am proud of it. I like that tag line because I have a record of NO new taxes, NO new programs, NO more unbalanced budgets, and NO more spending increases."
No grammar or spelling lessons, either.
Ironically, Commissioner No is the badass who dug into his own pocket to save a basketball program for Salisbury Township grade school kids earlier this year. He spent thirteen years coaching there, too. If Glenn is reelected, it will be because voters like him, not because he's some LV Rush Limbaugh.
Yesterday, I told you that Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart has graciously offered to foot the bill for security during the final two weeks of basketball games played by kindergarten through third-graders at Salisbury Township's Truman Elementary. School officials are rightfully upset at the petty vandalism by older kids who enter the building during games and have demanded this precaution.
It's beginning to appear that the kids will be able to get one last week of hoops. The Salisbury Youth Ass'n is working on a plan to salvage the final week and will advise Eckhart of the cost.
Eckhart, who coached there for thirteen years, is likely to this expense from his own pocket. But to be honest, I'd have no problem with him using campaign funds. In fact, I wish more politicians offered campaign funds for worthy projects that benefit kids.
My grandson, who is in third grade, loves basketball. He plays on two different teams and insists on wearing a headband, even though it barely fits his head. As you might imagine, these are typically low-scoring games, but the kids really enjoy an excuse to run around during cold winter months. At the same time, they learn a little sportsmanship. ... I think.
Over the weekend, The Morning Call's Scott Kraus reported a premature, and sad, end to basketball from kindergarten to third grade in Salisbury Township. Parents attending basketball games at Truman Elementary were obviously focused on their kids like laser beams, oblivious to an older crew of kids using open school buildings to place 911 calls and cause other mischief. School officials insisted on paid security, and the Salisbury Youth Association decided to cancel the last two weeks of the season.
Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart has offered to foot the bill for security himself, if it is not already too late. It's a gallant gesture from an official I've criticized.
The Morning Call notes, in the very first sentence of its account, that Eckhart is up for reelection this year. That's fair. But it fails to note Eckhart's ties to Salisbury Youth Association. That's unfair. Glenn was Basketball Director between 1990 and 1993 and also spent 13 years there coaching basketball. This is before he ever had his own children or sought elected office. Wouldn't fairness require that these facts be revealed, too?
Glenn's political motive is apparent, but he is obviously also a person who supports youth sports, especially now that his daughter is in the Kindergarten program. He may use campaign funds instead of digging into his own pocket. Some of you may turn your nose up at that. Would your prefer to see campaign funds used for junk mail that no one reads or a community program to benefit children?
Glenn Eckhart did the right thing here, and should be commended.
The fur is flying as Lehigh County Commissioners squabble over Executive Don Cunningham's proposed 16.1% tax hike, which they'll be voting on tonight.
I stopped listening to WAEB a few years ago, when Bobby Gunther Walsh and John Brinson once stated that they only wanted to hear from people who thought invading Iraq was a terrific idea. Don't tell anybody, but I finally tuned in last week to listen to Allentown watchdog Lou Hershman. He's not in it to help the unions or developers or as a springboard to his next political office. He just cares about the City, and that came across. 
Up until yesterday, unsuccessful Lehigh County Commissioner candidate Hillary Kwiatek had little chance of being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation of Democrat Bill Leiner. Now she has none, thanks to a vicious personal attack against her erstwhile opponent, Glenn Eckhart. She accused his campaign of launching an anti-Semitic whisper campaign directed at her.
Yesterday, I posted LC Comm'r Andy Roman's explanation for his poor meeting attendance. He failed to make the sale with me. But recently re-elected Glenn Eckhart, known affectionately as Comm'r No, was more persuasive. I think I was wrong to have called him a showhorse. Here's what he tells me.
Not very long ago, a candidate would never dream of asking an elected official or other candidate to dig into his own campaign fund for money. In these different times, office seekers felt they had an obligation to those financing their campaigns to restrict those funds only for their own political quests. In recent years, all that has changed, and it's now rather routine for candidates to give each other this monopoly money. Most of the time, it's pretty innocent. But when an elected official uses donated money to solidify and expand his power base, it's time to pay attention.
Last Thursday, Northampton County Council unanimously adopted a resolution asking Lt. Governor and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to reverse himself on scheduling a special election in the 24th Senatorial District on September 29th. It would be much cheaper to simply wait 35 days and conduct the special election along with the general.
Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart must have had Wheaties for breakfast today. He's decided to take on the heavyweights within his own party, urging Lt. Governor and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to reverse a decision to hold a special election in the 24th Senatorial District on September 29th. 
OK, I lied a a little bit about yesterday's trip to Allentown's Scottish Rite Center. LC Comm'r Dean Browning really did meet me at the door. I never was forced to eat haggis. There really were free sandwiches, and from Primo's, too. Finally, there really was a news conference starring three of Lehigh County Commissioner candidates - incumbent Glenn Eckhart (facing Hillary Kwiatek in District 5); Allentown School Board Prez Bob Smith (opposing appointee David Jones in District 3); and Mike Welsh (challenging incumbent Dan McCarthy in District 3). Chairman Percy Dougherty (District 2), on vacation celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary with his lovely bride, was unable to make it. Neither could candidate Tom Creighton (District 1), who was unable to get away from his job.
Ever meet Lehigh County Commish Glenn Eckhart? Take a look at the picture, where he's trying to pretend he's some badass, like he's running for Sheriff or something. True, he's big enough to be an NFL lineman. But if you look closely enough at his picture, you'll see the hint of a smile. The Glenn Eckhart I know is a big, jovial man with a warm smile and a little twinkle in his eye, kinda' like a young Santa Claus. 
Yesterday, I told you that Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart has graciously offered to foot the bill for security during the final two weeks of basketball games played by kindergarten through third-graders at Salisbury Township's Truman Elementary. School officials are rightfully upset at the petty vandalism by older kids who enter the building during games and have demanded this precaution.
My grandson, who is in third grade, loves basketball. He plays on two different teams and insists on wearing a headband, even though it barely fits his head. As you might imagine, these are typically low-scoring games, but the kids really enjoy an excuse to run around during cold winter months. At the same time, they learn a little sportsmanship. ... I think.
