Former GOP Council Member Running for NorCo Controller

Former NorCo Council member Hayden Phillips, 66, is seeking the Republican nomination for County Controller. That position is currently held by Richard "Bucky" Szulborski, who is stepping down at the end of the year. Easton Controller Tony Bassil has already declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination.

The controller is an independently elected official responsible for the internal control of the county's financial transactions. He may audit county departments or outside agencies receiving county funds. He can audit on his own initiative. The annual salary is $65,000.

Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Phillips attended and graduated from Meyers High School. He earned earned a BS Degree from Mansfield State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lehigh University.

He spent much of his career in the Technology Service Industry, gaining expertise in Project, Program and Portfolio Management. He retired from Hewlett-Packard with 25 years of service. He continues to teach classes in Project and Portfolio Management as an Adjunct Instructor at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

In addition to his business experience, Phillips has served his country as a United States Marine. He has 27 years of combined active and reserve service. He retired with the rank of Colonel.

He previously held elected office, holding an “at large” seat on Northampton County Council for four years, during the period 2014 -2017.

His campaign announcement states that Phillips "was known as hardworking and conscientious. He earned a reputation as independent and non-partisan. He looked at the facts and made decisions only on what he felt was for the good of Northampton County."

Ordinarily, I would disregard this as puffing. But I happen to agree. He has a conscience and was more than willing to stand up to a Republican Executive when he thought it was going in the wrong direction.

Despite his independence, he was defeated in 2017 in a blue wave that swept many local Republicans out of office statewide. Because local newspapers provide little coverage of county government, to say nothing of the persons who seek election, there is an increasing tendency to just vote the party instead of the person. On the other hand, voters like divided government 

Though fiscally conservative, Phillips has also been criticized for proposing a tax hike during his first year in office. He was acting on the basis of dire financial predictions about the county's finances, which later proved to be inaccurate.

Phillips and his wife have resided in Lower Nazareth Township, PA. since 1993. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.

The Colonel Gets the Blogger Vote

Five Republicans and five Democrats are seeking five Northampton County Council seats this November. West Easton's Mat Dees and I are both Democrats. We are also fellow bloggers. I'd say that we are probably both centrists who lean a little to the left. But this November we will be voting for someone who once described himself to Lamont McClure as a "proud" tea party member. The Colonel. He's also known as Hayden Phillips.

Indisputably, he is Council's most conservative member. He is also Council's most accountable member. He is also Council's most accessible member. He has frequently displayed a rare quality to see in any politician - a conscience. He is Council's hardest working member. He attended 77 of 80 Council and committee meetings in 2016, giving him a 96% record. And he really is a Colonel. He retired at that rank from the USMC.

Matt Dees was shocked to return home today and find a note from Phillips as he went door-to-door in West Easton. He is impressed that a County Councilman "would bother with our little borough." As Dees explained, Phillips already had his vote.

But people like to be asked.

Nazareth Zoning Change Draws Rebuke From Hayden Phillips

Hayden Phillips

At their May 2 business meeting, Nazareth Borough Council unanimously voted to advertise changes to their Zoning ordinance that will essentially ban first floor apartments in the business district. Though Northampton County Council has no say in these local decisions, Council member Hayden Phillips nevertheless took a swing at what he calls a "a heavy-handed" ordinance at a recent Council Committee meeting.

"I really don't like when government officials tell business people who are investing their money, their maintenance - they're actually putting their skin in the game - and then have an official tell them, 'That's not the best use of your building.' I think a businessman who is coming up with $1.5 million for a building, he probably is in a good position to day, 'Yeah, this is what we should build for.'"

Ordinances that ban apartments on the first floor of business districts are rather common in urban environments.

As explained by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission,

"Mixed use buildings are most appropriate in town and village centers, whether existing or part of a planned mixed use development. ... [T]hey represent a means of increasing the intensity of the use.

"Live-work buildings are a specialized kind of mixed use buildings. The concept is that the first floor would contain the store, office or business. The floors above would provide the living quarters for the proprietors and their families. The arrangement provides convenient access between work and home. Typically, live-work buildings are listed as a separate permitted use within the list of allowed uses."

Bethlehem is one such community. DCED Deputy Director Amy Burkett rather smugly dismissed Phillips's concerns, and went on to say that Bethlehem's next tricks will be "landlord training" because government knows best. She even told this rugged individualist that she wants everyone on the same page. Phillips rather politely let her go

DCED Director Alicia Karner was a little better, telling Phillips it is "more profitable" to concentrate businesses and on the first floor.

Nazareth's lance Colondo and John Samus

Nevertheless, Phillips has a very valid point. Zoning does place limits on what a property owner may do. While a restriction on first floor apartments might be a good idea in Bethlehem's business district, does it make sense in Nazareth?

Ray Orwig, who owns a lot of the properties in the business district, is justifiably concerned, He told Council that many of those buildings are long and narrow buildings. While it might make sense to ban apartments on the front of the property, how about the rear? .Solicitor Al Pierce, who was doing his best to avoid discussing the matter, ultimately stated that Orwig could seek relief from a zoning hearing board.

This totally defeats the whole point. The ordinance, if Nazareth Borough Council wants it, should be crafted in such a way as to minimize zoning appeals, instead of encouraging requests for variances. The oirdionance should be amended before adoption.

In addition to a disdain for business owners, Nazareth Borough Council and Council member John Samus, in particular, have an animus against citizens who own no real estate. This is an anti-tenant ordinance, At a recent meeting, Samus went so far as to instruct all members of the audience who own real estate to raise their hands. When I failed to do so, he specifically asked me to confess that I own no real estate. His attitude betrays a classism in which only the landed gentry matter.

Despite the snobbery of Nazareth Borough Council, this is probably a good idea. But the proposed ordinance should be amended to address Orwig's concerns and also, to allow a residential use in a business district first floor so long as the resident is using an adjacent building for commercial purposes.

At one time, not all that long ago, Nazareth Floral was located on Main Street, and the owners of that business lived in the adjacent home. There is also an optometrist who lives in one building and conducts her business next door.

Permitting this kind of use would still serve the goal of live-work buildings.

NorCo Controller Race Stretching Campaign Dollars

Steve Barron on the left and Hayden Phillips on the right. Dean Browning is referee.  

Northampton County Controller's race pits incumbent Steve Barron, a Democrat, against challenger Hayden "The Colonel" Phillips, a Republican. Both candidates are going to have an opportunity to demonstrate who is best at running a campaign with limited funding. The federal investigation into pay-to-play in Reading and Allentown has made potential contributors think twice. For that, many mailmen will be thankful as election day approaches. So how are the candidates reaching the voters.

Barron appears to be making heavy use of technology. He has been placing Facebook ads strategically that are designed to reach a targeted audience. He also purchased an auto dialer and is using it to reach super voters and for polling.

Phillips appears to be relying heavily on a grass roots effort based on supporters from the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, along with mainstream Republicans.

The Colonel is Running for Controller

(Incumbent Controller Steve Barron, far left; challenger Hayden Phillips, far right; and referee Dean Browning in the middle. Though Barron and Phillips oppose each other, they were kind enough to pose for a picture together.)

As expected, Northampton County Council member Hayden Phillips, filed the paperwork on August 19 to make official his candidacy as the Republican nominee for County Controller. Ron Angle, who won the primary election on the basis of a write-in vote, withdrew from the race on August 7 for personal reasons. Phillips was the unanimous choice of the County GOP Executive Committee. In fact, Angle nominated Phillips as his successor.

Phillips, who refers to himself with some pride as a tea party conservative, has established a reputation for thoughtfulness and independence in his two years on Council. His capital improvements committee has focused on establishing maintenance plans for long-neglected county property. "Say what you're going to do, do it, and prove that you did it," has been his simple but effective mantra.

He sided with Democrats over contracts proposed by Executive John Brown for both business and press relations consultants.

He also spearheaded the one-mill tax hike narrowly approved by Council last year.

Phillips is held in high regard by his fellow Council members. In fact, Democrat Ken Kraft is the one who gave Phillips his nickname as The Colonel. Phillips wears no white suits, but served in the U.S, Marine Corps, and retired as a Colonel in 2003.

Phillips has a bachelor's degree from Mansfield University and a master's in Business Administration from Lehigh. He recently retired as a project manager in the information technology industry.

Incumbent Steve Barron is the Democratic nominee. He is seeking a third term. He is a graduate of Widener University and its School of Law. He is also a certified fraud examiner who occasionally assists the District Attorney in white collar crime.

Barron has the distinction of drawing the ire of both Republican Executive John Brown as well as his predecessor, Democratic Executive John Stoffa. His recent audit of a treatment program at the jail refuted boasts that it was ending recidivism,.One of his audit findings showed that two persons who were supposedly free of new offenses were in fact residents at the jail. This led to the termination of a $5 million contract.

You can read more about this race in a story written by Tom Shortell for The Morning Call.

Is Hayden Phillips Going to Primary John Brown?

Though I probably disagree with him philosophically on most issues, Hayden Phillips has been a pleasant surprise on Northampton County Council. He has often stood alone among Republicans in opposing John Brown excesses. He also has been very effective at getting a grip on the County's capital projects by insisting on a three step nuts-and bolts approach: tell me what you're going to do; do it; prove than it's done.

There's a rumor circulating among Republicans that he intends to oppose John Brown should he seek re-election to Executive in two years. I have no idea whether he'll confirm this interest, but am passing along what I hear.

Hayden Phillips Says No to Butterflies

When he ran for Northampton County Council, Hayden Phillips was one of very few politicians willing to speak out against open space. This is one of Northampton County's sacred cows. When he starts talking about Agenda 21, he loses me. But the points he made last night are consistent with his campaign and are views obviously held by the people who elected them.  He was the sole No vote against four open space projects totaling $698,000. Those projects went through the Open Space Committee on Monday with no dissent. They all require municipal matches.

Phillips was absent from Monday's discussion, but he participated heavily in the discussion of the $715,200 Deana Zosky contract the following day. He opposed it, even though it had been proposed by a fellow Republican.

Phillips recalled the words of other Council members and even the Executive, who spoke in terms of "bleeding money." "Everyone agreed that financially, we're the Titanic.," he observed. "Reject these proposals," he urged. "Put this money aside so we have it in August. You vote for this, you're voting for a future tax increase."

Other Council members had different views. Peg Ferraro noted that voters overwhelming supported sending $39 million in an open space referendum eight years ago. Werner called it a "core County function." Glenn Geissinger and Ken Kraft both argued that these initiatives actually attract business, which increases revenue. Scott Parsons said that, without County assistance, municipalities would have to pay for these projects themselves and would have to raise taxes even higher.

I thought Phillips head was going to roll off his shoulders when they began discussing the butterfly habitat in Upper Mount Bethel Township, but he kept his cool.

Lamont McClure, who supported these proposals, suggested it is time to stick to environmentally significant land and hybrid properties that might have aspects of farmland, sensitive land and parks.

Hayden Phillips Says No to Open Space

Birds of a feather ...

I've been told that Northampton County Council candidate Hayden Phillips has no intention of answering my questionnaire. Since I've been highly critical of his candidacy, I can't say I blame him. He was at last night's Executive debate, sitting at the end  of tea party row. It was full of the far, far, far right side of the GOP.

Unfortunately for Phillips, I have a radio interview he did with WAEB's Bobby Gunther Walsh.

In this interview, he tells Walsh he opposes funding for open space. He thinks County workers should pay more for their health care.  He is unwilling to take a "No Tax Hike" pledge.

NorCo Council Candidate Hayden Phillips and Agenda 21

Hayden Phillips invited you to his event: Agenda 21 Friday, September 20 at 7:00pm at Charles Chrinn Community Center Matthew Dietz, Michael Morey and 4 others are guests.

Time to break out the tin foil hats, folks!!

Hayden Phillips Cancels Sam Rohrer Fundraiser

On Monday, I told you that NorCo Council candidate Hayden Phillips was planning a fundraiser this Friday, hosted by former gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer, a tea party favorite. Rohrer believes that drivers' licenses are an infringement on our personal liberties.

Phillips has just canceled this fundraiser.

But he still has Andy the Clown.

Andy the Clown For Hayden Phillips

Over the years, I've been no darling to the Democrats. I've supported as many Republicans as Democrats, think Obamacare is a fraud and consider fiscal conservative Ron Angle one of my best friends.

But Northampton County's Hayden Phillips, like Lehigh County's Scott Ott, scares the shit out of me.

Hayden Phillips, a Republican, is one of ten candidates seeking five seats on Northampton County Council. He's campaigning hard, and finished second in the primary. His amiable style and hard work is wining him support. So is his name. Many people mistakenly believe he is part of the Phillips Feed Company, a well-respected family business in Northampton County. He's not. Make no mistake. He is an extremist. What's worse, he's surrounded by other extremists.

You can see him pictured with former Norco GOP Chair Bob Kerr, who was forced to resign when his dictatorial style got him in trouble with party regulars like Lee Snover, Dottie Niklos, Peg Ferraro and even Ron Angle.

Andy the Clown for Phillips

But Kerr and his minions are behind Phillips. These include Andy Azan, who apparently runs a business holding himself out as Andy the Clown. A religious clown, too, with a cross emblazoned on his forehead and Biblical references elsewhere.

So Phillips gets the carnie vote.

In addition to the Jesus clown, Phillips' Facebook page lists supporters which include all the tea party extremists who are aligned with Kerr. These include Tony Simao, Tom Carroll, Bryan Eichfeld and pistol-packin' Tricia Mezzacappa.

OK, so the nuts support him, so what? Well, his views are nutty, too. A YouTube campaign speech, filmed by tea party nut Wayne Schissler before the primary race, makes that abundantly clear, Phillips stated that people "on welfare" can put together $68,000 in benefits. This is obviously untrue, but certainly salves the conscience of those who want to cut the safety net that has existed since the days of FDR.  Phillips actually spoke in opposition to regionalism, favoring two smaller messes over one big mess. I guess we should forget about 911, emergency management and combined first responders. Phillips makes clear he will  push "individual gun rights" and examine UN Agenda 21. He's fighting against "the swell of liberalism" and the "press, propping them up."

Now comes word that Super Conservative Sam Rohrer is hosting a campaign dinner for Phillips this Friday for $75 a pop. A former gubernatorial candidate, Rohrer is the lunatic who actually told a judge, in writing, that she had no authority to suspend a driver license because the state Vehicle Code has no application to an individual.

"Within an individual's right to liberty is the inherent right to travel. If one's movement can be restrained, such restraint is intrinsically a restraint on his liberty. {My constituent's] use of an automobile is simply an extension of his personal liberty to move about as he wishes."

Individual rights.

In June. Phillips spoke glowingly of an "informative" Rohrer speech to the LV Tea Party on "limited government and individual rights." Phillips actually introduced this wing nut, calling him a "man of principle." Rohrer said he was there at Phillips' invitation.

Is Hayden Phillips a Scott Ott Disciple?

Scott Ott and Hayden Phillips

Lehigh County Executive candidate Scott Ott would allow 85 year-old women to starve rather than borrow money for their meals from the Commies. His fans don't like it when I point this out, but that's pretty much exactly what he said when he voted to refuse CDBG funding that would feed our seniors. I gave him an opportunity to explain himself, but he has yet to respond to my request.

Northampton County Council candidate Hayden Phillips was at Scott Ott's fundraiser over the weekend. Given his Agenda 21 views and outright opposition to regionalism, I am concerned that Phillips and Ott might very well be two peas in a pod.

One of the questions I've posed to Council candidates asks whether they would reject CDBG funding.

Hayden Phillips Will Stop Agenda 21 in Northampton County

Lower Nazareth resident Hayden Phillips, a political newcomer, did quite well among Republicans seeking one of five seats on Northampton County Council. He attracted 4,743 votes in the May 21 Primary, second only to Peg Ferraro. Personally, he seems very likable. For example, he calls his 30-year marriage "the easiest thing I've ever done." But I can think of few people worse than him in a regional government devoted almost entirely to human services. I learned that by viewing a YouTube speech he gave prior to the primary.

For one thing, he resents the idea of helping the less fortunate. "Every tax dollar spent on a person who doesn't earn it comes out of the pocket of a person who does earn it," he explains. That's certainly true, and that's why we have human services. While he concedes there should be a social net, but claimed he recently heard that in Pennsylvania, welfare benefits are $68,000. He claims that's why people don't work.

That's simply ridiculous. If he wants to justify hurting the most vulnerable members of our society, he should try to provide more factually accurate information. The truth? Nearly 1/4 of Easton and Bethlehem are at or below the poverty level. One out of every five American children (that's American) does not have enough food to eat. There are five "food deserts" in the Lehigh Valley, all in urban areas. That does not happen when welfare recipients are getting $68,000 a year.

Had Phillips done just a minimal amount of research, he'd realize that figure is the result of a 2011 study that claims that "a family with two full-time wage earners and two children needs nearly $68,000 a year to afford fundamentals like housing, utilities, food, health care, transportation, saving for retirement and child care."

In addition to opposing help for the the $68,000 per year poor, Phillips is opposed to regionalism. He started that discussion in the context of a Bi-County Health department.  I and many others were unwilling to support that effort at regionalism because large, well-funded, hospitals, which would benefit, were unwilling to make any cash contributions. But Phillips is actually opposed to the concept of regionalism.

"I never liked the idea of putting two units together, two smaller messes into one big mess, and then try to manage the big mess. I've always had much more luck managing the smaller messes."

If this is so, Phillips should be stick to the smaller mess. He should be running for Township Supervisor, not County Council. Under his thinking there would be no regional police departments, no matter what strain it puts on small municipalities. There should be no regional emergency management, though Scott Parsons just explained at the last Council meeting that borough governments simply are unable to provide the personnel. There should be no regional water or sewer authorities. Government should be as fragmented as possible.

The he started talking about Agenda 21, gun rights and a host of other issues that have nothing to do with County government. Finally, he warned about the "swell of liberalism" and a "press behind them, propping them up."

Nice guy or not, he's an extremist.