Popular State Rep. Rich Grucela has decided, after ten years, that he's had enough of the land of midnight payraises. "It’s hard to pass a bill in Harrisburg. Quite honestly, it’s an insiders' game, and I was never one to play that," Grucela has said. Serving in the minority party for eight years certainly made things more difficult, and it must be disappointing when proposals for both a constitutional convention and unicameral legislature, are ignored. Grucela has co-sponsored legislation that passed.
Grucela's 137th legislative district includes Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Palmer, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington, Bangor, East Bangor, Nazareth, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown and Tatamy. Unlike most seats, which tilt Republican or Democrat, this one is fairly even.
When I first wrote about this last week, I told you that Democrats Charles Dertinger and Joe Capozzolo, as well as Republicans Joe Emrick and Donald Albanese, are mulling a run. Dertinger and Emrick are definites, and Dertinger this week is making his case to state leaders in Harrisburg.
I suspect Upper Nazareth Township Supervisor Joe Emrick would handily defeat Dertinger, who has only won once in five elections. Many local politicos must feel that way, too, because they are cajoling and begging Attorney and former state Rep. Joe Corpora to enter the fray.
In the meantime, Republican Ron Angle is now toying with the idea of making a run for the seat himself. His "take no prisoner" approach might be exactly what is needed in our hopeless state legislature. He has a way of taking on the powerful, and would certainly cast a glaring spotlight on its myriad of problems.
But having finally been elected Northampton County Council President after being ignored for ten years, Angle is in a bit of a conundrum, and is wondering where he could do the most good.
To me, this is a no brainer. He should run. I'd have material for years.
