Emrick Launches Negative Mailer Against Warren

Joe Emrick is the incumbent State Rep for the 137th legislative district. That includes Bethlehem Tp, Palmer Tp the Nazareth area and a slice of Hanover Tp. He's been challenged by Democrat Jeff Waren, a former Easton City Council member, Hanover Tp Supervisor and a current member of NorCo County Council. 

I recently received a negative mailer from Emrick about Warren, and I want to discuss ir because it is false.

I'm no fan of either candidate. Emrick refuses to speak with or even respond to media inquiries and is known for refusing to meet with constituents who are Democrats. Warren will talk to anyone, but that's his problem. He is a blowhard. 

During his stint on County Council, Warren was first a rubber stamp for Lamont McClure and now is performing that role for Tara Zrinski. He actually had a problem with an oversight committee for Gracedale and said he wanted that word removed, apparently completely unmindful that one his many roles on Northampton County Council is to provide oversight. He actually called Gracedale's provisional license a "slight mishap."

Despite this record, Warren has never been a proponent of higher taxes or more warehouses. Last year, he was among Council members who refused to go along with the suggestion that a tax hike was needed, even though it probably is. He also has opposed tax breaks for possible warehouses, though he supports them for luxury apartments. 

Emrick knows his negative mailer is false. He fails to cite a single instance of Warren supporting higher taxes or more warehouses. 

There are lots of reasons to attack Warren, but these are not among them. 

Jeff Warren to Challenge Joe Emrick For Pa. State House

Jeff Warren and Tara Zrinski

Jeff Warren, a NorCo Council member elected in 2023, announced at a Tuesday night fundraiser, that he plans to challenge GOP State Rep. Joe Emrick in the 137th legislative district. This seat encompasses the three Nazareths (Upper, Lower and Boro), Bethlehem Tp and a portion of both Palmer and Hanover Tp. 

He explains that he's running because "Harrisburg is filled with politicians who are extremely out of touch with what working folks, families, seniors, and children actually need and want." But what is he if not a politician? His undergrad degree from Penn State? Political science. He's worked as a staff assistant for the US Congress, was an aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola and has been a campaign manager for Tara Zrinski. He's also held office with Easton City Council and Hanover Tp's board of supervisors. 

The one thing he has going for him is that Joe Emrick is thoroughly unlikable, even among members of his own party. But he's hard to beat. He handily defeated Anna Thomas in 2024 even though she spent $1.4 million to topple him. In contrast, Emrick spent $311,000.

Warren told WFMZ-TV69 that "Northampton County deserves a better advocate for working folks, families, children, and our local communities." But do county corrections officers, 911 workers and the nursing staff at Gracedale consider him an advocate for them?

On NorCo Council, Warren has been known as one of Executive Lamont McClure's leading advocates. He has also introduced several nonbinding resolutions concerning matters like mass transit funding and a cap on rental fees charged in what we refer to as trailer parks. He has also pushed for more mental health funding and cosponsored a county ordinance that requires feminine hygiene products in all county-owned ladies' and family restrooms. 

Pa. 137: Thomas Outraises Emrick 14.5 to 1, With a $600,510.70 Warchest

Anna Thomas, who is seeking to upset incumbent Joe Emrick in the race for state representative in Pa. 137, has raised won the money race, outraising Emrick 14.5 to 1. She raised $290,633.70 and has received $309,877 in in-kind contributions, giving her $600,510.70 in the closing days of the race. In stark contrast, Emrick has raised $39,930 and has received $1,413.33 in in-kind contributions for a total of $41,343.33.

Her largest contributor appears to be the "Leaders We Deserve" PAC, a grassroot dedicated to electing younger progressives to the US Congress and state legislatures. Emrick's largest contributors appear to be Republican state legislators in safe seats as well as, oddly enough, money from trade unions. 

I have previously told you that Emrick is known for being nonresponsive to the public. An example of this appears in Armchair Lehigh Valley's report on the race. He refused to even respond to two requests for an interview. 

Updated 10:40 am: In my original version of this story, I incorrectly stated that the amount Anna received exceeds NorCo's proposed budget. I was off by a factor of 100. I apologize for my poor math. I can't help it. I'm a Democrat.  

Anna Thomas Poised to Upset Joe Emrick in Pa 137, Take Aim at Warehouse Proliferation

Pa. House District 137 includes Bethlehem Township, Hanover, Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth, Nazareth, and Tatamy. Republican Joe Emrick currently represents the district, and has done so for the past 14 years. But if the mailbox and internet ads mean anything, it's quite clear that incredible resources are being poured into the race to ensure that Democrat Anna Thomas pulls off an upset I live in this district and can tell you her mail pieces are flooding my inbox. Her ads are all over YouTube. She's even opened a campaign office at 35 Belvidere Street in Nazareth. On Friday, she met Governor Josh Shapiro there. On Saturday morning, a small army of canvassers met with her before going out to canvass the district. 

This is Anna's second campaign for Emrick's seat. In 2022, she came within 750 votes of unseating him, with virtually no money and no support. That's because Emrick is particularly unlikable. His far-right agenda is one thing, but it's his personality that irks most people. He refuses to return calls, respond to emails and has been entirely closed off unless you're a fellow Republican. He can even get prickly with them. 

In contrast, Thomas makes clear on her campaign webpage that who you are matters more than your party. "Good ideas come from both Republicans and Democrats, and Anna will serve the people of Pennsylvania, not the agenda of any political party or special interest group."

Thomas is a graduate of Freedom High School and Wellesley College, where she majored in chemistry. She also has a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Pa. More importantly, she has ideas. 

Today, I'd like to share her plan to stop warehouse proliferation. 

She notes that there are actually two kinds of warehouses, agricultural and e-commerce (often called "fulfillment centers"). 

She notes that agricultural warehouses are permitted by right on all farmland in Pennsylvania. "This makes sense because farmers need to be able to have places to put their crops and equipment," she observes. But e-commerce warehouses are different. They bring thousands of truck traffic trips a day, ruin local roads as well as what is left of the natural beauty of the Lehigh Valley. But as Thomas notes, they often get de facto approval because our zoning laws fail to distinguish between the two different kinds of warehouses.

What would she do? She'd work to update a zoning code first written in 1965 to distinguish agricultural from other warehouses. She'd also allow municipalities in a radius around a warehouse to be able to benefit from impact fees for road damages and other costs. As an example, she cites the warehouses built by Chrin in Palmer Tp near a Route 33 interchange. Those "fulfillment centers" primarily impact Tatamy, who has experienced a major surge in truck traffic and road damage. But that borough gets no impact fee money. 

What about Emrick? In February, he introduced legislation to give local voters the final say in whether a warehouse is approved. But that bill has only eight sponsors and is dying a slow death in some committee. And that's probably what he wants because he's been a warehouse supporter for years. 

In 2007, Emrick voted to change Upper Nazareth zoning to allow massive warehouse development. After that, he took in $19,300 from warehouse developer Charles Chrin between 2010 and 2017. Basically, he's been a warehouse enabler. 

Dave Mattei? No Way!

Mattei at a picnic

Earlier this year, State Rep. Joe Emrick was well on his way to another two years in the 137th state house district. For a second time, Democrats had failed to field someone to run against a hardcore conservative Republican with a lifetime 90% rating from the American Conservative Union. It's a district that does include conservative pockets in Palmer and the Slate Belt. But it also includes Democratic boroughs and increasingly Democratic Forks Township. Democrat Rich Grucela managed to keep the seat for ten years, so why no one wanted to challenge Emrick was a mystery. People like myself, who are unhappy with Emrick, were delighted when insurance salesman Dave Mattei stepped forward, out of nowhere, to run as a write-in candidate. We were conned.

For one thing, Mattei has never voted as a Democrat. He registered as an independent in 1997 and, over the next 19 years, has only voted sporadically. He didn't vote at all in 2014 or 2015. This year, he was unable to vote in the very primary in which Democrats happily wrote in his name because he was still registered as a Independent. So far as I can tell, he still is.

In addition to being an independent with a shaky voting record, Mattei has no real roots in this area. He is originally from Jersey, and moved into the Lehigh Valley some time in 1997. At first, he lived in Easton and Washington Township, then moved to Lehigh Tp for 14 years. He has only been in the Nazareth area for four years or less.

Why did he move to Pennsylvania from Jersey? It appears that he was fleeing debt. According to New Jersey Courts public access, actions were brought against him at F002217-92, F003270-93, F005758-96 and F008490-96.

Mattei getting chickens

While living in Easton, in what appears to be its West Ward, he worked at Home Depot in Whitehall, a rather strange occupation for a retired New Jersey state trooper. It was during this time that his emancipated daughter sought and obtained a Protection From Abuse Act Order against him. What set him off is unknown, but the incident included allegations of throwing his own flesh and blood across a room and dragging her down the steps by the ankles.

Mattei never contested the PFA.

In 2000, Mattei left Easton for the greener pastures of Lehigh Tp. He bought a home, and over the next 14 years, managed to rack up nine mortgages. According to Northampton County's civil index, Northampton Area School District also ended up filing two municipal liens (2007-ML-6826 and 2008-ML-8846) against him because he failed to pay his school tax bill. Unable to keep up with his mortgages, he gave his Lehigh Township home back to the bank. He also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (15-12857-ref) and, on 8/20/15, was granted a discharge.

That's how he ended up in Nazareth, just up the street from me.

Anyone can go through a bad stretch financially. But for Mattei, bad financial decisions appear to be way of life. It sure looks like that's what caused him to flee Jersey. Ringing up nine mortgages on one property in 14 years is also pretty stupid.

If he's unable to manage his own finances, how can he be expected to manage ours?

What would prompt a bankrupt Independent who only votes sporadically to want to be the Democratic champion? He certainly has no burning interest in issues. But he sure does like to eat.

He just filed a 6th Tuesday pre-election report for the period between 5/17/16 and 9/19/16, even though state house candidates have no such obligation. (You can see it here). In it, he claims to have raised $15,836.00 and has already spent $13,901.70,  a lot of it on dinners and lunches.

The Easton Area Democratic Committee gave an independent outside of the Easton area $3,000. He also collected $3,000 from the trade unions. He suckered Martin Guitar owner Christian Martin into giving him $500, and sucked money from poor Glenn Reibman, Rich Grucela and the Bobbsey twins, Pete Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg.

Mattei gets cake for intern

What has he done with this money?

Eat.

A lot.

He's a hungry guy and, in his defense, did have a family BBQ this summer. He must have really been famished on June 13. He was at Subway, the Trolley Shoppes Restaurant and the Leaf Cigar Bar, all in one day.

I'd say the Leaf and Mickey D's are his two favorites. He's been to each five times.

Mattei has also been to Nazareth Diner four times, Pizza Joe, Villa Grande Pizzeria, Pies to Die For, Dunkin' Donuts, China Wok, Pita Pit, Blendlife Smoothie and Juice Bar, Fairways Cafe, Rice 'n Beans, Little Corner Cafe, Xpresso Cafe, Diner 248, Baby Harry Coffee, Wok Box, Chestnuthill Diner, McDonald's, WaWa, Sam's Club for groceries, Tuscana Pizza and Whitetail Golf Club.

He even charged a meal in New Jersey at DeLucia's. He has also picked up between meal snacks at the gas station across the street from his office. And let's not forget the booze from the liquor store.

All told, he has spent $1,662.95 in campaign contributions on food, cigars and booze. Over 10 per cent of the money he raised is in his stomach.

This has to be some sort of record.

He must be loading up for the winter.

He did give $1,000 to Controller Steve Barron for robo calls and another $300 to Rich Wilkins for consulting. Barron won't say whether his deal includes an "all you can eat" clause.

So we Democrats have really done well. We have an independent with a spotty voting record and an even more shaky financial history to run against an entrenched, well-financed incumbent. He is using campaign finances to play big shot. He has no chance of winning. My chief concern is that Mattei might explode before the election.

Mattei is on the Way! This Thursday!

At this time, Joe Emrick is the State representative for the 137th legislative district in Pa. It's a slice of the eastern portion of the slate belt, and reaches into Stockertown, Tatamy, Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and includes a portion of Palmer Township. Though it's a republican seat, it was represented for ten years by Democrat Rich Grucela. Democratic write-in candidate Dave Mattei would like to pick up where Rich left off and actually represent the people instead of a consortium of lobbyists and developers like J.B. Reilly.

Dave's campaign kick-off will be this Thursday, 6 pm, at the Farmers' Insurance Office, located at 6 South Broad Street in Nazareth.

Mattei opened the Farmers Insurance agency in Nazareth four years ago, serves on the board of the Nazareth-Bath Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Nazareth Rotary. He lives in downtown Nazareth, not far from my estate, and I sometimes wave at him or have one of servants lift my arm and do it. He is a former New Jersey State Trooper.

This is his first run for political office.

Former State Rep. Rich Grucela is reportedly ready to offer his endorsement and support on Thursday.

Emrick Slams Voter Inside Polling Place

State Representative Joe Emrick is not exactly known for his transparency. He returns calls, I suppose, but only to those with money. His campaign finance reports would make make that clear, but they're hard to see. His year end report for 2015 only recently became available because he never bothers to file his reports electronically. He didn't even bother to file a paper version of his pre-primary report in his county of residence until I complained. He thumbed his nose at state law until he was contacted by elections officials.

Though he supposedly writes the laws, he does a pretty lousy job of following them. I want to tell you a story about his antics on election day because it tells you that he is a short-tempered bully who is perfectly willing to use the power of his office to intimidate voters.

I missed this story on election day and am only telling it now.

Becky Bartlett is an Upper Nazareth Township resident who cares about her community. She is the person who recently went through Farmview with her husband and a few others, filling 25 garbage bags.

She's also friendly with Dave Mattei, who decided to wage a write-in campaign against Emrick as a Democrat. So on election day, she stood outside the polling precinct at Upper Nazareth East (it's the municipal building) trying to get Dave a few votes from her friends and neighbors.

This is called core political speech.

Because she also happens to live and vote in that precinct, she eventually decided to go in and vote. She was careful to bring no campaign literature with her, being mindful that electioneering is prohibited inside the polling place. Her husband decided to vote around the same time, and walked in to vote after she did, and was separated from his wife by a few people.

While Bartlett waited her turn to vote, Joe Emrick pranced inside the polling place, even though he is a candidate and had no watcher certificate. He walked up to the election judge, and in a stage whisper, began to run down Bartlett, warning the election judge to "keep an eye" on her for illegal politicking. He was, of course, loud enough that other people in the room could hear, including Becky's neighbors. The people present included several of her neighbors.

Her husband could also hear, and must have shocked Emrick when he unloaded on him for improperly entering the polling place and attempting to intimidate voters

The tough guy left when he realized that Becky had a male protector.

The elections office eventually determined that Emrick had no poll watcher's certificate. Even if he did, his attempt to suppress the vote is completely illegal. He was later admonished by the Solicitor's Office, although at least one of them is a campaign contributor.

Who is allowed and what is not inside the polling place? Members of the election board, people with watchers' certificates, constables, police (if called by the judge of elections), people waiting to vote, people who are assisting voters who might have an impediment, elections department employees on official business and voting machine technicians. Candidates are not allowed inside the polling place until the polls close.

Newspaper reporters may not enter a polling place, and the use of cameras and phones is prohibited, except for elections workers calling the elections office.

Anyone engaged in partisan political activity must stand at least ten (10) feet from the entrance of the polling place.

Mattei Claims Write-In Victory in Emrick Race

Dave Mattei, a Nazareth businessman and retired New Jersey State Trooper who waged a last-minute write-in campaign against incumbent State Rep. Joe Emrick, is claiming victory. He believes he earned enough votes to be the Democratic nominee. Official word will have to wait until the votes are canvassed.  

Mattei Waging Write-In Against Emrick

I am more than a little disappointed to see that State Rep. Joe Emrick has no opposition in tomorrow's primary, and that no Democrat sought his party's nomination. Dave Mattei, a Nazareth insurance agent and former New Jersey State Trooper, must have been upset, too. But unlike me, he is doing something about it, and has formally announced his write-in campaign in the Democratic Primary tomorrow.

Mattei is asking Democrats in the 137th PA House District to write him in for Representative in the General Assembly, where there is currently no candidate on the Democratic Primary ballot. He needs to get at least 300 write-in votes to win the Democratic nomination and challenge Joe Emrick on the November ballot, and he has knocked on several hundred doors over the past two weeks to let Democrats know.

Dave Mattei opened the Farmers Insurance agency in Nazareth four years ago and serves on the board of the Nazareth-Bath Regional Chamber of Commerce. He recently moved to downtown Nazareth after several years in Washington Township and more than a decade in Lehigh Township, arriving in Pennsylvania after his first career as a New Jersey State Trooper.

Earlier this month, Mattei earned the “Spirit of Nazareth” award for his dedication to the local community. He helps regularly with events, volunteers at the weekly “Loaves and Fishes” soup kitchen, and recently rebuilt the Nazareth’s nativity scene with all parts and labor donated.

Mattei is tired of the partisan obstructionism and gridlock in Harrisburg that prevented a budget compromise, leaving Pennsylvanians nine months later with a budget that still does not balance, nor addresses the problems of restoring school funding or responsibly lowering property taxes.

Though Mattei has been registered with no party affiliation since locating in Pennsylvania two decades ago, he finds himself increasingly frustrated with the Republican legislature’s unwillingness to negotiate a compromise on key issues that affect nearly all Pennsylvanians. The first compromise budget proposal with a bipartisan majority was only blocked by Emrick’s Speaker of the House quick gaveling the session closed days before Christmas, and it nearly passed in spite of no support from Lehigh Valley Republicans.

“Joe Emrick is part of the problem, and I’m ready to be part of the solution,” Mattei said. “Residents from the Bangor area of the Slate Belt to Nazareth and the Easton suburbs deserve a leader, one who will reach across party lines to find broader compromise to do the business of Pennsylvania.”

To avoid a challenge that would force him to answer tough questions about his record and failure to compromise in Harrisburg, Republican Joe Emrick is trying to block any opposition for November by sending a glossy mailer to Democrats asking them to please write him in. Doing so would only have one purpose -- to prevent voters of the 137th District from having a choice in November.

Democrats in the 137th who want an honest discussion of what’s been going on (or rather, the dysfunction) in Harrisburg should write in DAVE MATTEI at this Tuesday’s Primary.

Because I've already voted absentee, I am unable to give Mattei a vote. But I ask every Democrat in the Nazareth - Palmer - Slate Belt district to do so.

Emrick has got to go. He is a poster boy for a complete lack of transparency in government.  I also understand that his constituent service is horrible because he refuses to give people more than three minutes of his time.

State Reps Emrick and Hahn Need More Transparency

Pennsylvania's Election Code (25 P.S. Section 3251) requires candidates for statewide office to file their campaign finance reports both with the State Bureau of Elections and in the elections office in the county where they reside. Thus, it was no surprise yesterday to see pre-primary reports filed by State Reps. Steve Samuelson ($0 in contributions), Bob Freeman ($0 in contributions) and Julie Harhart.($0 in contributions). Cindy Miller, who is running in the 183rd legislative district  to succeed Harhart, did file a copy of her campaign finance report in Northampton County, too. Though these are often called "courtesy" copies, they must be filed in the County where candidates live.

Zach Mako, who is running against Miler in the 183rd, failed to file a courtesy copy in Northampton County, where he happens to live.

Since he's a newbie and he did file electronically with the state, his rookie error is understandable. The public is still able to follow the money.

That's not the case with State Reps. Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick, both of whom live in this County. Neither bothered filing electronic reports because they don't want you to know what they're doing .... like backing Mako. They were banking on you finding out after the election.

But guess what? They also failed to file copies of the report in the County office, completely thumbing their noses at the transparency required by The Elections Code.

The only way you could see their reports is by travelling to Harrisburg.

I realize these back benchers are in Harrisburg primarily to build their pensions at collect their per diems, but they should follow the law.

The elections office has been notified of this attempt to keep the public in the dark, and has notified the offending state representatives to start following the laws they impose on everyone else.

NorCo Dem Boss Walt Garvin Makes Republicans Emrick, Hahn, Look Good

Incumbents Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick

The undercard for the big Presidential debate last night was a state house debate for the 137th and 138th legislative district seats currently held by Republicans Joe Emrick and Marcia Hahn, hosted by the Northampton - Monroe County Farm Bureau. I thought Emrick and Hahn were running against Joe Capozzolo and Leslie Altieri. Somebody should tell Northampton County Boss Man Walt Garvin. He was among the 25 or so people there, and posed a rambling and argumentative question, supposedly about partisanship, that made Emrick and Hahn look pretty good, while Garvin looked petty. In the process of doing so, he hurt the real challengers, who were doing just fine without his "help."

You can see the video here.

I gotta' tell you that I was about 15 minutes late. I always get lost on the roads around St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Plainfield Township. But I arrived just in time for the Walt Gravin show. His ranted about partisanship, fracking, voter ID and education cuts for over two minutes, refusing to allow any of the actual candidates to respond to his tirade.

"Is this the Walt Garvin show or is this a state house candidate debate?" I finally asked. The moderator then shut Garvin down. But the damage had been done. Garvin had just opened up a door that both Emrick and Hahn could drive through with a Mack truck.

Hahn was able to defend her own record.

"I was called to task with one of the newspapers even though I voted against the Congressional redistricting plan and went with the Democrats. I was still chided for it because they said, 'Oh, well, they gave me a bye.' Well, if you were there, and you would know how it worked, we didn't get a bye.

Emrick got in the best shots.

Challengers Leslie Altieri & Joe Capozzolo

"Thank you for demonstrating partisanship," he told Garvin. He could have ended it right there. But he instead corrected the party boss on his education claims.

"The reason that Republicans swept the state, to a large degree, is because they got sick and tired of the people in office, especially Ed Rendell, who increased spending 40% over 8 years, $8 billion, didn't out a dime in the transportation funding, we still face a $3.5 billion transportation shortfall. Mr. Rendell also took $4 billion in federal stimulus money, which is where that budget gap came from that we had to close. While he was taking a two year revenue stream of federal stimulus money that was supposed to be for shovel ready job creation, he was gutting the state's contribution to K-12 basic education, backfilling it with federal stiulus money that they knew was going to disappear in two years, the day he left office. So we come into office with a billion dollar gap in basic K-12 education finding.

"We had to back fill as much of that money as we could, knowing that we're in the heart of a brutal recession. ...

"How irresponsible was that? How do you spend $8 billion and not address the transportation needs of the state? So you want to know why the Democrats were swept out of office?"

Garvin: "No. That was not my question. That was not my question."

Emrick: "You don't have a question."

Joe Cap tried to deflect the damage Garvin had done.

"I don't really know what your question was, Walt," he said, as everyone started laughing. Cap pointed out that he has a history of bipartisanship. "I don't think either party is always right or the other arty is always wrong, he said, noting that his own family is split between the two major parties.

But after the debate, Cap was a little worried that Democratic photographer Michael Laws would snap a picture of him talking to me.

Leslie Altieri pledged she would be bipartisan, but unlike Cap, has no record of it one way or the other. She did agree that her opponent, Marcia Hahn, voted about redistricting,. But Leslie also pointed out that Hahn agreed to send the measure to the House floor.

Garvin? He took off. After his failed attempt to monopolize the dialogue, he lacked the courtesy to stick around and actually listen to what was being said.

Maybe he was giving Obama advice.

Then Joe Cap and Joe Emrick demonstrated their bipartisanship with this little exchange about Voter ID ... in Klingon.

Alrighty then.

Then they all agreed they love farmland preservation and oppose Sunday hunting.

Emrick and Hahan both support reforming prevailing wage laws, with Emricjk adding it would result in lower bids. Altieri is opposed to this, while Cap said he needs to study the issue.

Updated Wednesday, Midnight: Removed the videos and replaced them with links because they awere causing problems for some readers.

State Reps Joe Emrick and Marcia Hahn Schedule a Debate

The Northampton-Monroe County Farm Bureau invites you to attend a "candidates' night for the 137th and 138th Legislative Districts on Monday, October 22, 2012, at 7:30 pm.

It will take place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1422 Church Road, Pen Argyl, Pa. 18072. (if using a GPS use 1422 Delabole Road for the address).

This will feature 137th Legislative District candidates Joe Emrick (incumbent) and Joseph Capozzolo; and 138th Legislative District candidates Marcia Hahn (incumbent)and Leslie Altieri.

There was supposed to be a debate in Wind Gap last week, but only Joe Cap and Leslie Altieri showed. Emrick and Hahn told The Express Times they had given several weeks' notice of their unavailability, but Joe Cap nevertheless called Emrick a chicken.

They can argue whether the chicken or the egg should come first, or they might explain why Executive John Stoffa claims the legislature has done NOTHING to help county-owned nursing homes like Gracedale.

Capozzolo Says No to NIZ

Former Bangor Mayor and NorCo Council member Joe Capozzolo is seeking the Democratic nomination to State House District 137. The incumbent there is Joe Emrick.

This hodgepodge district includes the Slate Belt, but also extends all the way to Palmer Township. It even includes Nazareth, where I live. Capozzolo has answered my NIZ questions.

1) Do you support the NIZ? - No, although I do support revitilization of our downtowns, Allentown or Bangor.

2) Are you willing to repeal the Allentown tax grab under which the EIT of surrounding municipalities can be used to finance a hockey arena, and other improvements over a 30-year period? - Yes, but I need more information on the entire project.

3) Are you willing to impose a restriction that would prevent the poaching of other LV businesses within a 25-mile radius of the NIZ? - I don't think that is doable. I would need more info.

4) Are you willing to insist on a requirement that all new businesses moving into the NIZ agree to pay a living wage to its workforce? - "living wage" is a relative term. All wage laws should be followed.

Final thoughts: I think the whole project started off on the wrong foot. It seems the plan was hidden from the public. Sneaking anything into a budget bill is wrong, but happens often. I also don't like how an entire city block was taken from its owners and demolished.

When I get Joe Emrick's reply, I'll post it. NIZ Developer J.B. Reilly contributed $1,000 to Joe Emrick last year. Whether that has continued this year is unclear because Emrick's finance report are still unavailable online. Since state tax dollars and local EIT are financing the NIZ, I think we are entitled to some answers.

Simmons, Emrick Offer "the Truth" About Allentown NIZ

They call it the "truth" about the Allentown NIZ. But if this is so, State Reps. Joe Emrick and Justin Simmons must be clones. Both have sent identical emails to constituents in which, amazingly, both feel it "is critical to clarify some misinformation" concerning Allentown's hockey arena, the NIZ as well as Allentown's tax grab. Both releases are identical, word for word. Obviously, somebody wrote this missive for them.

Rather a strange way to tell the truth, don't you think?.    

Both also promise to explain what happens to the EIT generated in the NIZ. But neither do, except to say that if there is any "excess money," it will trickle down to other municipalities.

Instead of an honest explanation about what the hell happened, both pass off someone else's words as their own. They do both take a little shot at House Democrats in the process.

That part probably did come from their hearts.

Neither appears willing to repeal the EIT mechanism in the NIZ.

Here's their identical newsletter.

Feb. 3, 2012

The latest news from the State Capitol

The Truth about the Allentown Arena I feel it is critical to clarify some misinformation with regard to the Allentown ice hockey arena, the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) and what it does with the Earned Income Tax (EIT) generated by those employed in the NIZ. The NIZ was established and passed into law during the 2009 budget processbefore I took office. House Bill 1614, the legislation used to enact the 2009 Fiscal Code (part of the budget process), was supported by every House Democrat, as well as two House Republicans - Rep. Karen Beyer (R-Lehigh/Northampton) and Rep. Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia). I was in office last year to vote in favor of Senate Bill 907, the Fiscal Code legislation which put into place the following critical safeguards dealing with the NIZ:  •   The governing body of the zone (in this case the City of Allentown) was not able to “sit on” taxpayer funds, stating that if there was excess money in the NIZ fund, it will be distributed first to the state and then to the local municipalities.   • Safeguarding interest rates of the bonds that are issued. The Commonwealth is on the hook for these bonds, and in order to ensure the taxpayers received the best possible interest rates, we needed to clarify pledge language.   • Limiting the term of the bond financing to 30 years. We wanted to ensure that whenever the bonds were refinanced, that they were not extended beyond the initial 30-year period. These changes, which were opposed by all House Democrats, were made to cushion the impact of the NIZ and were the best that we could do with the arena project well under way.

Anybody Go to Dertinger-Emrick Debate?

On Tuesday night, State Rep opponents Charles "Don't Call Me Charlie" Dertinger and Joe "Creatine" Emrick squared off at Nazareth High School. I missed it, but if you were there, let us know what happened. Who won? Why? Did any of the candidates fart or burp or do something stupid?

Emrick has sent out negative mailers, attacking Dertinger as a wanton spendthrift who recklessly voted for a tax hike and increased spending during his tenure on County Council. This same charge could also have been hurled at some Republican members of Council. Sure, Dertinger is a bum, but not because he supported one, half mill, open-space tax hike. He's a bum because he had Council's lousiest attendance record, broke his word to slate belt voters, and was needlessly divisive. Amazingly, Emrick ignored legitimate criticism in favor of misleading you.

We have one helluva' choice in that race.

Emrick? Dertinger? Where's a Third Party Candidate When We Need One?

Arrogant. Spiteful. Mean-spirited.

Those are excellent qualifications for anyone interested in a rewarding career as a blogger, but they're not the first things we look for in an elected official. But that's exactly what we have in the race between Charles ("don't call me Charlie") Dertinger and Joe ("Got creatine?") Emrick. It's enough to make me pray for some third party candidate.

Here's the battleground: 137th Legislative District: (Boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Nazareth, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown, Tatamy; Townships of Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Palmer, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington).

Democrat: Charles Dertinger
Webpage located here.

When he was a member of Northampton County Council, he once told me he has no obligation to listen to a word I say because I own no real estate.

But suddenly, he cares about the little guy. On his Facebook page, he lets everyone know that Charles (Yes, he refers to himself in the third person) took a "strong stand on the need to preserve Gracedale Nursing Home, truly one of the jewels of our region, which is located in the center of the 137th district." Of course, this has nothing to do with his state house race or any deep-seated concern for teh elderly. His campaign finance reports this year make very clear that what he's really interested in preserving are those union jobs. You see, those unions are his real constituents, not you. Here's what he's raked in from through June 4 this year:

IBEW LU 5 3/8/2010 $250.00
IBEW LU 325 3/10/2010 $100.00
IBEW LU 712 3/29/2010 $100.00
IBEW LU 139 4/9/2010 $100
STEAMFITTER'S LU 1/29/2010 $500.00
LABORERS LOCAL 1174 2/4/2010 $500.00
PLUMBERS LOCAL 2/11/2010 $500.00
IBEW LU 1600 2/15/2010 $2,000.00
IBEW LU 102 2/22/2010 $1,000.00
IBEW LU 102 4/20/2010 $500.00
HEAT & FROST INSULATORS & ALLIED WORKERS LU 3/5/2010 $1,000.00
IBEW LU 3/5/2010 $1,000.00
IBEW LU 1249 3/8/2010 $300.00
IBEW LU 840 3/10/2010 $500.00
CEMENT MASONS LU 592 3/10/2010 $500.00
IBEW LU 456 3/17/2010 $300.00
IBEW COPE 3/20/2010 $2,500.00
PA STATE BUILDING & CONSTR. TRADES 4/28/2010 $1,000.00
CARPENTERS PAC - $500.00
PENNSYLVANIA AFL-CIO 5/1/2010 $500.00
IBEW LU 812 5/13/2010 $100.00
STEAMFITTERS LU 5/6/2010 $500.00
SHEET METAL WORKERS 5/10/2010 $500.00
IBEW LU 5/13/2010 $1,500.00
PLUMBER LU 5/24/2010 $650.00
IUPAT 5/29/2010 $2,500.00
REINFORCED IRONWORKERS RIGGERS & MACHINERY 6/1/2010 $500.00
WESTERN PA LABORERS 6/4/2010 $300.00
STEAMFITTERS LU 6/4/2010 $500.00

Incidentally, he's not worried at all about the rising costs of government pensions. He thinks we can just raid our rainy day funds, as he claims here.

If you want to hear how petty and divisive he can get during a council meeting, listen to the clip below. (Note: If you have an old dial up modem, click here, look for the 64Kbps M3U (Lo-Fi) at the left sidebar and you can stream the audio).

He's also lazy. In my annual review of Council attendance, Dertinger ties for last place in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He's third from the bottom in 2007.

Republican: Joe Emrick
Webpage locate here.

Instead of discussing any state government issues, Emrick uses his webpage to brag that he "strongly defeats" his primary opponent, who spent no money. He pretty much continues patting himself on the back at his Facebook page, where he has himself photographed standing next to the Lycoming College Athletic Hall of Fame. He's running for the state house, not to be captain of the football team.

His campaign finance for 2010 reveal practically no PAC money. But he is favored by local aristocrats Elmer "crabbypants" Gates ($500) and L. Anderson Daub ($3,500).

In January, he stormed out of a Republican Committee meeting when things went against him, even lashing out at Peg Ferraro.

He also thinks that submitting to an interview with a blogger is beneath him. But then again, so does Dertinger. Come to think of it, they're probably right.

In his favor, Emrick has cut taxes in Upper Nazareth Tp twice, and did get a webpage going in Upper Nazareth Township.

Note to Don Albanese: Use Yard Signs

Don Albanese, who ran against Joe Emrick in the 137th legislative district, is anti-sign. There were no Albanese signs advertising his campaign.

With all precints in, Albanese garnered just 780 votes to Emrick's 2666.

A yard sign or two might have helped.

Following the Money in the 137th

Yesterday, I told you about the campaign warchests of Charles Dertinger and Frank Scagliotta, the two Democrats seeking the seat held by retiring state rep. Rich Grucela. Dertinger raised $15,965 to Scagliotta's $3103. Nearly all of Dertinger's money comes from nonlocal unions.

What about the Republicans?

Don Albanese has raised a grand total of $2,175. Joe Emrick's warchest was four times larger. He raised $5,577 in addition to the $3,395.33 that was already in his kitty.

Neither Republican received any PAC money. They relied on mostly small, $100, contributions from family and friends. Republican Kingmakers L. Anderson Daub and Elmer Gates did kick in $1,800 to Emrick.

Both candidates bought two small ads and paid for a small mailer.

Dertinger raised more money than the other three candidates combined. Dertinger is the only candidate who accepted such huge sums of special interest money, raising questions about his independence.

All of these reports are available on the Department of State web page.

Do Campaign Signs Really Matter?

They seem to be some sort of security blanket to politicians. They all say they mean very little, but don't feel right unless every square inch of their voting district is covered with them. To be sure they reach everyone, some even go outside.

Northampton County Exec John Stoffa would go out after midnight with a little drill, planting signs like corn. He was one of those guys who went outside his district, planting signs at 3 AM in Allentown as the gangbangers would whizz by. No wonder he thinks the Queen City is unsafe. I planted a few for him around Nazareth, and he'd check after midnight to make sure they were in right. He nearly caught a goon one night, driving over his drilled in signs with a pick-up, but Angle got away.

After all that work, Stoffa would claim those damn signs don't mean that much anyway. Huh?

Don Albanese, who is squaring off against Joe Emrick in the 137th legislative district, is anti-sign. He told me they mean nothing and apparently means it. There are no Albanese signs.

One week from today, we'll see how that works out for him.

Grucela's Successor? Meet State Rep Candidate Don Albanese

Slate Belt resident Don Alabanese, a Republican, is running for the Pennsylvania state house seat being vacated by Rich Grucela. Alabanese is a Slate belt native who actually spent some years in the New Jersey Assembly. Rich tells me Don coached his kids in Little League baseball. When Don decided to run, Rich invited him to Harrisburg and gave him a tour.

Don has no web page, but his introductory video is located here. He proposes (1) a Constitutional amendment to limit state legislators to 8 years; (2) zero-based budgeting, "where each expenditure has to be justified"; and (3) an end to unfunded mandates, where the state imposes obligations on local government, but fails to provide the funding.

I will be interviewing Don in the next few days. I hope I can get you a picture Don's Republican opponent in the Primary, Joe Emrick, has unsurprisingly declined my request for an interview. Too bad. I have lots of questions for him.

Democrat Frank Scagliotta, a Bangor football coach, has also agreed to sit down with me. His Democratic opponent, Charles Dertinger, will do no such thing. He's ingored my request for an interview, but that's OK. I have lots of videos and audios.