Check Out LWV Voter Guide

If you want to know more about the candidates, check out the League of Women Voters Voter Guide. For Lehigh County candidates, the Voter Guide is on the main page.

I had a good laugh when I saw the information provided by Tricia Mezzzacappa, who is again running for West Easton Borough Council. Under occupation, she claims to be an "animal rights activist." And in her own commentary, she states that West Easton has been led "by very, very stupid people."

I guess she's hoping that the voters are very, very stupid, too.

LWV Voter Guide Available Online

The Northampton County LWV Voter Guide is now available online. It's a helpful resource for those trying to learn more about the candidates in a crowded County Council race.  Neither Jason Toedter nor Tricia Mezzacappa provided a rely to the LWV.

LWV: How To Run For Public Office Handbook

From my friends at the Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters:

Thinking of running for local office this year? Circulating a petition to get on the ballot begins this Tuesday, February 19. To many, running for local office can be a daunting task.

In order to assist candidates through this complex process, the League of Women Voters of Lehigh and Northampton Counties has created a Running for Local Office Handbook. It is designed to give someone thinking of running for local office, or working on a friend’s campaign, an understanding of how to qualify for local office and how to manage the campaign.

This “How To” handbook contains essential information designed specifically for candidates in local elections in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, including:

1. Instructions for Circulating Nomination Petitions
2. Local Elected Office Job Descriptions
3. Important Election Dates to Remember
4. Signature Requirements & Filing Fees
5. Sample Financial Interests, Petition, Political Committee Registration, and Campaign Finance Statement forms
6. Campaign Planning, Tactics, Organization, Finance, and Tips
7. Working with the Media

The cost of the Running for Local Office Handbook is $35.00; it can be obtained by contacting Ann Bartholomew at (610) 967-3653 or lwvlvehigh@yahoo.com .

Lehigh Valley offices up for election in 2013 are:

County Offices
Mayor, City / Borough
City Council
Borough Council
Township Supervisor
Township Commissioner
School Director
Magisterial District Judge

LWV Calendar Girls and Election Workshop This Saturday

Tired of complaining? Thinking of running for local office yourself? Well, you're in luck because The League of Women Voters of Lehigh and Northampton Counties will host 6th biennial “Running for Local Office Workshop” this Saturday.

Where? The Kiva Building, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Time? 8 AM (Are they our of their minds?) to 12:30 PM.

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa really likes this workshop, which gives you the nuts and bolts on running for the municipal offices coming up next year. I understand he flunked ... twice, but got elected anyway. In fact, he broke just about every damn rule out there. He promised a tax increase, planted a few signs here and there and went to the movies on primary night. Some say he sold his soul to the Devil, but Ron Angle denies it.

What do ordinary mortals learn?
✓ How to Start, organize, and manage a campaign
✓ How to Do the legal paperwork,
✓ How to Work with a committee
✓ How to Work with the press
✓ What techniques have worked successfully for others
✓ A whole lot more.

You'll get tagged $45. But you get a workbook to take home as well as their 2011 Calendar Girls. I've got Miss April above, who is posing with some of Ron Angle' sheep. When she was asked whether Angle hit on her, she replied, "Naaaaaaaaaa."

You can get additional, and more factual, information and and an application form at the League website. Or you can call Ken Mohr at 610-282-1921.

The LV LWV is Looking For a Few Good Questions

Santa Shillea and the LV League of Women Voters have gone to great lengths to schedule a Northampton County Candidates' Forum on Tuesday, May 5th, 7 PM, at The Northampton County Courthouse, Easton, Pa. Candidates for County Council and Executive will be on hand. Whether this event succeeds depends on you.

I've attended several of these extravaganzas over the years when I've had trouble sleeping. They've been disasters, with lousy formats and officious moderators who are obviously Tempo cast rejects. Two years ago, one of the moderators actually had a black whistle around her neck and asked goofy questions about state and township roads, which has nothing to do with county government. There was no real debate; candidates could not address each other. The audience was given little white cards for questions, but only softballs were permitted. No heaters. The net result was a snoozefest.

That changed late last year, at the Grave Cellar debate between Pennsylvania state representative Bob Freeman and challenger Ron Shegda. An audience member who didn't like Freeman's answer to a question about diabetes got all worked up, called Bob a "smooth talker like Obama" and a "son of a bitch." He kept getting closer and closer to Freeman until the church sexton began performing an exorcism. Bob was very nearly assaulted, people were screaming and a cleric was ready to knock someone out. Now that was my kind of debate!

This year, the LWV is trying something different. They're soliciting questions from you NOW. You can send them directly to lwvnorco@yahoo.com or, if you prefer, you can post your questions here. I'll forward them to Santa myself.

I've written hundreds of questions over the years and have yet to have a single one posed. I've been told most of them are just too negative. But I came really close at the Grave Cellar debate. My question was on deck, and would have followed the diabetes dude. But I withdrew it, knowing I had been topped. I personally think that Diabetes Dude was a LWV set up.

I doubt he'll make a return appearance, but the Northampton County Bulldog is threatening to come out of his bunker.