Who Will Replace Ott?

Dean Browning

I told you yesterday that Scott Ott is resigning his seat on Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners. He's goin' where the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. But who will replace him on Lehigh County's Board where his successor, like he, must be a Republican. Three names have already surfaced.

Norma Cusick. - This Salisbury Township resident is reputedly being sponsored by Percy Dougherty. She's run before, in 2011 and 2013. She lost both races, but has served as a Salisbury Township Commissioner and on the Salisbury School Board. She is the mother of former Northampton County Council President John Cusick. Her husband, Dr. Richard Cusick, once ran for Congress as a Democrat.

Nathan Brown. - This Emmaus Borough Council member ran against Mike Schware in last year's primary, but lost. He believes Lehigh County is headed in the wrong direction under the so-called Reform Team formerly led by Scott Ott. Commissioner Brad Osborne is reputedly promoting this candidate.

Dean Browning. - A former Commissioner, Browning stood against a push by Ott, Wayne Woodman and others to force then Executive Don Cunningham to rework a budget that proposed a 16% tax hike. They did so knowing it was impossible and having done nothing themselves to cut costs. Dean, who met weekly with Cunningham to present the leanest budget possible that did not sacrifice services, refused to play along with the political panderers. It cost him his seat, but he kept his conscience.

If the man with a conscience seeks this seat, he should get the appointment.

Commissioner Vic Mazziotti is a great admirer of St. Thomas More. Dean Browning, not so much,.

But there are similarities. Thomas More was beheaded for following his conscience. Dean's head is still firmly planted on his shoulders, but his refusal to play politics certainly damaged, if not killed, his political career. Browning refused to "pin my soul to another man’s back, not even the best man that I know this day living: for I know not where he may hap to carry it.”

Dean refused to pin his soul to the Wayne Woodman and Scott Ott political machine. Now Ott is gone, and from what I hear, Woodman will resign as party boss.

Lehigh County could do far worse than to select a man with a conscience.

Does Mother Know Best About Bi-County Health?

Marge Peterson has a great story about Lehigh County Comm'r candidate Norma Cusick, a Republican, at Salisbury Patch. It takes real guts for a Republican to claim she supports a bi-county health department, especially right before a primary. Although I would never vote for or against a candidate based on a single issue, and actually oppose bi-county health as formulated, Norma's honesty would get my vote.

Interestingly, her son John, the President of Northampton County Council, has steadfastly voted against all bi-county health proposals so far.

Will she send John to his room?