Following the Money: Ray Lahoud Sole Source in Successful Challenge to Patti Bruno For NorCo Council

Though she has managed several political contests and should know better, Patti Bruno was removed from the ballot in this year's at-large race for the Democratic nomination to Northampton County Council.  She was removed because she failed to file her Statement of Financial Interests with the Clerk of County Council. Although she's waging a write-in campaign, her chance of success is remote. She needs at least 100 votes and finish in the top five of the five Democrats who already are on the ballot.  Her petition was challenged by former Upper Mount Bethel Tp Manager Ed Nelson but an independent expenditure report filed by Ray Lahoud makes clear that he, and not Nelson, funded the challenge on his own. He also represented Nelson in court.

Why?

Bruno managed Terri Houck's campaign when he ran for re-election as District Attorney. Lahoud was the de facto manager for Steve Baratta, who eventually won. 

That was a nasty race, and Bruno reported disparaged Lahoud several times with slurs aimed at his sexual orientation. So much for the party of tolerance. Lahoud's successful lawsuit removed a hypocrite.

I just hope nobody finds out that I have a thing for parakeets. 

After Ballot Ouster, Patti Bruno to Wage Write-in For NorCo Council

Though she has managed several political contests and should know better, Patti Bruno was removed from the ballot in this year's at-large race for the Democratic nomination to Northampton County Council. She recently told Lehigh Valley For All that she will be waging a write-in campaign for one of the five available seats. Here's how she explained it.

"So it is true, I was challenged, I did get dinged off the ballot on a technicality. ... The reason why I'm continuing to run is because this fight is so much bigger than politics. There are several Democrats who are on that slate that are Democrats in name only and they are not in this room tonight. I think that should speak volumes to you."

In order to succeed in a write-in contest, Bruno needs to get at least 100 votes and finish in the top five of the five Democrats who already are on the ballot.  

Despite what she says, it appears to me that Bruno is running against Lori Vargo Heffner for political reasons to give the Democratic Executive (assuming that Zrinski or Cozze wins) a fourth rubber stamp in addition to the three (Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan and Jeff Warren) who already exist. 

Council President Lori Vargo Heffner, who appears to be the object of Bruno's bluster, is a left-center Democrat who has supported about 90% of what the Executive has sought. But not 100%. And that, in the eyes of the rubber stamps, is a mortal sin. Vargo Heffner takes a bipartisan approach to governing. And she questions the Executive. That's a good thing. 

We've seen what happens when legislatures abdicate their roles in favor of the Executive in nearly all branches of government. On a state level, Governor Wolf had broad emergency powers to declare a lockdown because the state legislature gave it to him. On a national level, President Trump has broad emergency powers to impose tariffs that will no doubt cause a recession becase Congress gave that power to the President.

We need more Council members like Vargo Heffner and less like Patti Bruno. 

Political Operative Patti Bruno To Seek Democratic Nomination for NorCo Council

 

Patti Bruno has joined five other Democrats in announcing her candidacy for one of the five at-large Northampton County Council seats that will be decided by voters this year.

I feel compelled to observe at the onset that her headshot (which I've attached), looks nothing like her. I understand why someone running for office would want to present a good photo. But the airbrushed one that Bruno uses is so much unlike her that it's a tad disingenuous. This practice puts pressure on men and women to conform with an unrealistic body image. At the very least, a political candidate who feels the need to use a digitally enhanced photograph should disclose this detail. 

Bruno texted me twice in December about her possible candidacy. She sat next to me when Tara Zrinski announced her candidacy for Executive. But I never received her actual announcement.

That announcement, posted on Facebook, declares that "she isn't a career politician - she's one of us." That's also false. She has been a political operative for several years and ran for office herself four years ago.  She managed Amy Cozze's failed state house race, Terry Houck's failed DA's race and nearly lost the primary election when Brian Panella ran for judge. 

She is an Easton resident who graduated from Temple University (political science) and a Master's from American Public University (online). She did serve a two-year stint as a Presidential Management Fellow, but her announcement fails to state how or where she is employed now. 

The five other Democrats running so far include Nadeem Qayyum (husband of Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana, Jason Boulette (Wind Gap Borough) David Holland (a nurse practitioner), Lori Vargo Heffner (NorCo Council President)  and Theresa Fedem (Hellertown Borough Council) 

The winners of the Democratic primary will square off against Republican incumbents John Brown and John Goffredo; Juan Martinez, who owns the popular Don Juan restaurant chain; Bethlehem police officer Sam Elias and commercial air cargo pilot and Venezuelan immigrant Dan Campo. 

Nomination petitions are due March 11.