Callahan Already Knows Dodgeblame

Bethlehem, already drowning in $298 million of debt, has two ordinances requiring city council approval before spending casino revenue or borrowing from the Treasurer's Escrow Account. Back in January, I told you that the Callahan administration had broken both of these city laws, spending $335,000 in casino revenue and then borrowing $2 million without a green light.

City Council member Jean Belinski said, "I don't think that anybody should be above the law." Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan countered, "I think we should be applauded ... ." He promised it would never, ever, ever, not ever, ever, ever, ever, ever happen, ever, ever a-gain. Ever.

It just did.

City Controller Meg Holland has decided to keep an eye on the Treasurer’s Escrow Account to make sure Callahan is following City Ordinance Section 121.08(c). Turns out he's been a bad boy.

"Based on my review, I determined that as of December 31, 2009 the General Fund owed the Treasurer’s Escrow Account $4,234,538.69, which includes $434,538.69 in pension payments made directly from the Treasurer’s Escrow Account (i.e. checks were written from the account rather than a transfer to the General Fund). As of today [March 10, 2010], the General Fund owes the Treasurer’s Escrow Account $4,084,538.69."

So now, Hizzoner is going to reprimand Business Manager Dennis Reichard, who has fallen on the sword so many times for Callahan he's beginning to look like a pin cushion.

If Callahan is to be believed, Reichard – a 30-year city financial professional who has served numerous administrations - has twice misled City Council on major fiscal matters without Callahan’s knowledge. Callahan may just be learning Dodgebill, but he's already a pro at Dodgeblame.

The Bethlehem Mayor had to admit to the embarrassing fact that he did not know – or won’t admit that he knew -- about key city financial dealings undertaken by one of his top aides.

“We already knew that John Callahan has limited knowledge of the key issues facing the country. Now we know that he also has limited knowledge of the day-to-day operations of his own city,” said Shawn Millan, campaign manager for Representative Charlie Dent, in a news release late yesterday. “He’s displayed a lack of leadership by refusing to state his positions on matters like health care or economic growth in this campaign and it has become apparent over the last few weeks that his leadership skills don’t extend to making certain that his Administration obeys city ordinances either.”

Since the treasurer’s escrow account was owed $4.2 million by the City’s General Fund at the end of 2009, how the hell can he claim he’s balanced budgets as Mayor of Bethlehem?

Had Bethlehem’s Business Administrator approached City Council properly about transferring the funds to cover shortfalls in the City’s budget, they might have raised questions about shortfalls in Bethlehem’s finances.

“If it became known that John Callahan needed to drain escrow accounts and was scrambling to find money to cover a multi-million dollar deficit in the City’s budget, it certainly wouldn’t square with the story he tries to sell about fiscal prudence. Under John Callahan, Bethlehem’s budget and finances are a fiscal train wreck,” said Millan.

“The public has the right to know what exactly was involved in this situation. Mayor Callahan did not know what his subordinate was doing because he failed to supervise him. The truth is John Callahan is absent without leave as Mayor because he’s spending too much time campaigning for a new job and too little time working at his current one,” said Millan.

And playing Dodgebill.

”There is no part of this story that looks good for John Callahan,” said Millan. “Either the City’s Business Administrator actually acted with John Callahan’s knowledge, misleading Council and violating a city ordinance to maintain a fiscal illusion, or else John Callahan is so clueless and remote from the management of the City’s finances that an aide was able to move millions of dollars of funds around while leaving Callahan in the dark.”

“There’s just an amazing lack of respect by John Callahan for the checks and balances that City Council has over his Administration,” Millan observed. “For the sake of good government, City Council should exercise its considerable oversight responsibilities and more closely examine the Mayor’s actions in this matter.”

Yeah, like that's gonna' happen.

“John Callahan has consistently and recklessly increased City spending as Mayor and it falls to the people who work for him to find creative financing tricks and dodges to cover all that excessive spending. If anyone deserves a letter of reprimand for these actions, it’s John Callahan,” Millan concluded, and then continued instructing his growing campaign staff in the 5 D's of Dentball.

"Son, you're about as useful as a poopy-flavored lollipop! You couldn't hit water if you fell out of a boat!"

Norco Registrar DePaul to Critics: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!"

I've told you what happened before last night's citizen's panel review of Northampton County elections. Now let me tell you about the meeting itself. Task force members Peg Ferraro, Greta Browne, Jack Bradt and Dick Benner agreed to send a letter to the Department of State, seeking answers to certification questions about touchscreen voting machines supplied by Advanced Voting Solutions. They also formalized a survey for candidates, elections workers and voters. The fireworks display came from the peanut gallery.

H.R.H. DePaul's Hired Gun

First and foremost was Larry Otter, an attorney retained by voting registrar Deborah DePaul. He ingratiated himself with both the peanut gallery and the task force by insulting everyone. Otter's claim to fame is that he represented Carl Romanelli, who sold his soul to the devil in an attempt to get on the ballot for U.S. Senate. We all know how that turned out. Otter refused to sit in the peanut gallery with the rest of us. He's too important. According to H.R.H. DePaul, Otter was hired as a "buffer" to protect her "from the falsehoods and basic lies."

The panel was warned it must stop making "outlandish" statements about poor H.R.H. DePaul. When asked what he meant, he said the panel had called DePaul "incompetent." When asked to say when the panel had called her that, he could not give an answer. This dude even managed to offend panel member Jack Bradt, who previously had nice things to say about H.R.H. DePaul. Strike One.

After alienating the committee studying problems in the elections office, Otter turned his wrath on The Express Times and Morning Call, claiming that both papers had lied about his client. Once again, he was asked to provide an example. "The local media need to get their facts straight." The one "lie" identified, is an Express Times allegation that eight people have recently left the office. And that statement happens to be true. Eight people have left the office over the past three years. This turnover is one reason DePaul has given for office problems. Steeerike Two.

Otter couldn't stop with the committee and newspapers. He also blasted local Republican chair Roy Shuman, who has complained that H.R.H. DePaul's office is too partisan. Shuman's charges are "unfounded" and "outrageous." And he minimized complaints about our misleading straight party ballot, complaints expressed by both parties. "Got a problem? Take it up with the state legislature." Strike Three. You're outta' here.

Republican Complaints

Roy Shuman, the dude making these "unfounded" and "outrageous" allegations, was next. He thinks we all "should be treated equally," and it's not happening. It was hard for Shuman to make his points. Whenever he offered a criticism, either H.R.H. DePaul or hired gun Otter would interrupt, something they attempted all evening. Shuman nevertheless insisted there is "preferential treatment," and brought committeewoman Mary Barket to prove his point.

Barket explained what happened recently when a county council candidate was only given five copies of a nomination petition.Barket called about making copies, and H.R.H. DePaul blew up. She accused Barket of "setting her up." Amidst H.R.H. DePaul's repeated interruptions last night, Barket finally turned and flatly said, "It became personal and there was no reason for that. You went from 0 to 60 very quickly."

And the flurry of emails that followed this exchange troubled Roy Shuman because no emails were sent to him. He complained Dem chair Joe Long was getting emails about a problem with republicans, but nothing was being sent to Shuman. H.R.H. DePaul, who has said repeatedly she always notifies both parties whenever she interacts with either party, interrupted Shuman to say, "I don't have your email." Huh? But I thought she said .... never mind.

Judges of Elections

Three judges of elections addressed the panel last night. Two out of three like the new machines. But a Moore Township judge complained that, at the end of the evening, it was impossible to transfer data into the master. This is exactly what happened when AVS demonstrated the touchscreens to the state.

Office Staff

About four members of DePaul's staff were on hand to defend their boss. They claim they're very happy. They approach problems as a team, and had a few disparaging remarks about DePaul's predecessor. I have no criticism of DePaul's staff. I think they're hard workers. I think DePaul's a hard worker, too. But they seemed scared to death when I visited the office last week. Maybe it's my nose. They said last night they resented my previous depiction of H.R.H. DePaul as a witch. Hey, it was a queen! She has referred to her "reign" as registrar, so I'm trying to show the appropriate respect. Maybe I should bow when I see her.

Shawn Millan

Millan, Congressman Dent's evil campaign manager, voices two concerns. First, he notes that the Morning Call, which collects data from each precinct, had very accurate results the day after the election. But unofficial results from the elections office were completely different. Thirteen days later, when official results were released, it appeared that the "lying" Morning Call had it right all along. "How do you blame the machines when the results reported in the papers were accurate?" The variation between unofficial and official results in the congressional race was an unacceptable six percent, compared to one percent or less in other counties. And in State Senator Browne's race, it was a whopping twenty-two percent! Shawn, it's unfair of you to use facts to support arguments. That could start a dangerous trend.

Millan's second criticism, a little less factual, was directed at a ballot designed to encourage straight party voting. He called it a "partisan design that doesn't benefit our democracy." Although we nearly all agree that the ballot was badly designed, I don't think there's any evidence it was intentional. But Millan promised, "It's something we'll be looking out for in the future. It won't happen again." I believe him.

Joe Long

Joe Long, when he addressed the panel, first complained no one has sent him invitations. Gee, Joe, I never got an invitation, either. Then he complained couny exec John Stoffa never returns his calls. I thought he'd start singing, "You don't send me flowers anymore," but he stopped himself.

Right after Republicans complained about DePaul's partisanship, Long commended her and droned on about how much Dems love working for her. He should. His daughter worked there until last year. That's a great way to prove she's nonpartisan, Joe.

Now Long tried denying this. "That's not true. She left before I became county chair." Courthouse records reveal Long's daughter was a part-time elections office worker between April 2002 and July 26, 2006, and Long claimed last night he's been the Dem chair for the past six years. Little things like that make republicans suspicious.

But Joe didn't stop there. He called the elections panel a "witch hunt and public whipping post" for H.R.H. DePaul. "We want people to vote." He's concerned this task force might discourage people from voting. Stoffa has asked them, "How can we do better?" That really should deter voters.

Both The Morning Call and Express Times have excellent, and far more objective, accounts of last night's meeting. The citizens' panel will meet again at the courthouse on March 14 at 7 P.M. You can email any concerns to voter.info@northamptoncounty.org. Minutes are posted on the left sidebar.