Dem Party Boss Debates Angle Over Gracedale

Norco Dem Party Boss Walt Garvin dropped in on Ron Angle's Friday news conference, and was kind enough to engage in a quasi-debate after it was over. From this, we have learned the following:

1) Wally G claims that neither he nor the Dems have an official position on Gracedale. I see. I guess that he and the Lehigh County Dem Party Boss were on Gracedale campus last Sunday to blow bubbles and chase butterflies.

2) Walter believes it would be "inappropriate" to advise Northampton County voters that their continued public support of Gracedale will likely result in a 20% tax hike in each of the 5 years mentioned in the initiative. Laughing, Angle said it sure is "inappropriate" if you want to get someone's signature on a referendum petition.

3) After claiming he is neutral, and with no facts to back him up, Garvin debated Angle on the merits of privatizing Gracedale. It is very clear that Dems will use this issue in next year's election.

Walt Garvin's Pledge to Unite Norco Dems

He even cracked a joke with me after his election. We'll see.

Norco Dems Looking For New Strongman

Seriously, do you want to mess with this guy?

If Northampton County Dems want a real strongman, Michael Laws sure fits the bill. He looks a lot like an offensive lineman. Even his surname is intimidating. But as I learned yesterday, he's an open guy who wants to make some changes.

I called him this morning and, believe it or not, he actually called me back. That was a surprise, and what he told me shocked me even more.

He believes the party should avoid endorsements in contested races. He describes his disappointment when Northampton County Democrats decided to endorse Ann McHale to run against incumbent John Stoffa. "That was not fair at all. When I left there, I was in shock," he said.

Michael told me he has three goals. First, he'd like to identify and set up an executive committee from the different areas of the county, becoming more inclusive. Second, he'd like to energize the local party's fundraising capabilities, making it more useful to underfunded Democrats seeking office. He noted that the party has people who can help with graphics, we designs and do what is needed to help. Third, and most importantly, he will take steps to ensure that "everyone can participate in a big tent. Not just a certain few."

He plans to implement these goals with the following:

"* Enthusiasm for creating a learning organization with monthly Executive Board meetings and a strong committee structure, multiple team building events and a robust fundraising committee.

"* Creating a Candidate Recruitment and Training Program including: Mentorship opportunities with real office holders.

"* Creating real 'Value' for Candidates by creating and developing services that could be shared, like your idea of sign distribution and sign retrieval, brochure design and quantity discount pricing for these services so everyone wins.

"* Creating a Mentorship and Ambassador program to build and retain critical relationships and create backfill opportunities as positions become available."

Michael can be downright inspirational. From his Facebook page, I've seen messages like this, which read like Hallmark cards:

"We need to delegate, empower, and harness the skill power of the entire Democratic committee in Northampton county. We need to build a collective Vision that will align all the missions with a collective vision of positive long term results. We need to meet people where they are, and work together encouraging them along the way, to attain a new and improved destination."

Or this:

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway."

Obviously, he's a world apart from current Bossman Joe Long.

The only drawback to Michael, in my view, is his involvement in Allentown's Life Church, which has too many connections to Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

Michael's opponent is Joe Long's anointed successor, Walt Garvin. That alone should be enough to disqualify him, but here in the People's Republic of Northampton County, he's the likely winner. Walter and I have a lengthy history that ranges from some pleasant exchanges to a few shouting matches.

Having said that, Walter is unlike Long in that he holds no grudges. Whenever I see him after one of our testy exchanges, he's cordial. Another point in his favor is that he does his homework. When he ran for County Council last year , he attended more meetings than any other candidate. When the local tea party conducted a candidates' forum, he was there.

Walter Garvin Does His Homework

Walter Garvin is a Democratic candidate for one of five at-large Northampton County Council seats. He and I have a lengthy history that ranges from some pleasant exchanges to a few shouting matches. There's little doubt in my mind that his election will provide little more than a third wheel on the Dertinger-McClure bicycle, which has no brakes. He does have a record as a partisan.

Having said that, I admire people who do their homework. Garvin rarely misses a county council meeting, and has even attended some committees. Last night, for example, he was the only council hopeful in the peanut gallery. Aside from the candidates who are not already members of Northampton County Council, he is clearly the best informed about county issues.

Walter Garvin, Part of the Joe Long Machine

Two years ago, when Charles Dertinger ran against Charlie Dent in the Lehigh Valley congressional race, WGPA 1100 AM ran a program called "Checks and Balances." It was dreary hour of highly partisan propaganda delivered in a monotone by a host known only as WALLY G.

One day, when WALLY G happened to be a guest on Don Russo's show, I decided to call in. Before ever opening my mouth, Russo demanded that I identify myself. I always do, but added that Wally G should identify himself, too. That's when I learned he's really Walter R. Garvin, who at that time was both a Democratic Committeeman and area chair. In fact, Wally's radio show was touted on the Norco Dem web page with this little promotion: "Sick of Right-Wing Talk Radio Blather? Tired of them insulting our intelligence? Then tune in to WGPA SUNNY 1100 AM and host WALLY G ..."

At the time WALLY G was engaged in all this fun, he was also the Northampton County Elections Commission chair, supposedly a quasi judicial body. Because Garvin's partisan activity created an appearance of impropriety, Executive John Stoffa refused to reappoint him.

Now, Wally G is a Joe Long Dem running for Northampton County Council. He's tied at the hip to Charles Dertinger, Lamont McClure and Ann McHale. He's even contributed to McHale's campaign. For all his antiwar rhetoric and participation in demonstrations outside Congressman Dent's office, Wally G has done nothing to stop the bullying and machine politics within his own party. I think it would be impossible for him to approach issues in a nonpartisan manner.

Having said that, I could be completely wrong. There's much to like about Walter. He is intelligent, personable and very passionate about his beliefs. He has attended a few council meetings over the years and is fairly knowledgeable about county government, much more so than most candidates.

But does he really expect us to believe Catherine Baker Knoll is his inspiration? What the hell has he been smoking?

Aside from the video above, there's a detailed profile at The Express Times Voter Guide. you can find out more about Garvin in these blog entries: Partisan Radio Host Wally G Outed: He's Chair Of Norco's Elections Commission; Norco's Elections Chair - Dem Committeeman, Area Chair & Partisan Radio Show Host - Isn't This a Conflict?; "Take a Stand" Town Hall Bashes Congressman Dent, But Takes No Stand; Norco's Election Chair, Wally G, Doing Partisan Radio Show ... Again!; Garvin Dumped As Norco Elections Commission Chair.

Video credit: Jeff Stoffa

Norco Elections Commission: Garvin's Out, & Rosenthal's in Trouble, Too

Radio star Wally G caused quite a stir last year when it was learned that he's actually Norco Elections Commission chair Walter R. Garvin. In addition to hosting a partisan radio show advertised on Norco Dem's web page, he was also a party officer - an area chairman as well as a committeeman.

Northampton County's Home Rule Charter forbids anyone who sits on an elections committee from holding public office or acting as an officer in a political party. In addition, Council Solicitor Zito warns that since an elections commission is a quasi judicial body, its members must avoid the appearance of impropriety. Although Garvin did resign his party position, he continued to engage in partisan political activity, hosting partisan radio shows and participating in anti-Dent rallies.

As a result, County Exec Stoffa refused to submit Garvin's name for reappointment next year. That's unwelcome news to council member Charles Dertinger, who groused about it at last night's county council meeting. "Mr. Garvin seems to have been removed for expressing his First Amendment rights." Not exactly. Garvin was removed because his partisan activity created an appearance of impropriety.

Stoffa proposes a clean sweep of the elections commission, with one exception. He wants to reappoint Republican Joan Rosenthal. Dertinger has a series of objections to her, including her outspoken criticism of the elections office. I guess she should be removed for expressing her First Amendment rights, too.

Of course, Dertinger is really just trying to get back at Stoffa for removing Garvin. But he's still right. As it turns out, Ms. Rosenthal is a member of Hanover Township's zoning hearing board. The Home Rule Charter excludes anyone who holds "public office" from sitting on the elections commission. Although a zoning hearing board member is appointed, as opposed to elected, she still holds a public office. Her appointment, therefore, seems inconsistent with the letter of the Home Rule Charter.

Council has tabled Rosenthal's appointment so that Solicitor Zito can research this matter. Whatever he decides, Rosenthal should withdraw her name from consideration. She's dedicated, interesting and very elegant. But after last year's controversy, neither the elections commission nor its members can afford to become mired in political squabbles.

I'm sure there's one Republican out there that Dertinger likes. How about Tommy Scissorhands?

Garvin Dumped As Norco Elections Commission Chair

During last year's Lehigh Valley congressional race, WGPA 1100 AM's ran a program called "Checks and Balances." It was dreary hour of highly partisan propaganda delivered in a monotone by host WALLY G.

Just the thing for insomnia!

One day, when Wally G was a guest on Don Russo's show, I decided to call. Before being allowed to say anything, Russo always insisted that callers identify themselves. I did, but then said it's only fair that Wally G identify himself, too. That's when I learned he's really Walter R. Garvin, who at that time was both Democratic Committeeman and area chair. In fact, Wally's radio show was touted on the Norco Dem web page with this little promotion: "Sick of Right-Wing Talk Radio Blather? Tired of them insulting our intelligence? Then tune in to WGPA SUNNY 1100 AM and host WALLY G ..."

Garvin was even the parking valet at an anti-Dent campaign rally late this summer. As I attempted to maneuver my Jeep into the parking lot, Wally wildly waved a "Support the Troops - End the War" sign at me, and directed me where to park, which for some reason was right in the middle of Monocacy Creek.

Wally G is a partisan activist, so what?

Let me explain. Wally G also happens to chair the Norco Elections Commission. According to our Home Rule Charter, party officers are barred. When Republicans found, several had strokes and died. Those who survived went ballistic and made their own signs. "Hang WALLY G, From the Nearest Tree!"

When I complained at a council meeting, Council Solicitor Zito told anyone who was listening that an elections commission is a quasi judicial body. It often makes decisions that are essentially judicial. Members must avoid the appearance of impropriety, and conduct themselves with impartiality.

Soon after that, Garvin resigned as committeeman and area chair, and his radio gig was over. Things seemed to die down.

But not for long. Just a few months ago, Wally G was at it again, hosting another radio show that blames Republicans for everything, from pink eye to the recent flooding along the Delaware. Now when you have county council races in which a Dem wins by just 91 votes, the last thing you need is a partisan elections chair.

Yesterday, county council's personnel committee reviewed county exec Stoffa's appointments to the elections commission. Garvin's name is missing. Now he can devote more time to his radio career. But before he goes on air again, he should spend a few weeks at the Ken Matthews school of broadcasting.

Angle and I are both A students.

Update: The Express Times' Sarah Cassi has a detailed report about Stoffa's new elections commission. He explains his Garvin decision. "I like Walt. I think he's a good person. He's a great Democrat. ... I didn't think he was objective."

Norco's Election Chair, Wally G, Doing Partisan Radio Show ... Again!

Wally G is on the air again!

Last year, between Labor Day and election time, he hosted a highly partisan, weekly radio show that repeatedly slammed Congressman Charlie Dent.

Who is Wally G? Why, he's Northampton County Elections Commission chair Walter R. Garvin. When Republicans found out, they went ballistic. Northampton County Council's solicitor, Leonard Zito, told council an elections commission is a quasi judicial body. It often makes decisions that are essentially judicial. Members must avoid the appearance of impropriety, and conduct themselves with impartiality.

So after getting this advice from a former judge, what does Wally G do? He hosts another talk radio show, which went on all of this week, bashing the Republicans again.

Is this how he avoids the appearance of impropriety? If there is a close election, and Republicans lose, don't you think some of them are going to start pointing fingers?

Garvin branded a helpful elections report as "pure partisan politics." But if he wants a real example of that, he need only look in a mirror.

Norco Elections Commission Chair: Report "Pure Partisan Politics"

A citizens' advisory panel report of Northampton County's election woes was released to the public on Tuesday. It makes fifteen recommendations, and contains an entire page of notes devoted to the erratic behavior of Registrar, Debbie DePaul.

Express Times reporter Sarah Cassi tells us this task force report has come under attack.

Northampton County Elections Commission Chair Walter R. Garvin - "pure partisan politics."

Northampton County Councilman and Democratic committeeman Charles Dertinger - "flies in the face of an independent elections office."

HRH DePaul - ""I'm sure there are Republicans that want me to leave."

The author of this report, Russ Shade, is a Democrat. So is Dick Benner, a former voting registrar who also served on this committee. Greta Browne? She ran for Congress, twice, as a Green party candidate. Republican Peg Ferarro resigned from the task force long before it got down to the dirty work of preparing a summary.

That leaves panel member L. Jack Bradt. He's so Republican he has elephants on his pajamas, but he was also the task force member kindest to DePaul.

So let's do the math. Two Democrats, one Republican and one Green are accused of producing a highly partisan report designed to drive HRH DePaul from office.

Partisan politics? I'll tell you about that next time.

"Take a Stand" Town Hall Bashes Congressman Dent, But Takes No Stand

If you were among the 230 people who attended last night's Dent-bashing rally at Bethlehem's Van Bittner Hall, it's very likely that the first person you saw was our very own smiling Walter R. Garvin, Chairman of the Northampton County Elections Commission. He was wildly waving a "Support the Troops - End the War" sign, and directing people where to park.

Funny thing. When I approached Walt to snap a photograph, he suddenly stopped smiling and quickly put that sign behind his back. He actually seemed ashamed of what he was doing. Was he afraid I'd complain that it's just a tad inappropriate for the chairman of an elections commission to be actively participating in an event aimed at smearing Congressman Charlie Dent? Maybe Bossman Long might think Garvin was taking this peace thing just a bit too far. Who knows?

So much for Take a Stand. When Garvin had the opportunity to do so, he cut and ran. And that's my problem. People were quick to blast Dent's Iraq votes. But no meaningful solutions were offered.

Last night's town hall was not so much a grassroots peace movement as a campaign rally. I saw several Democratic committeemen and candidates, all with name tags emblazoned upon them. Working the room like a champ was none other that Sam Bennett. Everywhere I turned, I saw her. I snapped a few pics, but the room was too dark. I'm a worse photographer than a blogger.

Joining hands with the usual gaggle of septuagenarian peace groups were the Steelworkers' Union, Pa. Social Services Union and the Lehigh Valley Democratic Coalition. So much for nonpartisan.

Of course, there was the obligatory empty chair for Congressman Dent, as well as several pointed references to his absence. "We are gathered to deliver a message to Congressman Dent, whether he's here or not. He can stand with Bush's disastrous war or the overwhelming majority of his constituents."

Following a five minute video that no one could see, we were treated to three speakers. First was a young Iraqi who hasn't been in the country for years. He talked about the terrors of the Persian Gulf War, not the current conflagration. Then a religious studies expert droned on for too long about the "just war" theory. He threw out Latin phrases, like bellum justum, to prove he's pretty smart. Bright as he is, he couldn't take a stand. "I don't pretend to have an answer." Finally, an ex Air Force captain read excerpts from The Nation and New York Times. Incidentally, she's never even been to Iraq. Although she's already met Dent twice, she still wondered aloud why Dent wasn't running the gauntlet at Van Bittner Hall. She demanded to know whether Dent would follow the Iraq Study Group recommendations.

After all the mini-speeches were over and the shocking evidence was in, our humorless facilitator asked this important question: "Where do we go from here? How do we take a stand?"

Incredibly, his answer made him sound just like George Bush on one of his "hard work" tirades. "We have lots of work to do. It will be hard work. But think how hard it will be if we don't do this hard work." He then suggested we could "take a stand" by grabbing a few bumper stickers and yard signs. Huh? That's about as meaningful as those goofy yellow ribbon magnets. I suppose we could also vote for Sam Bennett, like that would accomplish anything.

I didn't stay for cake. Too many people there know me, so I cut and ran myself.

Speaking of taking a stand, Congressman Dent joined Democrat Mark Udall this June in co-sponsoring legislation that calls for implementation of the Iraq Study Group recommendations. An identical bill has been introduced in the Senate by Democrat Ken Salazar, and is co-sponsored by both Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Arlen Specter. Call me crazy, but I think that's a little more meaningful than throwing a bumper sticker on a SUV.

In truth, last night's shindig had little to do with taking a stand, as Walt Garvin proved almost immediately, or meaningful solutions in Iraq. It was simply an opportunity to dump on Dent, quickly seized by Sam Bennett.

Norco Dem Chair Joe Long Promotes Government in the Dark

Joe Long, who chairs Northampton County's Democratic Party, is rated among the worst by PoliticsPa. "Joe Long has become a curse!" I agree. His basic problem? He's one of those who prefers smoke-filled back rooms to an open and accessible government. You can see this in his actions as Norco Dem Chair and as chair of the Bethlehem Housing Authority. He prefers Democrats to democrats.

His own reelection as local party chair is questionable. He was elected by committeemen chosen in the last primary. But his election occurred five days before certificates of election were actually mailed to the elected committeemen. And some elected committeemen were thus denied the opportunity to cast a vote for someone else. He was not democratically elected.

Long was part of the back-room deal that resulted in the appointment of Democrats Lamont McClure and Tony Branco to Northampton County Council, a violation of the state's Sunshine Act.

When I challenged Wally G, aka Walter Garvin, on a WGPA talk radio show over his dual involvement as Democratic area chair and local elections commission chair, it was Joe Long who immediately called the show to proclaim it's perfectly OK for a partisan party officer to head an elections commission. Garvin has since resigned his party positions.

And now, thanks to The Morning Call, we know that the Bethlehem Housing Authority is planning a private meeting tomorrow with Congressman Charlie Dent, a "clear violation" of the Sunshine Act in the view of both a media lawyer and the Authority's own solicitor. An email that BHA Commissioner Larry Kisslinger has sent to a large audience reveals Long as a chronic Sunshine Act offender.

In Kisslinger's own words,

"Chairman Long insisted that 'all' BHA commissioners shall be at the meeting with Congressman Dent, thereby, violating the Sunshine Law, in my opinion. Chairman Long in concert with BHA Executive Director Clara Kendy, has had many similar meetings in the past, repeatedly, ignoring my advice to the contrary....ie. audit reports, budget discussions, and the like. Regarding all said meetings, I have no idea if Chairman Long, and/or BHA Executive Director Clara Kendy ever sought the advice of our BHA Solicitor while doing so...but if he or she did so...and was approved by Solicitor....was wrong advice, in my strong opinion...as I always advised Chairman Long & others to no avail...he is Chairman and we all must listen, is all we are advised by Mr Long."

Kisslinger's email is a violation of a Long policy that bars other commission members from discussing their jobs without first getting his clearance. "Chairman Long ... declares that "any and all" communications from me and any other Commissioners "MUST FIRST CLEAR" any and all communications with him, and/or, our Executive Director, BEFORE any Commisssioner can ever communicate anything to anybody on the planet."
I'd like to know how many junkets Joe Long has taken as BHA chair at taxpayer expense. Long represents everything that is wrong, not with Democrats, but all politicians. He stands for government behind closed doors, and that's where democracy dies. According to the BHA website, commissioners serve at the will of the Mayor. If this is really so, it's time for Mayor Callahan to get rid of this troublemaker. Local Dems should dump him, too.

Update: Dent Refuses to Be Part of Sunshine Act Violation

Late this afternoon, Congressman Dent's office contacted yours truly to let us all know that Charlie Dent will gladly meet with executive director Clara Kendy, the only person he was scheduled to meet with in the first place. He won't be meeting Long or any other BHA commissioners. Dent has made the right call. He had every right to assume that a public board follows the law, and in any event, had no idea that the entire BHA was descending upon him. After reading that the entire BHA plans to appear, Dent has made clear he refuses to be a willing participant in a Sunshine Act violation.

I wonder if Joe Long can borrow some signs from the Dent Nine.

Free the Long Five!

Norco Solicitor Rules Exec Lacks Power to Fire Elections Chair

I've told you about Wally G, aka Walter R Garvin. He's Northampton County's elections commission chair. He's also a Democratic committeeman and serves as area chair for a portion of the county. The Home Rule Charter provides that "an officer in a political party" is ineligible for the elections commission. Since Garvin is clearly a party officer, you'd think County Exec. Stoffa would tell Garvin to take a hike, right?

Wrong!

County Solicitor, Karl Longenbach, Esq., says Stoffa lacks the power to remove Garvin. And unfortunately, he's right! Under the Charter, a commission member "forfeits" his office if he lacks any qualification or violates any prohibition. But nothing in the Charter gives our Exec the authority to remove a wayward elections chair. How's that for a kick in the pants?

Now this doesn't mean that Garvin is home free. Council might have the authority to declare the office "forfeited." And the Attorney General or DA has authority to commence proceedings against someone who has forfeited his office.

Although I doubt a Democratic Council has the political will to rule against one of their own, they certainly should ask Garvin to resign. We all should. And although Attorney General Tom Corbett has the authority to commence proceedings to remove Garvin, he's no miracle worker. November is only weeks away.

Right now, the best service Wally G could perform for Northampton County would be to step down from the elections commission. But he's not really interested in what's best for the county or he would have already resigned. He just wants Democrats elected, no matter how bad things look.

In the long run, he's actually hurting his own party.

My Local Elections Chair is a Party Honcho - Why Should I Care?

"Much ado about nothing. Must be a very slow weekend for blogging, hey Bernie?"

"... I am having a hard time convincing myself that I should care about it."

These are reactions to my Friday and Saturday posts about Northampton County Elections Commission Chair Walter R. Garvin. The Home Rule Charter bars political party officers from the election commission. Yet our elections commission chair is not just an elected Democratic committeeman, he's also a regional chair. And he hosts a partisan radio show under an assumed name. Why should we care? We should if we care about the integrity of our voting system. And this has been complicated by new and highly controversial touch screen electronic voting systems.

Northampton County purchased its little black boxes from Advanced Voting Systems while Lehigh County uses a Diebold innovation. Both systems have the same two problems. First, there's no paper trail. That's too expensive, we're told. Second, they can be hacked. Diebold reps call this internet hysteria. But a group of Lehigh University computer science and engineering professors are convinced there's “a wide variety of threats, many of which could be carried out by a single perpetrator or a small group needing only a modest understanding of computer security.” Pennsylvania's new voting machines already face a legal challenge as well as a House Bill to require paper trails.

In addition to worries about a paper trail and hacking, Jon Soden of the Lehigh/Northampton Progressive Alliance points to problems with our very first use. In the last election, a "glitch" turned Northampton County's ballot upside down, so that Democrats were voting in the Republican primary and vice versa. "If this was done in the 2004 election anyone voting for Kerry would have really been voting for Bush if the problem was not found and corrected."

Could you imagine how any election irregularity, no matter how innocent, will be interpreted if party honchos are allowed to sit on the election commission? And should the chair of an elections commission host a radio show promoting party propaganda from either side? When vote counters get political, public confidence in new requirements HAVA (Help America Vote Act) requirements is jeapordized.

Much ado about nothing? Ask the folks with hanging chads in Florida. Ask Ohio Democrats. I suppose the answer depends on whether you like your vote to count.

Norco's Elections Chair - Dem Committeeman, Area Chair & Partisan Radio Show Host - Isn't This a Conflict?

Last time I told you about Wally G, aka Walter R Garvin - political radio show host, Democratic committeeman and Chairman of Northampton County Elections Commission. On the radio, he's known only as Wally G. I guess he didn't want people to know he was moonlighting by reading a propaganda script every week. So he altered his name to fool us, but not for long.

Garvin claims his radio show's purpose is to inform the public about Congressional voting records. Wrong! It's an hour long sermon from the Democratic party. In fact, it's featured on the Northampton County Democratic Party's web page with the following description: "Sick of Right-Wing Talk Radio Blather? Tired of them insulting our intelligence? Then tune in to WGPA SUNNY 1100 AM and host WALLY G ..." That web page dishonestly fails to identify Wally G as Walter Garvin, the area chair for Freemansburg, Bethlehem Township, Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township. Garvin is clearly an "officer in a political party."

Garvin's involvement with a local political party is a clear violation of the Home Rule Charter, which plainly bars officers in a political party. Moreover, Wally G's disingenuous decision to host a very partisan radio show under a nom de plum, creates serious concern whether he could be impartial in his role as Elections Chair.

When I expressed these concerns yesterday on another radio show where Wally G was a guest, Garvin and host Don Russo snorted that if I had a problem, I should let my pals Angle and Stoffa know about it. So I did. As it turned out, Angle was listening to the show and fired off a memo to Stoffa by the time I called him. The Morning Call's Paul Muschick has an excellent report about this conflict of interest, and learned a second elections commission member, Lilly Gioia, is also an elected Democratic committeewoman.

Local Dem chair Joe Long claims all is well in the land of Oz. Long himself was probably elected illegally, as I noted in a previous post. He's also been rated as one of the state's worst county chairs. He should read the papers. Voters are disgusted by the shady tactics of politicians in Washington and Harrisburg. Yet he shames his party with a dishonest tactic by encouraging an area chair to do a partisan radio show under an assumed name. He creates a conflict of interest by stacking the elections commission with committeemen, who are party officers. The Democratic party should be associated with reform instead of business as usual. Long would best serve local Democrats by resigning.

By the way, Northampton County Dems are having their little shindig tomorrow. I think I better wait 'til next year. I'm not that hungry anyway.

Partisan Radio Host Wally G Outed: He's Chair Of Norco's Elections Commission

I told you yesterday about WGPA 1100 AM's "Checks and Balances," a dreary hour of highly partisan propaganda delivered in a monotone by Wally G. This morning, Wally G was the guest on another radio show that requires callers to identify themselves. So I called in, identified myself, and asked Wally G to identify himself, too. That's only fair. And guess what? He's actually Northampton County Chairman of the Elections Commission Walter R. Garvin. He was also recently elected as Democratic Committeeman.

Here's what the Home Rule Charter says about members of the Elections Commission: "None of these nominees shall hold public office or be an officer in a political party." Now isn't an elected Democratic committeeman an officer in a political party? He does things that Democrats like me can't do, like electing the county chair. And since he's actually elected publicly, doesn't he hold public office? Apparently not in Northampton County. The Home Rule Charter provision against an elections commissioner holding public office or being an officer in a political party was clearly designed to prevent the intrusion of partisan politics in the electoral process. Yet that "check and balance" seems to be forgotten. And to make matters worse, this guy hosts a highly partisan radio show advocating Democrats in the upcoming election. Will Republicans feel safe knowing that he's counting the votes?

John Stoffa said Wednesday there's nothing wrong with government, but that sometimes the wrong people are in government. This is an example.

WGPA AM's "Checks and Balances" - Unbalanced & Boring Propaganda

LVDem last month blogged about a new "local liberal talk show" airing on WGPA 1100 AM every Wednesday between 4 and 5 P.M, hosted by a "Wally G." It's called "Checks and Balances." I enjoy Air America, do a little talk radio from time to time myself, and decided to tune in yesterday. It was the longest hour I've spent in some time, longer than an hour in church.

First, the dude on the air wasn't taking any calls. So it's not talk radio. Second, all Wally G did was read a script in a monotone voice, interrupted by a few musical interludes. Man, I don't know how anyone could listen to that for an hour and stay awake. Third, if this program is aimed at swing voters, it's missing the mark. I'm a screaming liberal, and even I was turned off by the constant Dent-bashing. Wally G claims ninety percent of Republican ads are attack ads, but 100% of this program was a smear. He implied Dent is corrupt. He even went so far as to say that if Dent sleeps with the dogs he'll wake up with fleas, whatever that means. He did it in such a boring monotone that most people were probably dreaming when he said it.

Charles Dertinger, Dent's Democratic opponent this Fall, last night told the Northampton/Progressive Alliance he thinks Dent is a good person. His disagreement with Dent focuses on issues. If Dertinger can stick to the issues, why can't a scripted propaganda blast?

Liberal talk radio is always bashed as too boring to survive in commercial broadcasting? Anyone who listens to Randi Rhodes knows that's totally untrue. But Wally G has some work to do if he wants anyone other than diehard Dems to listen to his show. He might try a joke, inflecting his voice or dragging in Jolly Joe Timmer. But he's got to do something before he's his only listener.