Jeff Warren to Challenge Joe Emrick For Pa. State House

Jeff Warren and Tara Zrinski

Jeff Warren, a NorCo Council member elected in 2023, announced at a Tuesday night fundraiser, that he plans to challenge GOP State Rep. Joe Emrick in the 137th legislative district. This seat encompasses the three Nazareths (Upper, Lower and Boro), Bethlehem Tp and a portion of both Palmer and Hanover Tp. 

He explains that he's running because "Harrisburg is filled with politicians who are extremely out of touch with what working folks, families, seniors, and children actually need and want." But what is he if not a politician? His undergrad degree from Penn State? Political science. He's worked as a staff assistant for the US Congress, was an aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola and has been a campaign manager for Tara Zrinski. He's also held office with Easton City Council and Hanover Tp's board of supervisors. 

The one thing he has going for him is that Joe Emrick is thoroughly unlikable, even among members of his own party. But he's hard to beat. He handily defeated Anna Thomas in 2024 even though she spent $1.4 million to topple him. In contrast, Emrick spent $311,000.

Warren told WFMZ-TV69 that "Northampton County deserves a better advocate for working folks, families, children, and our local communities." But do county corrections officers, 911 workers and the nursing staff at Gracedale consider him an advocate for them?

On NorCo Council, Warren has been known as one of Executive Lamont McClure's leading advocates. He has also introduced several nonbinding resolutions concerning matters like mass transit funding and a cap on rental fees charged in what we refer to as trailer parks. He has also pushed for more mental health funding and cosponsored a county ordinance that requires feminine hygiene products in all county-owned ladies' and family restrooms. 

Pa. 137 House : Anna Thomas Hitting 15 Yr Incumbent Emrick Hard on His Anti-Choice Stances

Last week, I told you that Anna Thomas, Democratic nominee in the race for state representative in Pa. House 137 (Nazareth area and Bethlehem Tp) is running an incredibly hard race against incumbent Republican Joe Emrick. Most candidate wait to spend money on ads and mailers until the closing days the campaign. But Thomas started early. I live in that district, and my mailbox has been flooded with mailers, including two on Saturday. She's also using sources like YouTube. It makes sense to start early because mail-in ballots are on their way to voters now.  Many will know who she is when they receive their ballots. They'll also know that Joe Emrick, who has a reputation for a miserable disposition even within his own party, is fervently anti-choice.

In 2022, Emrick voted for a constitutional amendment that would ban the right to an abortion. It was vetoed by then Governor Tom Wolf. Currently, there is legislation pending providing for personal reproductive liberty, but Emrick has refused to sign on to the bill. 

In Pennsylvania, pregnancies may be terminated during the first 24 weeks, although counseling is required 24 hours before the procedure. Minors need parental consent or a judicial order. After those first 24 weeks, a pregnancy can be ended only if the mother's life or health is in danger. 

Pa.State House 136 Race: Incumbent Bob Freeman to Debate Challenger Taiba Sultana

Incumbent State Rep. Bob Freeman will square off against Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana in the race for Pa. legislative district 136. They will debate on March 5, 6 pm, at the Shiloh Chapel in Easton. (201 Brother Thomas Bright Ave.) Both are Democrats, so this race could be over in the primary election. No Republican has filed a nomination petition. 

Freeman's district includes Easton, West Easton, Glendon, Freemansburg, Hellertown, Wilson Borough, Williams Tp and parts of Palmer and Lower Saucon Tps. 

Sultana currently faces assault charges over a domestic incident with her adult son over the summer. Her criminal case is currently scheduled for April 29, although Attorney Ettore "Ed" Angelo said at her preliminary hearing that he was applying for a special program for first offenders called ARD. A conference has been scheduled before President Judge Craig Dally on March 6, the day after her debate. 

In her time on Council, she has sparred with Council members Israel's invasion of Gaza, and has asserted several times that she is a victim of their racism and sexism.   

Most recently, she submitted a nomination petition circulated by her husband that forged the signature of State Senator Lisa Boscola. When Boscola and Freeman took offense, she called them members of the gerontocracy, a slur at older people. Whether this is a smart tactic in a race and district dominated by more mature voters remains to be seen. 

On her Facebook page, She gas slammed Freeman and Boscoloa over their refusal to pass "the botan [sic] to the younger generation, they are afraid of loosing [sic] the power.

Incidentally, she's no spring chicken herself. According to her criminal docket, she is 41 years old. 

Steve Samuelson and Diapers

I received not one, not two, but three news releases that State Rep. Steve Samuelson was delivering over 3,000 diapers to the Salvation Army yesterday. There is even video of the event. Now mind you, he did not donate the poopie pants himself. He instead leaned on his constituents in an effort to make himself look very generous.

It's unclear how much money the state wasted in publicizing this event, photographing and even filming this long-time public official as he delivered other people's donations. It's really nothing more than an attempt to make himself look good at other people's expense.

Samuelson has been in office now since 1999. That's been his entire career. Twenty years of delivering other people's donated diapers. I am unaware of anything else he has accomplished other than giving speeches to which no one pays attention.

Samuelson is apparently very aware that diapers need to be changed often. As we all know, so do politicians.

Molovinsky Makes It Official

Photo courtesy of Michael Molovinsky

Michael Molovinsky formally announced his candidacy yesterday for State Representative. Although I was unable to attend his announcement at Wehr's Dam, he has forwarded his remarks. He also tells me he is very close to have the requisite signatures needed to achieve ballot access.

I am formally announcing my candidacy as an independent for State Representative, in the 183rd District. Harrisburg is broken. It doesn't matter if Republicans or Democrats are in charge, it's broke either way. Both sides are paralyzed, pushing yesterday's ideas, and pandering to special interests. One revenue stream after another; Lotteries, casinos, fracking, it's never enough for Harrisburg. There is enough revenue, there are enough taxes, what they need are new priorities, ethics and integrity.

I'm an independent, long time advocate, who wants to bring my tenacity to work in Harrisburg, for the residents of the 183rd, and the entire Lehigh Valley. Because it's not enough to just campaign, and there's an effort under way to demolish Wehr Dam, I will do everything I can to save it. Children and their parents should be able to continue to enjoy the magic and history of the Covered Bridge Park.

My campaign can be followed on Mr. Molovinsky Goes To Harrisburg, an open facebook page.

MIchael Molovinsky

Molovinsky to Run Against Harhart For State Rep

Molovinsky at Allentown City Council

If you ever want to run for public office, the last thing you should do is start a blog. Everything you say can and will be used against you. If you're anything like me, you'll give opponents plenty of ammo, too. Yet blogger Michael Molovinsky, who is both uglier and nastier than I, woke up yesterday morning and decided to run for State representative. He's running in the 183rd against Julie Harhart, who already has Republican opponent Marc Grammes and Democrat Terri Powell.

"We are victimized by ingrained partisan politics, always putting special interests ahead of that of the citizen. We keep adding new revenue streams; lottery, casino, fracking, but never providing the homeowner with the promised tax relief. I have established a facebook page, Molovinsky For State Representative, which will be dedicated to the campaign."

Personally, I could never be a politician. I view them as prey.

State House: Beyer Wins Ballot Challenge

Michael Beyer, son of former State Representative Karen Beyer, will be on the Democratic ballot for the seat his mother held as a Republican four years ago. Beyer has survived a three-pronged nomination challenge attacking nomination petitions, residency and his claim to be a lawyer. In a ruling issued this morning, Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer rejected the challenge.

David and Linda Eisenhauer, two Democrats who live in the District, filed the challenge. Representing them is Attorney Matt Crosslis, who until recently was Lehigh County Executive, and has vowed to appeal.

Originally, Crosslis' petition argued that petitions were being signed by circulators who did not actually circulate them. He also argued that Beyer was a Pittsburgh resident. But he withdrew those two challenges, leaving him only with the claim that Beyer, a recent law school grad, had somehow misrepresented himself.

Give me a break.

Once Crosslis realized he was unable to mount a successful circulation challenge, this case was pretty much toast. An appeal is a waste of money.

Since no one else is running on the Democratic side, this assures Beyer's nomination.

In the Fall, he'll face incumbent Justin Simmons, the man who beat Beyer's mother four years ago, and the man who will very likely beat him.