Who Is Your Pick For NorCo Exec?

Zrinski

Two Democrats - Amy Cozze and Tara Zrinski - seek the Democratic nomination for Northampton County Executive, which Lamont McClure is leaving at the end of this year. The winner of that race will go on to face Republican Tom Giovanni, who is running unopposed for the GOP nod. 

The position of County Executive was established in NorCo's Home Rule Charter and essentially gives him or her control over administrative functions and proposing a budget. The Executive is elected once every four years but is unable to serve more than two consecutive terms. The salary is currently set at $125,000.

I'm a Democrat and hence am unable to vote for Tom Giovanni. My choice is between Zrinski and Cozze. Each candidate has sent one mailer. Neither has been negative, although Cozze's campaign manager has lashed out at Zrinski for not being gay enough. That's odd because Cozze actually thanked Zrinski for stands Tara as a Council member had taken on LGBTQ issues. 

Amy Cozze

Although she has poor people skills, Cozze did do a good job as Elections Registrar. But she also threatened to resign just 12 days before an election unless her salary demands were met. That's blackmail. She put her own personal interests ahead of what is best for the county, and I could never support her for anything. 

Another thing that troubles me is that, in a Democratic primary, she has studiously avoided mention of her own gayness. Why? Her campaign manager took Zrinski to task over LGBTQ matters, but Cozze herself has said nothing about her own sexual orientation. Does she think Democrats are intolerant?

I was highly critical of Zrinski when she was on County Council but have been pleasantly surprised by the good job she has done as Controller. She has a good relationship with and is fiercely protective of her staff. She has avoided the temptation to promote unrelated topics that have nothing to do with county government, which is what her counterpart in Lehigh County regularly does. She also has a better understanding of county government than Cozze after serving as a Council member and as Controller. 

Mail-in ballots are out, so now would be a good time to make your case for either Democrat.