Road Trip to Philly, Anyone?

I love taking day trips to Philly. I usually spend most of my time in Chinatown or in the Vietnamese area along Washington Street, where I soak in the atmosphere of different cultures and try to speak Mandarin and Vietnamese while gawking at beautiful women and eating a great soup called pho. Sometimes I'll go into the Old City, see a foreign flick, and pretend I'm an artsy fartsy type. But I'm happiest just walking up and down the streets. It's always loud and dirty, but something about Philly really gets to me.

Tonight I heard from Glenn McCracken, who introduced me tonight to "The Pride of Philadelphia." It's a great little community web site that works hard at stressing the positive things about Philly. Damien Brown does much the same for Allentown at Our West End Neighborhood.

Next time I hang in Philly, I'll check out Glenn's site. I recommend it to you, too.

Whistleblower Larry Kisslinger Calls it Quits at Bethlehem Housing Authority

Bethlehem Housing Authority Commissioner Larry Kisslinger is a good government watchdog. He blew the whistle when its chair, Joe Long, insisted on conducting back room meetings that violated the Sunshine Act.

That whistle has been silenced.

Kisslinger resigned at the end of Monday's meeting, frustrated by an unresponsive leadership unwilling to face a growing need for affordable housing. South side Bethlehem, we all know, is the planned location for a new casino. And as it gentrifies into "a haven for yuppies with lattes," BHA's affordable housing plan appears to be this - move to Allentown, bippy! Although BHA sits on over $8 million in cash reserves, Kisslinger claims it has no new housing plans for folks with low incomes.

In an email, Kisslinger tells us this.

"During the last two years of, term limited, Chairman Joe Long, and Vice Chairman Dave Sanders' tenure, I have only received a grand total of a half dozen calls or so, about BHA's future plans to service the low-to-moderate income folks within our community. Most of the calls were simply 'personal attacks' on my character and integrity. Long and Sanders merely changed positions at today's meeting with newly appointed Commissioner Ms. Iris Linares supporting their positions."

Kisslinger was supported by Paul Reitmeir, the only commissioner who actually resides in BHA housing. Let's take a quick look at the other three housing commissioners - Joe Long, Dave "Lumpy" Sanders and Iris Linares.

Iris Linares, BHA's newest commissioner, was just confirmed by city council on December 19. She's a Democratic state committee member. She's a secretary at the Peter Angelos law firm, which just happens to employ appointed Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure. Peter Angelos is a major Democratic campaign contributor whose control in Maryland is so legendary that legislation is actually called "Angelos' bills." Linares herself is a frequent Democratic contributor. Somehow, she and her husband were able to cough up $1440 for Ed O'Brien's congressional campaign in 2000. That's a lot of money to be coming from one secretary!

Joe Long, BHA's new vice chair, chairs the Northampton County Dems. He's been implicated in nearly every bad instance of bad government occurring in Northampton County over the past few years, from his violations of the Sunshine Act at the BHA to his own election as party chair, which miraculously occurred five days before certificates of election were actually mailed to elected committeemen.

Dave "Lumpy" Sanders, BHA's new chair, is one of those perennial candidates for public office. He was most recently rejected by the Bethlehem School Board. Less than a year ago, he was upset when a citizen disclosed, during a city council meeting, where Bethlehem pols got campaign dough. As Lumpy sees things, our poor politicians already work too hard. He thinks we must support city council members instead of scrutinizing their every vote. This yes man is BHA's new chair.

Is it me, or don't you think Bethlehem could do just a little better than this?

Update:Kisslinger's resignation is reported today both in The Express Times and Morning Call.

Lehigh County Dems Looking for a few Good Candidates

While Northampton County Democrats slay their own with all the subtlelty of a jackhammer, Lehigh County Dems are on the move. They are actively seeking candidates for municipal and county office, and Chair Rick Daugherty has pledged an "unprecedented level of help" to candidates seeking office.

"There are many highly qualified Democrats across Lehigh County who would make excellent local officials, but most never consider running because they're concerned they lack the proper experience to handle the details of running a campaign," said Daugherty. "Our communities benefit when more people feel they can participate in the political process in a significant way. We plan to provide a lot of guidance and support so that those interested in running for office are encouraged to do so, even if they're political novices."

The meetings Daugherty plans with potential candidates in early 2007 will be a chance for him and Neil Brown, LCDC Candidate Recruitment Chair, to inform candidates of the support the LCDC will offer. Initial support will include training on campaign tactics, key local issues, and the responsibilities of local government, as well as in-depth assistance in filing candidacy papers.

Daugherty noted that the LCDC typically stays neutral on individual races in the primary. Thus, the LCDC will offer the same help to all Democrats on the primary ballot in a given race. After the primary is over, and Democratic voters have chosen their nominees, the LCDC will assist candidates with voter contact, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and communications strategy.

The LCDC's recruitment drive aims to build on the momentum created by the party's recent growth and electoral success. After winning several key races in 2005, including those for Mayor of Allentown and the County Executive in both Lehigh and Northampton Counties, local Democrats in 2006 claimed 6 of 12 State Legislature seats representing parts of Lehigh Valley while contributing to large-margin statewide wins for Governor Ed Rendell and Senate candidate Bob Casey Also, Democrats in Lehigh County increased their voter-registration edge over Republicans to a margin of almost 12,000 voters in 2006, while building grassroots support through the creation of new Democratic clubs in Salisbury, South Whitehall Township and western Lehigh County.

Democrats interested in learning more about running for municipal or county office should contact Neil Brown, LCDC Candidate Recruitment Chair, at 610-691-4110, ext. 12, or brownn668@aol.com.

PBS Looking For a Few Young Writers & Illustrators

PBS 39 sent me a press release today. Those of you with younger kids or grandchildren might be interested in the National Reading Rainbow Contest.

(Lehigh Valley, PA) Kindergarten through third graders are invited to write and illustrate original story books and enter them in the 13th Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Applications and additional information are available here.

Sponsored by the award-winning PBS television series READING RAINBOW, the Contest attracts over 400 entries locally and more than 40,000 entries nationally each year. PBS 39 together with more than 100 other PBS stations nationwide sponsor the contest. Kindergarten through third graders enter by creating an original story with illustrations and submitting it with an official entry form to PBS 39.

PBS 39 Vice President of Education and Outreach Dr. Teri Haddad stated "The Reading Rainbow contest provides children with an opportunity to share their creativity with the community.” She continued, this contest underscores PBS 39’s commitment to supporting the efforts of schools and parents to get children excited about reading."

Airing weekdays on PBS 39 at 5:30 AM, READING RAINBOW builds lasting friendships between children and books. The contest builds on the program's mission to stimulate a child's interest in reading.

Every child who enters the Contest receives a special Certificate of Achievement signed by LeVar Burton, host of the READING RAINBOW series. Local first place winners advance to the national competition. The winning students will also receive prizes and all entrants and their families are invited to attend the PBS 39 Reading Rainbow Gala.

I've already submitted my own entry. Having lost the humorous Christmas parody contest to LVCurmudgeon, this should be a cinch!

Express Times Calls Bloggers Rump Scratchers While Morning Call Offers Some Salve

Hold on, folks. It's about to get a bit more bumpy here in the blogosphere.

Express Times editor Joe Owens has a blog. No "how do you do?" from him. He gets right into it, blasting high school kids who drink and drive. I love his "in your face" writing style, which he mixes with large doses of self-deprecating humor. We're all in for a treat.

After reading his Sunday column, I know he must have read some of the millions of posts I've sent his way. He notes many of the blogs he's seen are "rather poor, nothing more than one person verbally scratching his rump with the hope that the rest of the world would find it interesting." Yep, that would be me.

Meanwhile, over at The Morning Call, a kinder and gentler Bill White provides well-deserved praise to Ross Nunamaker and his NewsOverCoffee blog. Ross covers the Nazareth area in more detail than area newspapers. They must appeal to a larger and more diverse audience. Ross fills that gap nicely with lots of straightforward information. Just the facts, ma'am.

I don't know anyone who relies on blogs as gospel. The Express Times and Morning Call, with their excellent reporters, do a fine job of covering news. That cannot be replaced by blogs or local TV news. But I think both Joe and Bill agree than blogs can and do complement mainstream media.

It's a treat to read their blogs. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go scratch my ass.

Norco Councilperson Neiper: A Teacher Who Can't Count

I can't resist this.

I told you last week that Northampton County Council's election of Diane Neiper as Vice President, violated the Home Rule Charter. First, Council Prez Grube changed the time of the meeting so that Tony Branco could attend. Only county council, and not its president, has authority to decide the time, date and place of a meeting. Second, Neiper violated the conflict of interest provisions in the charter when she laughingly voted for herself.

She's not laughing now. After a discussion with the council's solicitor, she concedes her vote for herself was improper. But she tells the Morning Call "the point is moot because she still had enough votes to get elected Tuesday."

Excuse me?

Excluding her vote for herself, Neiper had just four votes. That's not enough in a nine person council, even if one of them is absent.

Neiper claims her thirty-four years of teaching gives her all the skills she needs to be council VP. Those skills apparently do not include counting.

Northampton County's Workforce: Top Priority in 2007

On December 7, long-time courthouse worker Pauline Taylor told county council, "I think you all ought to be ashamed." She is part of a legion of disenchanted workers working without a raise for nearly four years. This is the county's residual unit of row office clerks, 911 workers and custodial staff. Over one hundred of them decorated the county campus with a huge river rat on Pearl Harbor Day. They then crammed into council chambers to demand a contract with a fair wage.

Since that time, council has met twice. No concern has been expressed for its overburdened courthouse staff. Members have instead engaged in backroom maneuvers to eliminate Ann McHale as Council VP. Ironically, she is the one person on council most familiar with the county workforce. As the chair of an active personnel committee, she convened thirteen meetings last year.

County Executive John Stoffa's top priority in 2007 is his underpaid workforce. This year, he plans a much-needed overhaul of the county's antiquated salary structure. Although he has spent most of his first year putting out brush fires started by the previous administration, many employees now blame him for the mess they're in. A county worker recently popped on my blog to say this.

I am a Northampton County worker and I have left comments here before........and even though I have only worked here a short while I'm sorry, I don't see how Stoffa "cares" about his underdog employees, especially hearing what I've heard at the union meetings and at our stand-off on December 7th. I was told the other day, by an employee who has worked here 20 years, that this was the first year the county executive hasn't come to all the offices to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. How pathetic.........and he has still not made a comment to us like he promised to do "the very next day" after our stand-off. We are still waiting---another lie and more proof he's just trying to dodge the issue. He has sent all of the residual unit employees a letter back in July of 2006, trying to make it look like the union was lying about him, when in fact it was his letter that was the lie. If in fact indeed Stoffa was concerned about morale and employees at the County, then he would approach us as individuals, visit our offices to see what we actually do, (which he has not--he is always shocked when learning new things that happen in our offices.......if it's that shocking and he doesn't know, then perhaps it would be in his best interest to go out of his way, leave his office, come see us and find out.) We are individuals, human beings, and we are frustrated, and in our office, severely overworked and underpaid. Boy, if Stoffa really knew how much work we are required to do in our office.......but he refuses to meet the employees and visit them in the offices, and continues to avoid employees pleas to come to a "fair" (which in my opinion I would still be underpaid for my experience, knowledge and required workload) contract. It appears to me Stoffa and the friends he gives the special jobs to think very little of the county employees---actions speak much louder than words, and not on a little occasional talk show, but on a daily basis right here on county level.

I agree workers should have contracts by now. But Stoffa, unlike his predecessor, has tried to involve himself in day-to-day county operations. I've watched him unsuccessfully try to record a deed. I've seen emails he has sent to employees soliciting opinions about what they would do if they had his job. I've seen an email with very specific questions about parking.

And Stoffa has had to deal with an explosion of thirteen different unions, thanks to the Reibman layoffs. One of these is the Steelworkers union at Gracedale. Stoffa's administration was able to negotiate a contract with that union in a few short months.

So why is there no contract with AFSCME, the union certified to represent the residual unit? It's easy to place all the blame on one person, but let's looks at a few details.

* When AFSCME was certified to represent the residual unit on July 1, 2003, John Stoffa was not county executive. Two and a half years went by before that happened.

* Northampton County administrators conducted 35 negotiation sessions with AFSCME for the residual unit before making its "Final Offer".

* Throughout the summer, Stoffa claims he repeatedly requested negotiation sessions, but AFSCME refused, and the county ended up filing an unfair labor practice.

* County council members tell the executive one thing in open session and whisper different things to union negotiators.

* County negotiations have been conducted by a law firm paid by the hour.

I would not be so quick to lay all the blame at Stoffa's doormat. He wants to get it done. So does the union. So I suggest they do so. We can quibble about who's really responsible for the failure in negotiations. But no one can dispute the identity of the victims - the county workforce.

Their meager wages are a serious problem. But that's not their biggest problem. Many of them are becoming ill as the county continues to construct a palace for judges with reckless disregard for both county workforce and general public. As contractors embark on a mega asbestos removal project, workers are dropping like flies. Butz hasn't even bothered to place asbestos removal signs in a prominent location that can be viewed by the public and all employees. More about that next week.

Murder in Norco Council Chambers: Why McHale Was Eliminated as VP

Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am!

It was an ugly and sad scene.

Ann McHale, a hard-working Democrat well into her second term on county council, was unceremoniously dumped as VP on Tuesday. Her replacement, Diane Neiper, is a newcomer who just two weeks before conceded she doesn't know what the hell she's doing.

So why did council get rid of McHale? What was really going on behind those closed doors? I can't be sure because council deliberated privately in violation of the Sunshine Act. But I have a theory.

Ann McHale intends to run for exec unless Stoffa decides to seek re-election. She won't oppose an incumbent Democrat. Ann's pals on council know this. And they're not happy about it.

Here's why. She's not the only Democrat with her eyes on that office. State representative Rich Grucela is tired of banging his head against the wall in Harrisburg. He is considering a run at county exec as well. Truth be told, he's always felt most comfortable in county government. Obviously, he'd like to avoid an expensive and possibly divisive primary against McHale, who is very popular in Bethlehem. And just as Henry II asked his courtiers, perhaps Grucela asked, "Who will rid me of this meddlesome [councilwoman]?"

And guess who works for Rich Grucela?

None other than council prez Wayne Grube. If I know Grucela is considering a stab at county exec, you can be damn sure that Grube knows it, too. And just as Henry II's knights murdered Archbishop Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral, Grube and his council cronies eliminated Ann McHale inside council chambers. It was a disservice both to McHale and Grucela, who will ultimately be tarnished by these dirty politics.

Just three years after Becket's murder, he was canonized. And three years from Monday, the next county executive will be sworn in.

Update:Rich Grucela has contacted me. Like Henry II, he denies being involved in McHale's removal in any way. He's always beeen honest with me and I believe him. This dark work is not in Grucela's nature, anyway. When he does run, he tends to run for an office and never against anyone. I can't say the same for Grube and his council cronies. They are obvoiusly shoving McHale out of the way for someone.

Why I Think Wayne Grube Should Step Down as Council Prez

It's not going to happen. We're stuck with him. And it certainly is partially my fault.

I've voted for Wayne Grube as long as I can remember. When I addressed council yesterday, I complimented his service to the county. He is council's hardest-working member.

But anyone who attends Northampton County Council meetings, even sporadically, knows why Grube should step down as county council prez. It has nothing to do with his age or hearing. It has everything to do with his total inability to conduct an orderly meeting. It has everything to do with his willingness to allow himself to be controlled behind the scenes by other council members.

When I addressed council yesterday, I actually stole and read remarks made by one of the contributors to this blog. "Wayne Grube has been a powerful force in Northampton County politics for decades. His legacy is secure - perhaps no other politician has had a stronger and broader influence than he." But this contributor also had this to say. "Step down, please. Let our memories of you and your service be good ones. Nobody will think less of you; in fact, we will respect you even more."

I told Grube his time is over. His council meetings are an embarrassment. I stated publicly what nearly everyone will concede privately.

Lehigh County's Unofficial Motto? "We're not Northampton County." One of LVDem's most recent posts? "Those Crazy Kids in Norco."

In yesterday's brief council meeting, two sets of minutes from earlier meetings needed approval. Grube was at a total loss on how that should be accomplished. When it became apparent that there were objections to one set of minutes, Grube had to be reminded constantly how he should conduct the votes. The person reminding him? Council VP Ann McHale. Her reward? Dismissal.
He doesn't take criticism well, even when it is tactful.

During a typical meeting, Grube is thin-skinned, intolerant, gets involved in regular shouting matches and is rude to the public. He skips over portions of the agenda, and has to be reminded that he missed an item. He will call for votes on ordinances that have just been introduced.

But what really disturbs me is that he is now letting himself be used to subvert both the Sunshine Act and Home Rule Charter. Wayne Grube, for all his flaws, at one time believed in good government. He stood against Michael Solomon, something that is not widely known. His action on council ended the bribery in Northampton County.

But that Wayne Grube is now letting himself be used to decide the public's business behind closed doors. He has been at the heart of Sunshine Act and Home Rule Charter violations. He has worked against the Democratic county executive's agenda, even when it involves open space. He no longer stands for good government. Instead, he is deciding the county's business in the dark, with the help of new council members who don't know a damn thing about the Home Rule Charter. That's why they were all embarrassed a few weeks ago. If they deliberated publicly, they might have learned their plan to invade the cash reserve was contrary to the Home Rule Charter.

And that's why Grube needs to go.

Anyone who thinks otherwise should do himself a favor and sit in on a council meeting.

Who can replace him? Actually, there's not a large field. The only qualified Democrat is the no-nonsense Ann McHale. The only qualified Republican is Rev. J. Michael Dowd, who actually appointed a citizen to his open space committee when he was council prez.

Northampton County Council Kicks Off New Year With Sunshine Act & Charter Violations

It didn't work.

Rev. J. Michael Dowd implored the Heavenly Father to give Northampton County Council "new agendas" and "new priorities." He asked God to give council insight and courage to help do what is right.

But when the dust had settled, council was still mired in back room shenanigans. This time, in addition to a blatant Sunshine Act violation, council thumbed its nose at the Home Rule Charter.

The fix was in, bippy. Yesterday afternoon, they were just going through the motions.

As I told you before the meeting ever started, council had already decided to reelect an increasingly unstable Wayne Grube as council president. No surprise there. But the real shocker was its predecision to replace veteran Ann McHale with newcomer Diane Neiper.

The meeting was actually rescheduled to midafternoon just so Tony Branco could attend. You see, his vote was needed to make sure Neiper was elected.

Before the vote occurred, I approached council to tell them I'm an idiot. You see, I recently withdrew Sunshine Act litigation over its preselection of Lamont McClure and Tony Branco as council members. I actually believed council was seriously interested in open government, and that they were reading a manual prepared by Solicitor Zito concerning the Sunshine Act. Silly me.

I also told council neither Grube nor Neiper should be elected. Grube has been a powerful force in Northampton County and certainly works hard. But he's never been able to control a council meeting. Neiper simply has no experience.

During the short meeting, Council Prez Grube actually admitted the deal. He defiantly told a complaining Ron Angle that what they were doing was "no different than the deal you made with the county executive over open space."

Excuse me?

There's a big difference between a commitment from an individual councilman to a county executive and a closed door arrangement by a quorum of legislators. The latter is governed by the Sunshine Act.

Branco, when confronted with the reality that the cat was out of the bag, could only say he's "sick and tired of Angle talking out of his rear end." He then seconded Dertinger's nomination of Diane Neiper, stating sarcastically he may as well do that because the decision has already been made.

So for yet another year, Wayne Grube is council prez. He explained that 2006 was a fiasco and he wants to get rid of all the divisiveness and return to the days when council got things done. In other words, he likes fifteen minute meetings. He then proceeded to excoriate his critics and bumbled his way through the meeting.

Diane Neiper is now VP, and will get Grube's salary if he is forced to step down. In fact, Neiper laughingly voted for herself, violating the conflict of interest provisions of the county's Home Rule Charter in the process. No council member may consider or approve any matter in which she has a direct or indirect financial interest. Neiper really should read that Home Rule Charter. Unlike Neiper, McHale at least had the class to abstain.

Although McHale has shielded Grube from egregious errors as prez, Neiper says it's her turn now. She claims her 34 years in the classroom and her union work qualify her.

Huh?

At council's budget meeting on December 14, I heard a far different Neiper. That one acknowledged her unfamiliarity with the county's Home Rule Charter, saying she was new and this was her first budget. Boy, she sure has learned a lot in two weeks! Too bad she didn't get to the Home Rule Charter's section on conflicts of interest.

One county employee who witnessed this travesty told me he's "embarrassed" to be part of the county.

"Democracy dies behind closed doors." What a way to start off the year!

Update:Both The Morning Call and Express Times have well-written and objective accounts of yesterday's little sideshow.

Is Northampton County Council Starting Off New Year With A Sunshine Act Violation?

Northampton County Council is set to meet in an hour to decide on new officers for 2007. According to a call I just received, that decision has already been made. Wayne Grube will continue as president and Diane Neiper will replace Ann McHale as VP. Five members have decided this behind closed doors. The meeting time has been changed just so Tony Branco can attend. His vote is needed.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to report that I was dead wrong. I'm hoping the 2007 council does not start the new year with a Sunshine Act violation.

Are Local Lehigh Valley Leaders Tilting Towards Passenger Rail?

RenewLV is not your typical grassroots organization. Its members include PPL's Bert Daday, Brown Daub's L. Anderson Daub and LVEDC's Raymond F. Suhocki. Many members are also part of the advisory committee behind the plan to widen Route 22. Advocates of that plan have dismissed any notion of rail service, especially light rail. I haven't seen Daday at too many oil independence rallies.

Is this mindset against rail service changing? RenewLV is actually sponsoring a transportation forum to promote passenger rail! On Tuesday, January 16, between 6:30 and 9 PM, state senator Rob Wonderling and Brookings scholar Robert Puentes will be on hand at the Hotel Bethlehem's Terrace Room. And we're all invited for free food and drinks.

Bethlehem City Council President J. Michael Schweder has already announced he prefers rail service to wider highways. This latest announcement from a group of business leaders indicates they may be changing their thinking as global warming and peak oil become reality.

Bush Activates Storm Troopers in Rose Parade

PASADENA, CA: After seeing Darth Vader lead two hundred storm troopers along Colorado Boulevard in yesterday's Rose Parade, President Bush decided to send them to Iraq. "I'm a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign-policy matters with war on my mind." Bush is convinced that white storm trooper uniforms are cooler in desert heat and have a powerful psychological impact. Vice President Cheney agreed. "Let's face it. Do we really want American soldiers running around in berets? That's French, damn it. No wonder everyone is talking about giving up. We need something that truly reflects our Force as we spread democracy to oil-rich nations."

Bush is reputedly also considering an executive order replacing "Hail to the Chief" with the "Star Wars Imperial March."

Norco Dem Chair Joe Long's Inside Link to Elections Office - His Daughter

Joe Long, Northampton County Democratic party chair, likes to call himself Boss Long. No wonder. He was miraculously "reelected" to his post before committeemen were even certified. And on the Bethlehem Housing Authority, he trampled all over the Sunshine Act until Larry Kisslinger blew the whistle.

But what's really bothers me is Long's seeming inside connection to the embattled Northampton County voter registration office. On May 24, I wondered how Joe Long knew, on election night, that congressional write-in candidate Dertinger had over 3,000 votes. Eight days after the election, the voter registration office informed me that "unofficial" results would not be available for another week. I was told Long could learn this from his own poll workers, but I started getting suspicious.

Then Long began a strident, and ultimately unsuccessful, defense of the Elections Commission Chair, Walter Garvin. Garvin, aka Wally G, was conducting a weekly radio show during the last campaign aimed at getting Democrats elected. He regularly slammed Congressman Charlie Dent, suggesting he was part of a "culture of corruption." I believed it presented an appearance of impropriety. And lo and behold, Garvin was an area chair in the local democratic party. His dual role as party officer and elections chair was a clear Home Rule Charter violation. Long laughed off these problems until Garvin, an honorable man, voluntarily resigned his position in the Democratic party.

Last week, during a WGPA 1100 AM radio show, I began criticizing problems in the elections office. These extend from a ballot designed to promote straight party tickets, to unanswered phones and refusals to make provisional ballots available. They hurt candidates in both major parties. Joe Long called in to defend the elections office again. And while I was trying to point out that the problems affect both parties, he called me an asshole on the air. He then tried to clear things up on my blog. This prompted a question from me. "If you have nothing to do with the control of that office, then why are you so hell bent on defending it?"

Now I finally know why Long doesn't want me sticking my big nose into what goes on in that office. His daughter worked there. According to a report from the county's human resources, I know she was hired by former county exec Reibman as a part-time employee in April 2002, and stayed on board until July 26, 2006.

Boss Long's daughter helped run the elections office.

How convenient! Talk about "appearance of impropriety."

Illegal? No. Sleazy? You bet.

Rob Wonderling: It's "hard work" being a state senator

When GW debated Kerry, he made eleven references to the "hard work" he's doing in the oval office. He's not alone. State Senator Rob Wonderling today released his own report on the state Republican website detailing all the "hard work" accomplished last year. Gee, they must be tired! He's happy about a law making it more difficult for injured persons to collect damages, but is disappointed the measure was vetoed. He claims we now have property tax reform while promising that we're going to have even more property tax reform. He also takes credit for legislation that never passed. Not a word about reforming his own house. Republican leader Sam Smith has already said he doesn't "want reform simply for reform's sake." Meanwhile, House Speaker John Perzel refuses to answer questions about legislators' expense accounts.

Curmudgeon Declared Winner in Blog Parody Contest

On Tuesday, I listed a poll so readers could decide a winner in the highly controversial Christmas Parody challenge issued by Madbatter. My entry was disqualified because it is seven months old. Madbatter's entry was not natural, but was alcoholically induced.

Last night, however, the King of the Blogosphere declared a winner, spurning popular sentiment. The winning entry wasn't even submitted until after Christmas. It's not among the six essays listed in my poll. But Madbatter is absolutely right. LVCurmudgeon's "O' Little Town of Bethlehem" is a hilarious, yet chilling, prophesy for post-casino Bethlehem.

Congrats to LVCurmudgeon for an outstanding Christmas parody. And Madbatter, your challenge was great fun over the holidays. Next year, you're both going down.

Bloggin' on WGPA 1100 AM With Rich Grucela & Joe Brennan

State representatives Rich Grucela and Joe Brennan will be today's guests on WGPA 1100 AM between 8 and 10 AM. Rich is a seasoned veteran while Joe is a freshman. Both of these affable Democrats certainly heard the message delivered by voters in November. Voters want open and responsive government. It's a message they themselves have preached.

The house leadership? That's another story. For the first time since 1994, the state house is democratic. Yet the first piece of legislation drafted by Dem leader DeWeese is an expansion of slots into other forms of gaming. Is this what voters wanted?

I'll be asking Joe and Rich to talk about what they, and not DeWeese, hope to accomplish in the state house next year. Reforms aimed at ghost voting? Meaningful lobbyist regulation? Per diems? Campaign finance reform? Property tax reform? Expansion of the Sunshine Act?

Feel free to call in between 8 and 10AM. You can livestream, and your calls are welcome at 610-866-8074. You can even post comments or questions here and I'll read them to Rich and Joe while we're on the air.

Norco Official's Solution to Election Woes - "Let's Go to Florida"

As you know, we've got mega problems at Northampton County's polls. Voting screens promote straight party voting. Machines jam. Voters not listed on poll books are sent packing without being offered provisional ballots. And Registrar Deborah DePaul insists her office must perform a time-consuming manual tabulation of votes. New technology designed to increase public confidence has incredibly had the opposite effect.

Our new high-priced Director of Administration, John R. Conklin, has a suggestion. He wants elections workers to tour Broward County in Florida, the land of hanging chads. He claims elections there go off "pretty much without a hitch."

Excuse me?

What the hell is he smoking? Broward County is the source of all the controversy concerning the Bush/Gore presidential contest. Those hanging chads ended up hanging Gore. They eventually led to the federal requirement that we use touch screen voting machines. Yet Conklin wants elections officials to tour the very county that screwed up a presidential contest. Seriously, is this dude nuts? Northampton County officials have a penchant for idiotic statements, but Conklin's remark has to qualify him as nitwit of the year.

It's getting cold. Conklin must miss Florida. Maybe he has a job interview. But if he wants to visit, he should do so on his own dime.

And contrary to Conklin's assertion, Broward County elections have remained a source of controversy. In November, there was no process for poll workers to report problems and no central database for machine problems. Problems with touchscreen machines kept at least one precinct from opening on time, and litigation is threatened.

This is by no means unusual in Broward County. In 2002, a software error resulted in the loss of over 100,000 votes. Oopsie! In 2004, 134 ballots simply failed to register in a special election for a state house seat with a 12 vote margin of victory. Between 2002 and 2005, there have been at least eight such screw-ups.

On top of everything else, Broward and Northampton County are in two different states with completely different election laws. And Broward County uses ES&S Votronic touch-screen voting machines while Northampton County uses Advanced Voting Solutions.

The Express Times has its own suggestion. Either Advanced Voting Solutions is failing to remedy system flaws, or Registrar DePaul "is ill-equipped to handle the task." This problem must be identified and corrected immediately.

And it doesn't require a trip to sunny Florida.

The "Humorous Christmas Parody" Poll

MadBatter, in the depths of some alcoholic stupor, has somehow concluded that he is a master of parody. He's challenged fellow bloggers to take him on. As we've submit our own entries, all we get are barely coherent responses. So why don't you decide which essay is the best parody? I don't care whether I win. I just want to take that bastard, Madbatter, down with me.

Here are the entries.

PennPatriot Online: Revolution Calling: A Christmas Tune.

LVDem: The Weekend Before Christmas.

LehighValleyRamblings: Latest Victim of Global Warming - Santa Claus.

Chris Casey: A Parody Lost.

Naked Lehigh County Blogger: ATF Raids North Pole.

MadBatter: Republicans to Ask Jesus to Run For President in 2008.

Click on this poll and vote! I'll keep it up for a week.

Update: My humblest apologies to Gort, whose "Holiday Greetings From the Mean One" was terrific. I certainly meant to include his entry, but don't want to change the poll now. I cling to a razor thin lead. Gort, you can safely conclude this poll is a battle for second place.

Bloggin' on WGPA 1100 AM With Young Republican Julian Stolz

I'll be bloggin' on WGPA 1100 AM today between 8 and 10 AM. During the first hour, I'll be joined by a fellow blogger. LVDem? MadBatter? GreendogDem? NakedLehighCountyBlogger? Nah. They give some song and dance about how "important" it is they preserve their anonymity. The truth? They fear my searing logic.

Chris "Blue Collar" Casey, founder of TrueDems, is an exception. He's no creampuff. He wants to come on the air, dressed like a leprechaun in spandex, and do some goofy step dancing. I'm sorry but Riverdance is the best proof yet that we Irish are idiots. It might interfere with all the chickendancers at WGPA. Also, I just can't seem to get through to Chris that no one will actually see his step dancing on the radio. They'll just hear some clicking noise and the sound of splitting pants.

So my guest is Republican Julian Stolz, a fellow blogger who publishes Right from Lehigh County. Julian represents the future of Lehigh Valley politics. He's a co-founder of the last remaining Young Republicans chapter in Lehigh County. He interned for State Senator Rob Wonderling in 2005 and was Desales University's Campus Chair for Santorum's failed reelection bid.

Now he's in the running for the East Penn School Board. But most important, today is his birthday!

I'd like to ask him how local Republicans have managed to keep a stranglehold in western Lehigh Valley while losing everywhere else. Maybe we can pick up a pointer or two.

Feel free to call in with your insults on Thursday between 8 and 10AM. You can livestream, and your calls are welcome at 610-866-8074. You can even post your comments here and I'll read them on the air.

Update: Many thanks to Julian Stolz, a very well-spoken and intelligent guest with interesting views. We obviously disagree on a number of important issues, but I really admire any young person who takes an interest in open and accountable government. I certainly would vote for him as a member of the East Penn School Board.