Who's Apathetic - Voters or Mainstream Media?

"I hate municipal elections. I know how important they are, but to vote intelligently, you have to do some real research, and not enough people bother."

"In case you're wondering (and, really, who isn't?) turnout in the Valley is sluggish today."

The former comment comes from Morning Call columnist Bill White: the latter from Morning Call statehouse reporter John Micek. I admire and respect them both. To be fair, Bill made those remarks as the preface to a blog about appellate judge elections, which are confusing. And Micek tells me he actually wishes we had high turnouts like those in Europe.

But I still wish those remarks were never made. They give the impression they don't give a damn about local races. It encourages voter apathy.

Party bosses predicted a 15-17% turnout in yesterday's municipal primary. Lehigh County's registrar of voters stated turnout was "busier than I anticipated." Northampton County's voter registrar claimed 15% of eligible voters had already voted by 1 PM. The Morning Call's headline for this online article? "Lehigh Valley voter turnout slow so far." Doesn't that misleading description also promote voter apathy?

Obviously, the turnout in yesterday's election is much lower than you'll see in a presidential election. It was slow - but not for a municipal primary. If it's between 15-17%, it's a normal turnout. Approximately 30,000 votes were cast in Northampton County, not including absentee ballots. That's about 16% of Northampton County's registered voters. Of course this is too low, but it still met expectations.

During most election cycles, when local candidates strive to have their message heard, the print media hide. Candidates are encouraged to buy ads to get their points across, or have supporters send letters to the editor. This scant coverage makes it impossible for poorly funded candidates to deliver their message. Most citizens have no time to do the "real research." This media policy of paucity promotes incumbents and well-funded candidates.

Bill White acknowledges this himself. "[I]t has to be frustrating to keep trying and trying to get your message out -- in the back rooms of diners, in quiet hotel meeting rooms, on busy street corners -- knowing that in many cases, almost no one will show up, and no one will hear about it."

Many people, who don't really know the candidates or issues, stay away. And then the mainstream media will charge them with voter apathy.

But people really are hungry.

Yesterday, there were 669 visits and 1,643 page views on this very small blog. That's about 200 more than I'm used to seeing on any weekday. People are, in fact, interested in their own government. That's why it's sad to see so little attention from the mainstream. They are the pros. Bloggers lack their credibility. We need them.

Limited resources and space hamstring the mainstream. But the result is fewer votes and declining subscriptions. That's why the Internet is such a useful asset. The Morning Call did post election results online, and Jim Deegan had a terrific post about Mike Fleck's campaign signs in Easton.

Mainstream media could easily use the Internet to make campaign finance reports in local races available. I'll be trying that myself. They establish blogs for Mayfair and Musikfest - why not local races? Increased coverage of these local issues and elections, would both serve the public and might increase circulation.

Now I'll go back to picking my nose.

Romig-Passaro is Northeast Bethlehem's New District Judge

The biggest complaint people had against her is that she writes her name like this - Patricia Romig-Passaro. She's the only district judge candidate in Northampton County to win both Democratic and Republican nominations.

Nazareth Voters Remember Conrad Bowers

"Sunshine Act? We don't need no stinkin' Sunshine Act!"

That's pretty much the attitude of unelected Nazareth borough councilman Conrad Bowers. He refused to allow those of us in the lower classes to attend his committee hearings. We might make things "too unwieldy." It's just "not going to work out." Although he had no idea what the Sunshine Act requires, he still insisted on conducting the people's business behind closed doors. When forced by other council members to admit the public, he refused to let them speak.

Yesterday, the voters finally had a chance to speak - at the polls. Comrade Bowers finished dead last among four candidates seeking two positions. Perhaps we thought he might make council "too unwieldy." I guess it's just "not going to work out."

Is Ron Angle Vulnerable?

The Emperor, Ron Angle, faced no primary opponent in his bid for re-election to a third term on Northampton County Council. But a review of the county's totals for 85% of the precincts, reveals that Angle must have some enemies in his own party. Of the 3,892 votes cast by Republicans in his district, Angle captured only 2,723. There were 45 write-in votes, and 1,124 chose to skip his race completely.

I wonder how many of those 45 write-ins went to Jolly Joe Timmer?

A Math Lesson For Jeff Warren

Easton Councilman Ken Brown raised $75 between between February 8 and April 16. He earned 905 votes. Jeff Warren's $12,385, raised between January 1 and April 30, got him 831 votes.

Cost of Ken Brown vote - 8 cents.

Cost of Jeff Warren vote - $14.90.

Money means shit in Easton.

Any questions?

McClure's McMud Wins Primary, But Makes Him a Loser

McClure's McMud worked ... in the primary. In a campaign against an unknown with no money, McClure just had to slime his opponent. His negative campaign, in which he resurrected the memory of Will Power's quadriplegic and deceased brother, revealed a lot more about McClure than it did about Power.

With most precincts in, McClure has 2,559 votes to a very strange 666 for Power, or 79% of the vote. He'll be facing Republican Mark Schwartz, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, this Fall.

The more people get to know McClure, the less they like. He'll lose this Fall.

It's Monahan v. Corpora for Easton Mini-judge

A mysterious last-minute smear campaign against Attorney Brian Monahan appears to have back-fired. With 338 votes, he easily captured the Republican nomination in Easton's magisterial district of Williams Township, Glendon Borough and Easton's south side. But Easton councilman Dan Corpora just as easily got the Democratic nod, garnering 546 votes.

Monahan and Corpora will face off in November. Combining both parties, we have the following vote totals: Corpora - 737; Monahan - 659; and Greene - 202.

Congrats to Mayor Sal Panto

On Friday, I cornered Sal Panto at the courthouse. He had dropped by to record a deed or something, and must have forgotten I search titles. When he saw me, he made a beeline for the door, but I cut him off. (I know the terrain, bippy).

Although genial as ever, Panto was scared to death. He was very aware of Mike Fleck's GOTV skills.

His worries are over. With all but one precinct in, Panto has 60% of the vote, and leads Fleck 914 to 606. According to The Morning Call's Tracy Jordan, Fleck conceded at 9:15 PM. "We wish Sal the best of luck, and we hope he's the next mayor."

So do I.

Now Fleck gets to rip down all those signs. That should take several years.

Nazareth Mini-Judge Race is Very Close

Someone from Falcone's camp contacted me election eve to tell me, "I for one am shutting down my computer. I will turn it on again tomorrow evening to catch the results and see Falcone as the new District Judge."

Oopsie!

The Morning Call reports that Yvonne Falcone clings to a thirty-one vote lead over John Capobianco for the Democratic nomination. And Capobianco has convincingly sewed up the Republican nod with a 180 vote lead. If you combine both parties, the results are as follows: Capobianco - 878; Falcone - 729; Siegfried - 470; Buskirk - 381; and Hammer - 200.

The county's unofficial results, with 85% of the votes tabulated, correspond roughly with The Morning Call.

Will there be a recount? Contested general election? Gee, I hope so! Especially now that the real Yvonne Falcone has revealed herself. Stay tuned!

Lehigh Valley Election Turnout

When I voted at 11 AM in Nazareth's second ward, I was the 100th voter. Elections workers tell me turnout was heavier than expected for a municipal primary. How's the turnout in other Lehigh Valley precincts?

Update at 2:40 pm: In a Morning Call article entitled "Lehigh Valley voter turnout slow so far", Lehigh County's registrar of voters tells us turnout is "busier than I anticipated." Northampton County's voter registrar claims 15% of eligible voters had already voted by 1 PM. Party leaders had predicted a 15-17% turnout, but it appears that the current pace may exceed those expectations. We'll see.

Earley Gets Squirrely in Upper Macungie!

The Morning Call has an interesting account of today's supervisor race in Upper Macungie Township, where fellow blogger Chris Casey is making his third swing at the plate. Obviously, he's my choice for the Democratic nod.

Morning Call columnist and blogger extraordinaire Bill White tells us how Republican incumbent Ed Earley plans to retain his seat.

With so little information, it's easy to manipulate us. Upper Macungie Township chose the week before the election to mail out a fat full color newsletter that features no less than three nice photos of incumbent Ed Earley, who is seeking re-election in a contested primary. Its glowing account of the township's progress serves as a great free campaign ad for a guy who, at best, was asleep at the switch while his two co-supervisors were grossly misusing township credit cards. I don't think the timing of this mailer was a coincidence.

Buddy Christ's Election Day Checklist

Feel free to post your own endorsements today. I'm going to be a little busy. I plan on voting in every precinct. I'm a Democrat and that's what we do. Buddy Christ has stepped to the plate, and will give his infallible election picks.

Hi boys and girls! Got Christ? Who's your Buddy? Who's the slick with the pick? That's right, bippy, it's Me. O'Hare doesn't know it yet, but I just locked him in the can. I'll let him out at 8:01 PM. Who says I don't have a sense of humor? And now let me give you my election day picks. This will boil your holy water.

Act 1 Referendum: Vote NO. Anything that needs the Holy Slide Rule is Trouble!

Easton's mayor: Fleck's a wreck! When he started plastering signs on My church steeples, he lost Me. Vote Panto. He can't walk on water like Me, but he'll restore some sanity in Easton.

Easton's city council: Anyone but Jeff Warren! Liked him, but that all changed when he filed his finance report. Two words. Special interests.

Easton's magisterial contest: Brian Monahan. He took a lickin' and kept on tickin'.

Bethlehem's city council: They're too damned boring! Are they still alive? I'd spice them up with Dana Grubb. He'd keep an eye on Callahan. Grubb's also offering a free wrestling clinic for elected officials in June. But the three incumbents will win. Yawn.

Bethlehem's school board: It's time for some changes, and sister Judy Dexter tells us why. I hope she's attending Grubb's wrestling clinic.

Bethlehem's magisterial race: Pat Romig-Passaro deserves a shot, but has got to stop writing her name like that. Seriously.

Nazareth's mini-judge: Anyone but Falcone! If this election season lasted just a few more days, she'd break out her 5th grade geography quizzes to show us she "far surpasses" her lowly opponents. Forget mini-judge, she should be running for pope!

Northampton County Council, Nazareth District: Lamont, Lamont! Dude! What's with those repeated Sunshine Act violations, attempted invasion of the budgetary reserve, worse attendance record on council, special interest campaign contributions and all that mudslinging about Will Power's deceased paraplegic brother. You need a time out. Vote for Will Power.

Northampton County Council, Slate Belt District: John Maher, you sold your soul to Bossman Long in return for a lousy party endorsement. Now you're doing goofy things like planting signs in Nazareth, outside your district. You'll stumble through the primary, and fall in the Fall. The Evil One, Ron Angle, is waiting for you.

Machine Dems Insure Angle Victory in Slate Belt

State rep. Rich Grucela opposes party endorsement of candidates in contested primaries. And that's what he told the Northampton County Democratic party in its last meeting. It makes sense. When a party preselects candidates in dark bars, we end up with elected officials who decide the people's business behind closed doors.

But a handful of Dems, who think they know best, disregarded Grucela's advice and chose John Maher as their poster boy to challenge Ron Angle on Northampton County Council. It made no difference that Maher has a Democratic opponent, Bill Hall. A college grad, Hall founded Bayside Builders in Naples, FL, supervising 100 million dollars in construction projects. He relocated to Pennsylvania in 1997, working as a construction supervisor and contractor.

A few Bethlehem Dems made an undemocratic decision for slate belt Dems. Maher refused to stand up against the machine. In fact, he tried vainly to justify machine politics. In doing so, he sold his soul to Bossman Long, and has guaranteed his defeat this Fall. Angle will eat him alive.

Bill White Casts Public Spotlight on Possible "Pay to Play" Scheme at BHA

Nearly a month ago, I told you about the latest shenanigans at Bethlehem's Housing Authority (BHA). It plans on rejecting the advice of a $35,000 consultant to select a politically-connected energy savings contractor. BHA member Joe Long just happens to chair the local Dems.

The Morning Call's Bill White has published an excellent two-part exposé, shedding light on what increasingly appears to be a "pay to play" scheme.

A frustrated Larry Kisslinger, who had resigned from BHA a few months earlier, had this to say to Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. "Bible says: the more you know, the more you worry ... and ... I worry a lot for you and BHA! Go figure!"

Today, at 4 PM, the BHA made its decision. Did it go with the outfit recommended by its own consultant? Or did it pick the Democratic campaign contributor?

Update: The Express Times reports the Bethlehem Housing Authority, in a 3-2 vote, went with Ameresco, the outfit recommended by its own consultant. Happy ending for good government. Lousy ending for Boss Long.
Update 2: The Morning Call also has a well-written account of the 4 PM meeting.

McClure's Sleaze Campaign Designed to Chill Boscola's Congressional Aspirations?

A student of local politics tells me why McClure's smear campaign was launched. It has nothing to do with Will Power and everything to do with state senator Lisa Boscola! Here's the theory.

1.) We all know [Norco Dem boss] Joe Long would like to see Sam "0 for life" Bennett be the Dem nominee in the 15th Congressional District. As one county Dem on the ballot put it to me, "Let's face it, Sam's been more loyal to Joe than Lisa."

2.) McClure, in his psychosis, believes he will one day be Congressman McClure, so he wouldn't mind seeing Sam run and lose to keep the seat away from more prominent Dems (Lisa, Jenn Mann, Callahan).

3.) "Boss Long" believes he is making his point with the Stofkos [Lisa's family] to convince Lisa to stay out.

4.) McClure believes the same.

5.) One of the big hang ups for Lisa about running is that her family believes a run will be stressful. By decimating Will, "the machine" folks are proving their point to her. This is what lies ahead of her.

Sounds sexy. Personally, I think McClure is just a bully.

Lamont McLure Deserves No Seat on Norco Council

I've written about Lamont McClure, aka McMud, so many times I could probably devote an entire blog to his nefarious antics. He's earned the unflattering nickname.

One thing he hasn't earned is a seat on Northampton County Council. He's lost whenever he's run. He'll win on Tuesday, but his sleaze campaign against Will Power has probably guaranteed that Dems will lose control of county council in the general election.

I've already told you what I think. Here are some other voices in the blogosphere.

NewsOverCoffee, a Nazareth blog in McMud's district: "Campaigns almost always devolve into one candidate knocking another one down to boost one's self in the process and it makes no constructive contribution to our knowledge of these individuals or their ability to perform. Pointing out convictions of crimes would be fine, but accusations that were not upheld is not right and speaks volumes of the individual presenting the material."

Lehigh Valley Poliblog: "Using a candidate's dead relative in an attack mailing against him, twisting the facts and words of someone who is no longer alive and can't set the record straight, is the lowest form of gutter politics I have ever witnessed, and i've personally seen some nasty crap."

Blue Coyote a relative newcomer to Blogistan, says it best of all: "I am reminded of a quote from Marcus Aurelius - 'A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.' "

In Bethlehem, Patricia Romig-Passaro Deserves Her Day in the Sun

Bethlehem's magisterial race in the Marvine-Pembroke area includes Patricia Romig-Passaro, daughter of retired District Judge Liz Romig, social services worker Juan Cruz and Attorney Gil Negrete. I think this is a no-brainer for anyone with any knowledge of the area.

For decades, Liz Romig kept the peace in volatile northeast Bethlehem. Along the way, she earned the respect of judges and lawyers, most of whom considered her Northampton County's finest district judge.

I have no doubt that Johnny Cruz and Gil Negrete would be fair-minded and good magistrates. But a Liz Romig only appears once every generation. Pat Passaro, who cut her teeth in her mother's courtroom, deserves a shot at following in her mother's footsteps. She is certified for the position.

In Easton, it's Monahan for District Judge

Easton's magisterial seat consists of Williams Township, Glendon Borough and Easton's south side. Attorney Brian Monahan is in a three-way battle with designer Cindy Greene and Easton councilman Dan Corpora.

As a Democrat, I lean towards Corpora, an affable and soft-spoken Easton leader. But there's no doubt in my mind that Monahan is by far the most qualified of the three. He's the only one who can hit the ground running. The other two have not been certified.

And I deeply resent an anonymous outsider's last-minute sleaze attack at Monahan. Looks like Monahan offended some pretty powerful people, probably by doing the right thing. We need people with that kind of integrity on the bench.

For Nazareth District Judge - Anybody But Falcone

"You're going to say nasty things about me. ... No, I'm just kidding."

That's how Yvonne Falcone ended her conversation with me at a candidates' forum for five mini-judge hopefuls at the Nazareth News Agency a few weeks ago. I had asked her some pretty tough questions, and was impressed by her answers.

Actually, I was impressed by all of them, and said, "We're very lucky to have such a fine group interested in this very tough and important job. Each would be outstanding." When I told you about their campaign finance reports on Friday, there was nothing unsavory about any of them. In fact, I complimented Falcone for shunning the easy temptation of money from other lawyers.

But on Friday, Falcone finally showed her true colors. She lacks judicial temperament.

Someone, posing as a concerned citizen, popped on this blog to tell us he checked the finance reports, too, as well as Falcone's ethics records and even her Moravian College transcripts. "She checks out well."

This is Nazareth baloney. First, nearly all disciplinary actions against attorneys are private matters - there's simply no way to check private reprimands. Second, colleges won't release transcripts without the consent of the graduating student. It violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Finally, other than reporters and the candidates themselves, very few citizens have the time to look through campaign finance reports. It's clear to me that this "concerned citizen" is someone closely associated with Falcone's campaign.

That would have been fine with me, but this "concerned citizen" had to take things to the next level by unfairly trashing Norco prison boss Todd Buskirk and dismissing the rest, all good men, as politically connected nitwits who just don't know the law.

My response to this concerned citizen? "Who the hell do you think you're kidding? You're obviously in Falcone's camp, and might even be the candidate herself." I asked Falcone to condemn the disparaging remarks about other candidates.

Falcone responded by telling me these kinds of things.

(1) "[A]s I said at the candidate's forum, I knew you'd come back to say nasty things about me." (Looks like she wasn't kidding after all. And incidentally, she prejudged me, not the best quality in a judge).

(2) "I have not spoken unkind words about any of the candidates and neither has any of my supporters to my knowledge." (All she has to do is look at my blog to know that's untrue.)

(3) "I also see they accessed your ethics record too so there must be some public access." (Now she attacks me personally- very judicial).

(4) "I graduated from Moravian College ranked 10/365 with a 3.88 GPA. ... I cannot denounce a good scholastic record. I was also ranked 5/118 at Pen Argyl High School. Academically and in legal qualifications/experience, I far surpass my opponents." (Well, la-de-da! Aren't we full of ourselves? Not much humility here. Not much reality, either. No jury ever asked me how I finished in high school ... or college ... or law school. There's very little correlation between class rank and intelligence. Some of the brightest people I know never went to school.)

After hearing from the real Yvonne Falcone, I could never support her for judge. She's a braggart who looks down her nose at the other candidates. As a judge, she'll look down her nose at you, too.

Colonial Region police detective Gary Hammer, Norco warden Todd Buskirk, Upper Nazareth top cop Alan Siegfried and deputy sheriff John Capobianco, the remaining candidates, would each make a fine district judge. Unlike Falcone, they have enough common sense to avoid mixing it up with a blogger.

Pa. Taxpayers Cyber Coaltion Urges "No" Vote on Act 1 Referendum

The Pa. Taxpayers Cyber Coaltion (PTCC) and Lower Nazareth Township Citizens Forum both have an interesting series on the Act 1 referendum scheduled tomorrow. Quality education costs money. There's no way around it. But this proposal increasingly appears to be one that just replaces one unfair system with another. We can do better.