On Tuesday, November 6, 2007 Bethlehem voters will elect a new City Controller...and they are going to make a mistake.
In Bethlehem, Democrats have a registration advantage of around 2 to 3. It increases when you look at likely voters. Democrats rarely face real challenges from Republicans in general elections in Bethlehem, the real races happen in the Democratic primary.
This year is different, at least in the race for Bethlehem Controller.
The Democratic nominee is David DiGiacinto (and he is going to win).
The Republican nominee is Meg Holland (and she is going to lose).
The real losers will be the people of the City of Bethlehem. The voters will be making a huge mistake by electing David DiGiacinto.
If DiGiacinto is elected, the City will be subjected to turmoil and controversy. If you have read my blog you already know that DiGiacinto is part of the Schweder-Rooney faction of the Democratic party. There is a fear that DiGiacinto will hold personal grudges against Mayor Callahan and will go out of his way to cause trouble for him. This is something that the City cannot afford to go through with the impending development of the Steel land and BethWorks.
DiGiacinto has already shown that he will spare no expense to get elected to the $42,000.00 per year job. The Morning Call reports that he has raised over $30,000.00 (mostly from out of town) and has given $20,000.00 of his own money. And he is scheduled to have another fundraiser in New York City with his CEO buddies.
My question is why spend this much money for this position, unless you have ulterior motives.
The good news is that today is October 30th, and the voters did not vote yet.
There is still a chance to stop DiGiacinto, Schweder and their New York CEO buddies.
Vote for Meg Holland for Bethlehem City Controller.
Meg's campaign has touted that she is qualified and her opponent is not. The truth is they both are qualified. Meg should be touting that she is good at what she does and she has more experience doing it than her opponent. Read this post on the Morning Call's Bethlehem Daily Star Blog about her experience at Bethlehem Steel.
Bethlehem will be lucky to have this experienced professional as its Controller.
Meg will not be a rubber stamp for the Callahan administration, she will make sure the money is spent on what it is supposed to be spent on, will conduct audits and institute fraud prevention controls. However, she will not use personal grudges to cause unnecessary problems and needlessly waste taxpayer money.
On Tuesday November 6th, this Democrat will be voting for the best person for the job-Meg Holland.
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20 comments:
Good post! What's more, I agree with you.
This should be a letter to the editor.
Thanks.
I feel Bethlehem has too much to lose to let grudges and personal problems get in the way of progress. That is what will happen if DiGiacinto is elected.
John Callahan got elected because he went against the old boys networkd and out hustled Jim Delgrosso. Now John is trying to create his own network by having Meg run for controller. Make no mistake about it, Meg is John's choice to rubber stamp transaction.
Another prediciton is one or both of Megs daughters will be working for the controller office.
That would be swell. Just what the City needs.
"I feel Bethlehem has too much to lose to let grudges and personal problems get in the way of progress. That is what will happen if DiGiacinto is elected."
...and what exactly makes you so sure that Mr. DiGiacinto will act this way? Just what I thought - nothing specific, "just a feeling".
Here's a feeling for you - let's keep an eye on our philandering Mayor. Can you trust a man who is unfaithful to his wife?
This is not about Callahan. It is about DiGiacinto and Holland.
History has shown that Schweder and his crew have let personal problems with Callahan get in the way of progress. DiGiacinto is part of that crew.
The bottomline is that Holland has more experience.
I just think DiGiacinto is in this for the wrong reasons.
Maureen Holland Schaeffer --
(sorry can't sign in)
That's ridiculous! I will NEVER be working in the City of Bethlehem Controller office... I am a Certified Valuation Analyst and a Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (and I am taking the CPA exam this year). I have a full time job which pays more than the deputy Controller at $52,000 (and I can assure you I do not want to take a pay cut)... my sister Katie is a licensed Stock Broker (series 7, 66, and health and life licensed) and works at Metlife and will continue to work in Financial Services not the Controller's office.
I did think maybe 20 or 30 years down the road I might consider myself running for the City of Bethlehem Controller position... but after my experience with running my mom's campaign and dealing with the pettiness of politics, I highly doubt I will ever even think about it again.
My mom will NEVER be a rubber stamp Controller for Callahan... my mom will not let anyone influence her job. The Controller is a nonpartisan postion and I can assure you that my mom will make sure it remains that way. If my mom uncovered any fraudulent activity and did not report it, she would lose her license.
So anonymous poster that rumor you speak of could not be more incorrect.
Way to go BethDem, call it like it is.
Way to go BethDem, call it like it is.
I must have struck a nerve to have all of these negative comments.
When you hear something once or twice you discount it, but when you hear multiple times from people I respect and trust, then I believe it.
I have spoken to many people about this race. I spoke to Democrats, Republicans, the "old guard" democrats and others. They all said the same thing-DiGiacinto is Schweder's boy and if elected he will be a disruptive force.
I also looked at this race in a different way. If you take away the D and the R from behing their names, who would I vote for?
The answer is clear-While both candidates are qualified, Meg Holland has the best experience to be the Controller. And their is a difference between qualified and experienced.
The personal attack against Bethlehem's mayor is totally irrelevant and unnecessary. I'm sorry that someone had to do that. It's very hurtful, and reflects very poorly on Mr. DiGiacinto's camp.
In desperate times, people take desperate measures. This is exactly what "Meg Holland's CREW" is showing by trying to discredit Mr.DiGiacinto. Why not talk of her qualifications? Why not talk of how she is more qualified to be the City Controller then Mr.DiGiacinto? So I ask you, where has Meg Holland gained her experience? Where has Meg Holland been a City Controller before running for Bethlehem's position? Because if the answer is nowhere, then she does not have any more experience, and she is not any more qualified to be Bethlehem's City Controller than Mr. Digiacinto.
Thank you for your time.
So in a city with a vast Democratic edge, Digiacinto is desperate? That's what I thought, and it's interesting to see his camp admit it.
If you have read any of BethlehemDem's prior posts on this topic, you'll see that Meg Holland's superior qualifications have been mentioned more than once.
Meg Holland's qualifications speak for themselves. Just look at her resume and the letters behind her name (CPA/ABV, CIA, CVA, CFE). I never doubted Meg Holland's qualifications. She is well-known in the Bethlehem area and she has an outstanding reputation in her field.
I needed to research DiGiacinto to see of his qualifications. He is qualified to be the controller. I argued that on this site. I just think Holland is better qualified and has more experience in accounting, auditing and inplementing fraud prevention practices.
While Holland has never been a Controller, neither has DiGiacinto. DiGiacinto has never been CPA, CIA or CFE. 3 certifications which Holland has and make her well qualified to be a controller.
Answer me this:
Why has DiGiacinto raised the majority of his money from outside the City of Bethlehem?
Why is he holding a fundraiser in NYC tomorrow night?
Why is he spending over $50,000 to for a $42,000 per year part time job?
Why did DiGiacinto duck a debate/forum?
Maureen Holland Schaeffer ---
Not to be negative, but if you read the well written and clearly unbiased articles in the Bethlehem Press and the Morning Call, DiGiacinto states in both that he will "teleconference in for meetings" and "use technology"... my mom's office is on East Broad Street in downtown Bethlehem -- there will be no teleconferencing or using technology to attend meetings... she can walk to city hall in 5-10mins (10 mins in the pouring rain as cited in the Morning Call article). I pose the question, what if a problem arises in City Hall with respect to finances that mandates the Controller be there immediately?? My mom will be there in 5 mins (even during tax season)... and DiGiacinto will be stuck in NYC. If voters are confused about qualifications they should at least understand availability.
I can also speak for my mom and anyone who knows my mom and her work ethic... for a lack of better words she never does anything "half-assed"...
As posted on LV Ramblings--
Letter to the Editor--
DiGiacinto will be independent as Bethlehem's controller
I've known Bethlehem City Controller candidate Dave DiGiacinto since we were teenagers growing up in northeast Bethlehem and playing sports on area playgrounds and fields. His late father was our postman for many years during the same period.
Like many friends from our youth, we headed in different directions for our educational needs and career paths. Yet, as is often the case in life, our paths crossed again after Dave was appointed to the Bethlehem Authority Board of Directors, where he served with candor and distinction.
Dave has the desire, background and character to be the independent financial watchdog that the city of Bethlehem taxpayers need. He has no connections to the mayor, as does his opponent. When financial accountability becomes an issue, as it often does in government, influences from within City Hall will play no part in how he conducts the business of his office. As city controller, he will work in the best interests of all who call Bethlehem home.
That's why Dave has my support!
Dana B. Grubb
Bethlehem
-- The problem is.. DiGiacinto is tied strongly with Schweder and he will make City Hall a nightmare if elected... Meg Holland might have quiet support from the Mayor but I do not think she will allow any influence... especially since the position is non-partisan and she has business licenses (CPA) which mandate her independence and objectivity...
I would take anything Dana Grubb says with a grain of salt. His support of DiGiacinto strengthens the point that DiGiacinto is strongly tied to Schweder and will allow partisian politics get in the way of progress.
Grubb was fired from his City Hall after getting into a fist fight. He now is one of Callahan's most vocal critics at Council meetings. He was supported by Schweder in his failed City Council run in this past primary election.
I doubt Grubb's letter will help DiGiacinto.
I visited the elections office today that DiGiacinto is now reporting an additional $4,000 to his warchest, all from NYC execs. Not one cent of that money is local.
Maureen Holland Schaeffer-- (Response from my mom regarding an incorrect letter to the editor)
Controller candidate wrong about budget
I received a campaign mailer from Meg Holland, Republican candidate for Bethlehem city controller, telling me how qualified she is for the job.
In the mailer she said the city budget is $121 million. That just seemed wrong. So I called the mayor's office, who directed me to the office of the business administrator. I asked the gentleman who answered the call what is the city budget? He told me it was $58 million.
Holland was off by $63 million. As a businessman in Bethlehem I sure don't want her handling my books. I am voting for Dave DiGiacinto. He is more qualified to do the job.
Frank Horwath
----------
In Mr. Horwath’s letter to the editor on November 3, 2007 he stated that the city budget of $121 million as reported in my campaign mailers was off by $63 million. The City of Bethlehem budget is $121 million, which I detail below.
Operating Budget (in millions)
General Fund 58.523
Water 18.000
Sewer 11.931
Golf 1.400
911 1.898
Total Operating Budget 91.752
Capital Budget (in millions
Non-utility 13.650
Water 4.392
Sewer 3.211
Community 6.930
Liquid Fuels 1.417
Total Capital Budget 29.600
Total City Budget = $121.352
Unfortunately Mr. Horwath was only informed of the General Fund budget. The Controller’s job is the “watchdog” of all city accounts, therefore, only considering the General Fund budget would be incorrect.
Meg Holland CPA/ABV, CIA, CVA, CFE
Bonjorno, bethlehemdem.blogspot.com!
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