Post-Election Thoughts

Some Post-Election Thoughts:

The Bethlehem City Controller Race: Republican Meg Holland defeating Democrat Dave DiGiacinto may be the most shocking result. I thought Meg would lose. I am glad the voters looked at more than R and D behind their names and looked at the substance of the candidate. Once they did that, it was a clear choice. Some may try to spin this race as a referendum on the Old Guard losing their grip in Bethlehem. It may be, but I would not go that far yet. I think Schweder just picked the wrong guy to run for Controller.

The Bethlehem City Council Race: The voters gave Bob Donchez and Gordon Mowrer another term, which was a good thing. They are the most rational and steady individuals on council. J. William Reynolds joins them as the voters elected him to be the youngest councilman in the history of Bethlehem. Reynolds worked hard in the primary to unseat incumbent Maggie Szabo, which was another blow to the Old Guard in the City. Reynolds is the aide to popular State Rep. Steve Samuelson and we the voters can only hope that Reynolds will follow the example his boss has set. Note to Reynolds: We are watching young man, do not screw up!

Lehigh County Commissioners: The voters elected 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats. The Republicans will still hold control of the board. Andy Roman was the lone incumbent seeking to keep his seat and was re-elected. Fellow GOPer Dean Browning joins him. Gloria Hamm and Bill Leiner are the two Democrats who will join the board. While the Republicans maintain control, it is not as bad as it appears. Cunningham has been able to work with the Republicans in the past and I am sure that he will in the future.

Northampton County Council: Unfortunately for Joe Long, the Republicans gained a seat, which may be fortunate for the taxpayers. Voters rejected more of Tony Branco in the changed Council at large seat.

Northampton County Controller: Voter’s showed their desire of having a full-time Controller by narrowly electing Stephen Barron. Hopefully, Stephen lives up to the expectations. Time will tell if the County needs a full-time Controller, if it does hopefully the Charter can be changed to pay him like a full-timer.

Lehigh County Row Offices: Democrats sweep. No real surprises except in the Controller race where the incumbent Peter Shaffer lost to Tom Slonaker in a close one.

Local Judges: Barrata and Steinberg were retained in landslide votes. Republican Jim Anthony took third in the Lehigh County Judicial Race over Dan McCarthy. Personally, I thought McCarthy would win, since Anthony had previously lost when he ran a few years ago. Anthony joins fellow winners District Judge Michelle Varrichio, who gets a seat on the big bench, and Maria Dantos, who is already sitting on the big bench.

UPDATE: Slonaker has apparently lost his bid to unseat Shaffer as Lehigh County Controller. I relied on http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1-5clerk.6127061nov07,0,3412390.story for my information...but it is now wrong. The mcall.com has Shaffer with a 99 vote lead and wfmz.com has a 78 vote lead for Shaffer. I thought both men were well-qualified for the post and thought both would do a good job.

Celebrity Bartending in Bethlehem

Diane and Tom Herstich have organized a unique fundraiser that will feature Mayor John Callahan, Dennis Reichard-City Business Administrator, and J. William Reynolds-city council candidate serving drinks at Starter's Riverport to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The event will take place on Monday, September 17th from 7-9 p.m. at Starter's Riverport.

The tips that Callahan, Reichard and Reynolds receive will go to benefit the ACS Relay for Life.

The Eagles-Redskins game immediately follows the event.

Come out and support a great cause!

City Election Update

The fall election season is upon us, finally!

Voters in the City of Bethlehem will be electing a new council person and a new controller.

The City Council are as follows:
Democractic Ticket: Robert Donchez, J. William Reynolds and Gordon Mowrer
Republican Ticket: Esther Lee

Reynolds is the 26-year old legislative aide to State Rep. Steve Samuelson. He pulled off his major victory in spring when he came in second in a crowded Democratic primary that included an incumbent councilwoman, a former councilman and a former county councilman.

Lee is the party hopping head of the local chapter of NAACP. She was a Democrat in the past and has been a Republican for the past few years. Earlier this summer she led the protest against the Ludacris performance at Musikfest. She was also a member of the Bethlehem Defense Fund, a group which unsuccessfully attempted to stop the Sands-Bethworks project.

Donchez, the recently retired Allen High School teacher and winner of the Democratic primary, will be running for his 4th term on Council. He has recently joined State Rep. Joe Brennan's office as a Legislative Aide.

Mowrer, who finished third in the primary, will be seeking his 2nd consective term, after previously serving as Mayor and on City Council in the 1960s and 1970s. He is currently a local Moravian minister and was a strong anti-casino voice on Council.

Analysis: Are there any Republicans in Bethlehem to vote for Esther Lee? I will go out on a limb here and predict that the Democrats sweep. Reynolds will become the youngest council person in Bethlehem history.

City Controller Race:

The City will have a new controller for the first in a long time. Wallace DeCrosta was the long time controller passed away last year. The remainder of his term was filled by Alan Blair, who was the assistant controller. I think people forget the importance of this position until something happens like it did in NorCo's Clerk of Courts office or with Marge Szulborski in Upper Macungie. People need to make informed decisions when voting a controller.

The candidates for Bethlehem Controller are:
Democrat David Digiacinto, a former member of the Bethlehem Authority; and
Republican Meg Holland, who owns Meg Holland & Associates, a local accounting company.

I admittedly know little about either candidate. Ms. Holland's resume is quite impressive, though.

I think I will need to pass on the analyis of this race until I can look at each candidate more closely. Look for a post in the future.