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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Voters Pick County Council Slate For November

Nominees include two former Northampton County officials and incumbent Peg Ferraro.

Ten candidates—five Republicans, five Democrats—will face off this fall for five open seats on Northampton County Council. Voters in both parties made their nominations Tuesday, choosing a mix of veteran county officials and poltiical newcomers. According to unofficial election results, the five Republican nominees are: The Democratic nominees are: Also in the race were Republicans Tricia Mezzacappa and Frank Hesch, and Democrats Kerry Myers, Jason Toedter and William Wallace.

Council President Defeated by One Vote

Hellertown Borough Council President Phil Weber will not appear on the ballot in November's general election, if unofficial results from Tuesday's Democratic primary are upheld.

It is sometimes said that a single vote doesn't make a difference. So why bother to vote at all? Occasionally, however, a single vote can make all the difference. In Hellertown, for example, a single vote cast in Tuesday's primary election appears to have cost incumbent borough council president Philip Weber a shot at another four-year term on the council. According to unofficial Northampton County election results, with 100 percent of precincts reporting their vote totals, Weber—with 161 votes—had finished in last place among a field of five candidates running on the Democratic ticket. The fourth place finisher, James W. Hill, tallied 162 votes, according to the results. The top four Democratic vote-getters will advance to the general …

Puerta, Miller Win Saucon Valley School Board Primary

Saucon Valley residents took the polls Tuesday to vote for school board candidates. Below are the unofficial primary election results provided by Northampton County.

Ralph Puerta and Sandra Miller were the top vote-getters on the respective Republican and Democratic ballots in Tuesday's Saucon Valley School Board primary election race, according to unofficial results from Northampton County. A total of 11 candidates were cross-filed on both tickets, with the top four vote-getters from each side eligible to advance to the general election in November. According to the unofficial results, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, the top four vote-getters among Republicans were: With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the top four vote-getters among Democrats were: Therefore, the seven candidates advancing to the general election will be Puerta, Miller, Dowling, Reilly, Inghrim, Phillips and Lebkeucher. …

sue

12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Guess that makes you the minority...   more ›

Casey, Toomey Comment on IRS Hearing

Wednesday's Senate hearing on the IRS 'Tea Party' scandal included Pennsylvania's Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Bob Casey, who both released statements after the event.

Pennsylvania's Sen. Bob Casey (D) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R) both participated in Wednesday's hearing about IRS scrutinty of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. Both men released statements regarding the event. Witnesses before the Senate Finance Committee were: Casey, chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, said:  “Pennsylvanians and Americans across the country deserve to know that the IRS and all government agencies do their jobs without prejudice or political agenda.  I intend to hold accountable those responsible for any breach of the taxpayer’s trust.  Today, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I directly questioned top IRS officials about what took place, who was …

Kim

1:35 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

It is nice that there is such outrage on both sides of the isle. This misuse of power should never be tolerated or excused. Those guilty of misusing their power should lose their jobs and pensions. If they broke the law they should be prosecuted.   more ›

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Democrats Choose Callahan For Executive

Bethlehem mayor will face off against Republican John Brown in November in Northampton County Executive race.

Northampton County Democrats appear to have chosen Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan as their pick for the next county executive. Unofficial results from the county election office showed Callahan leading challengers Glenn Reibman, the former executive, and county Councilman Lamont McClure. Results from WFMZ had Callahan winning 50 percent of the vote with 82 percent of precints reporting. Callahan will face Republican John Brown in this year's general election. Brown, the mayor of Bangor, had no opposition for his party's nomination. The winner will replace John Stoffa, who is not seeking re-election. All three Democratic candidates had campaigned on platforms that stressed economic development and the need to keep Gracedale—the county-owned …

Monday, May 20, 2013

Saucon Valley Voter's Guide: 2013 Primary Election

Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's primary election in Hellertown, Lower Saucon Township and the Saucon Valley School District.

Tuesday, May 21 is primary election day in Pennsylvania. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Poll problems? Contact the Northampton County Office of Voter Registration at (610) 559-3055. Not sure where to vote? You can find your local polling place by entering your street address in a form on the Pennsylvania Department of State's website. Hellertown Borough Races Lower Saucon Township Race Saucon Valley School District Race Northampton County Race Useful link:

g e holum

11:32 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Joel, So what is your feeeling? Who might Noel (?) our friend have represented? ha ha. Boy, politics is a rough sport. I am glad I am on the outside. Should be a fun November if Donna continues and is Louder. I love a good underdog and one with"moxie" ...this gal has it! Very refreshing in politcs today.   more ›

Rail Trail's Phase 2 Expected to Open in Mid-Late June

Phase Two of the Saucon Rail Trail in Upper Saucon Township should be open to the public by early summer, the township's engineer told supervisors May 13.

The eagerly-awaited "Phase Two" extension of the Saucon Rail Trail in Upper Saucon Township is expected to open in mid-late June, engineer Dennis Harman reported to township supervisors at their May 13 meeting. Phase Two of the trail's construction will extend it by more than a mile—south through Center Valley, to the township's border with Coopersburg. The trail's current southern terminus is Upper Saucon Township Community Park, while its northern terminus is in Hellertown. Harman said paving was taking place the week of May 13, with fencing and signage work scheduled to begin the following week. Phase One of the trail—which also passes through Lower Saucon Township—was opened two years ago. For more information about the Saucon Rail …

Karen D.

2:55 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Yeah!!! We are really looking forward to this. What a great idea!   more ›

Sunday, May 19, 2013

End Cross-Filing by School Board Candidates, State Rep. Says

State Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Northampton) announced in a press release that he is sponsoring a bill to 'remove the ability of school board candidates to cross-file nomination petitions.'

State Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131) announced Wednesday that he is sponsoring a bill to remove the ability of school board candidates to cross-file nomination petitions. House Bill 1020 was approved by the House State Government Committee Wednesday, Simmons said.  The bill would amend the Pennsylvania Election Code of 1937, which currently allows school board member candidates to file nomination petitions for multiple political parties. Consequently, school board candidates in Pennsylvania who are cross-filed appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in primary elections. "Historically, school board candidates have been permitted to cross-file because this position has been thought of as being non-partisan," Simmons said. "However…

Bob Thomas

12:10 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

School Board races aren't partisan? I just came from voting. I saw a teacher that I know who took the day off school. She is a PSEA union representative. She was working for a candidate for school board that is a democrat who cross filed. Wake up people! The teachers union has been stacking the school board with their candidates for years. The only people that haven't figured it out yet are the …   more ›

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Liquor Bill Could Reform Beer Sales in Pa.

Privatization debates in the Pennsylvania General Assembly could mean changes to where Pennsylvanians can buy six-packs.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent HARRISBURG — A simple six-pack of beer is becoming a focal point of the most substantive legislative debate on Pennsylvania alcohol laws since Prohibition. A Tuesday afternoon Senate Law and Justice Committee on liquor privatization, headed by Chairman Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, featured numerous testifiers discussing the already-private industry of beer sales. Chief among the concerns from the beer distributor industry and taverns is package reform, or allowing establishments who sell beer to sell different amounts. Under current law, beer distributors cannot sell less than a case, and bars or grocery stores with the ability to sell bottles cannot sell more than a 12-pack. The Senate, under McIlhinney’s…

Democrats Pushing Corbett on Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid expansion continues to hang over Gov. Tom Corbett and budget-making lawmakers.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG – Democratic leaders in the General Assembly say Gov. Tom Corbett has delayed long enough on a decision about expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania. And if the governor won’t make a decision, they are ready to force his hand. “If Gov. Corbett is unwilling to do the right thing, my colleagues in the Senate must send a clear message that this is unacceptable. It’s time for a vote on Medicaid expansion,” said state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, on Tuesday. Hughes has filed a resolution to force the state Senate to vote on Medicaid expansion. If a majority of senators support the resolution, a proposal to force the state to accept the expansion would be busted out of committee and brought …

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