(67th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Gadfly:

I’m not sure how to reply to this post (#62), but I’ll try.

First, I’ll assume for the purposes of this reply, that the writer has first-hand knowledge of the Ritter campaign funding by the Friends of Bryan Callahan and Councilman Callahan. Loan or not, the concern is that candidates for Council should be independent thinkers and not someone who can be counted on to vote a certain way. Unfortunately, there should be some concern by the voters whether Ms. Ritter is truly independent. BTW, either Ms. Ritter or Councilman Callahan could have explained things as did the writer. They did not.

Second, the reason that Ms. Van Wirt and Mr. Carpenter are self-funded (or even if private individuals donated to either of their campaigns — and I have no knowledge about that at all) is to preserve their independence and avoid even the appearance of a lack of independence should they be elected. I fail to see how self-funding or individual donations are somehow wrong.

Third, you don’t have to be a life-long resident of Bethlehem to know where the City today comes from: the hard work and foresight of prior administrations and the citizens who stuck it out. That said, that is not a qualifying factor in securing a Council seat. It certainly helps inform decisions, but that kind of research is what I would expect any intelligent Council person to undertake when assessing a matter requiring Council action. We should be electing candidates who have knowledge and experience in dealing with the issues facing Bethlehem. Responsible development is one of them and both Ms. Van Wirt and Mr. Carpenter have that experience and the power of independent thinking to address that issue and others.

Finally, do Ms. Ritter, Ms. Crampsie Smith, and Councilman Callahan embrace the divisiveness of the writer (#62)? I hope not, but wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear from them directly on that.

Augustus Wolle

(Augustus Wolle is a pseudonym, but the identity of the author is known to Gadfly.)

(66th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Local citizen of West Bethlehem, Sarah Andrew.

I love Bethlehem, and being from Bethlehem, and living in west Bethlehem, and all things Bethlehem. I was born and raised here with a few years’ hiatus in D.C. and Chicago, and could not wait to move back to raise my family. I consider myself middle class and come from a working/middle class background and that is important to my identity and values.

That said, it’s not a skill to be “from Bethlehem.” We have our own little machine politics system, and I don’t see why it benefits us to keep it that way. If we love Bethlehem, don’t we want to open our arms to other folks who see what we see in it, and welcome their views and opinions? Is everyone who moved from out of town an “elitist.” (Ugh, that word. What does it even mean?)

Every candidate from Bethlehem has been acting like whoever loves it the most deserves to be on City Council. We get it, you love it here. Hey, so do we! That doesn’t, by itself, qualify anyone for the job. A council position is not and should never be a birthright. As campaign financing goes, I do take issue with a totally self-funded campaign. But sharing funds among candidates is also distasteful at best — council members should be accountable to the public, not in debt to each other.

Sarah

(65th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Dana Grubb is a lifelong resident of the City of Bethlehem who worked 27 years for the City of Bethlehem in the department of community and economic development, as sealer of weights and measures, housing rehabilitation finance specialist, grants administrator, acting director of community and economic development, and deputy director of community development.

Gadfly:

I know Carol and like her a lot. It’s about the principle of this for me. If a $4,000 contribution from one elected official’s campaign fund to another candidate’s campaign fund is a loan to that candidate, then it should be reflected as such on the report. That’s all. It wasn’t!

Dana

(64th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Dr Rock should read the entire financial report. $4000 from the Friends of any sitting council person to support a candidate for that body should raise a question about the independence of said candidate.

Augustus Wolle

(63rd in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Steven Diamond, DO, MBA is a Medical Examiner of Hunterdon County, NJ, and a forensic pathologist. He is a board member of multiple international start-up companies and is the Medical Director of clinical trials laboratories.

Gadfly:

As a physician, I have been taught that you never put yourself in a position where your decisions are questioned as self-serving. I believe the recipient of the Callahan money shows poor ethical understanding.
Is this a sign of how that person will function on the council? Hopefully she will return the money.

Steve

(62nd in a series of posts on candidates for election)

The problem with blogs like this is that they often spew fake news. Did anyone reach out to the parties involved to ask about the situation? NO! You are seriously ok with typing things that are not true and not factual. I know both Councilman Callahan and Carol Ritter very well. The facts are that in order to run a good campaign, you have to pay for signs, walk pieces and mail pieces. They cost money. I don’t think it’s a secret that Councilman Callahan and Carol Ritter have the same views on how to keep moving Bethlehem forward. I also know that people like Van Wirt and Carpenter have no clue where Bethlehem was just 15-20 years ago.
The facts are that Councilman Callahan gave the Ritter campaign a $4000 loan that is being paid back in full. The facts are that Carol Ritter and her campaign wanted to do 3 mail pieces to let the voters know who she is, where she came from (Born and raised in Bethlehem) and what her vision for the future of Bethlehem is.
The facts are that the Ritter campaign is waiting on some more contributions to come in to cover the cost of the mail pieces that had to be paid by last week to ensure the mail pieces dropped in time before election day.
More fake news and hysteria from the Van Wirt clan. What troubles me is that these same people, who are so upset over the campaign loan, didn’t have a problem with Van Wirt self-funding her last campaign to the tune of $9,000 and Carpenter self-funded his campaign with over $4000? Is it Ok that Carpenter received thousands of dollars from Steve and Barbara Diamond? It sounds like the historical elites only want the wealthy to be able to run campaigns and run for political office!!!
The facts are that people like Michael Colon, Olga Negron, Adam Waldron, Willy Reynolds, Brian Callahan, Grace Crampsie Smith, and Carol Ritter are middle-class residents who love and care for Bethlehem and have as much right to run and fund their campaigns as does Van Wirt, Carpenter and the other elitists who think they know what’s best for Bethlehem.
Unions, developers and yes even other council members have as much right to help elect good people to represent Bethlehem and to keep moving the City forward from the disaster of the Steel closing. I trust the people who were raised here and know Bethlehem better than Van Wirt who just moved here.

Elisemartin721

(61st in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s today!

Not everybody in Bethlehem reads the Gadfly blog. Yet. We can hope.

But Gadfly is pretty certain that candidate Ritter and Councilman Callahan both are aware of it.

And one way or another would have heard about Gadfly’s invitation this morning to address several questions about the $4000 contribution.

So Gadfly is left very troubled.

Thus Gadfly suggests that anyone considering voting for candidate Ritter should seriously think thrice upon thrice upon thrice.

(60th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Gadfly is struggling with time and equipment while on the road, trying to be back in time to vote tomorrow.

He can’t seem to add a link here to the campaign finance reports on the City Council web page. Best he can do is suggest you go back to post #50 and find the link there.

Gadfly thinks doctor.rock in post #55 is way off base.

There are three candidate Ritter reports.

1) The main report doesn’t seem to have a date, but it has contributions through 5/6,

2) A “late” report dated 5/13.

3) A “late” report dated 5/20.

The Councilman Callahan contribution is in the 2nd document.

Or am I hallucinating?

So Gadfly doesn’t know what doctor. rock is talking about.

And will not publish him again without identification.

(59th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Gadfly:

Dr Rock (see post #55) should read the entire financial report. $4000 from the Friends of any sitting council person to support a candidate for that body should raise a question about the independence of said candidate.

Augustus Wolle

(Augustus Wolle is a pseudonym, but the identity of the author is known to Gadfly.)

(57th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s tomorrow!

Dana Grubb is a lifelong resident of the City of Bethlehem who worked 27 years for the City of Bethlehem in the department of community and economic development, as sealer of weights and measures, housing rehabilitation finance specialist, grants administrator, acting director of community and economic development, and deputy director of community development.

First, I reply using my name. I don’t need to hide behind an alias. Second, I supported Carol Ritter by writing a check of my own from me, not from a campaign fund. Third, the fact remains that a seated Councilman wrote checks totaling $4,500 to a candidate from his own campaign fund, not from his own pocket. These facts are irrefutable. I also noticed other inter-candidate transfers of campaign monies, and I think that is wrong as well, but none approached this level.

Dana

(56th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s tomorrow!

John Marquette is a retired librarian/archivist, author, historian, and a resident of Bethlehem. His current project is focused on the restoration of the interior of the Archibald Johnston Mansion in Housenick Park. 

Gadfly:

A little less than five percent of Michael Colon’s contributions ($200 of $4360 as of the report listed ending 5/6/19) were from the Friends of J. William Reynolds. McNeil of Pa. donated an additional $100. I note a contribution of $1000 (23%) from Friends of Bob Donchez PAC on 2/16/19. Each candidate had a few major contributors, with the exception of one who appeared to be entirely self-funded.

Reputations are precious. Referring to contributors as “minions” while signing with a pseudonym is not the act of a brave person.

John

(55th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s tomorrow!

Gadfly:

“candidate Ritter’s campaign is financed almost entirely by Councilman Callahan.”

False. False. False.

Your minions chose only to look at the 24-hour Report and FAILED to mention the Second Friday Report. The Second Friday Report lists $7,050 in cash contributions – none of them from “Friends of Bryan Callahan.”

Look at Michael Colon’s Second Friday Report. It lists a contribution from “Friends of J. William Reynolds.” Do you disqualify Mr. Colon because of this?

Facts are difficult things when you smear candidates you don’t like.

i.am.doctor.rock

(54th in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s tomorrow!

Gadfly posted on campaign finance reports in post#50 in this series.

He said there were several interesting things to see and invited you to look.

Did you?

Followers Grubb and Toulouse did and posted about what to Gadfly was the most interesting thing by far:  candidate Ritter’s campaign is financed almost entirely by Councilman Callahan.

To call that “interesting” is, in fact, a gross understatement. To Gadfly it was actually rather shocking.

Gadfly urges you to look at candidate Ritter’s campaign finance report (see the link in post #50) and to read posts #52 and 53 in this candidate series by followers Grubb and Toulouse.

The eve of the election is a delicate time personally and politically for the candidate and the Councilman, but Gadfly can certainly see how this fact might affect one’s vote.

There are at least three questions/issues raised by candidate Ritter’s campaign finance report:

1) the scale of the contribution

2) the independence of the candidate as the result of that scale

3) the general ethics of such a transaction, especially from Councilman Callahan’s position

Gadfly, as you know, likes to hear all sides.

Since he thinks this situation potentially disqualifies candidate Ritter from his consideration — and he feels he may not be alone in feeling so — he urges both the candidate and the Councilman to address those three questions/issues before sundown today, so that voters might have time to appraise the information before voting.

And Gadfly offers this space for their responses.

He invites followers to check back this evening (Gadfly is still on the road) for further info.

 (53rd in the series on candidates for election)

Mary Toulouse heads The Mount Airy Neighborhood Association, also known as MANA.

Gadfly:

WORRISOME—this is how I would describe the campaign contributions disclosures for Bethlehem City Council. (See Gadfly post #50.) For the most part, the results were what one would expect with the exception of this late 24 hour reported addition. Please see for yourself:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/citycouncil/candidates/2019/Carol%20Ritter%2024%20Hr%20Report%201.pdf
What does it mean when a sitting council member “Friend” committee contributes $4000 to a prospective member’s campaign? I have sat in on a number of Council meetings and have appreciated the debate among council members—their discussion points, arguments, data analyses, and sometimes barbs. But, the exchange of money, and this amount of money? Does this mean that there is some kind of indebtedness on the part of the recipient of the money to the donor? Is this a form of stacking the decks on the part of the donor? Is this a statement about the independence of the candidate seeking election?
So, what are the solutions? This is a new situation. In all the discussions that I have followed on the importance of ethics in government, this is the first time I have heard of this type of problem in Bethlehem. Perhaps the donor and recipient have not thoroughly thought through their actions.
Solution 1. If that is the case, the candidate should return the money; she has two days to do so. And/or the donor could ask for the contribution back. Civics 101–lessons learned; that is why we have public discussions like those in this blog.

Solution 2. I have not been active in local politics, but I assume there is a platform and an ethics policy for all candidates from their respective political party. I would hope the above conduct would come under review by the party so it could not happen again.

Mary

(52nd in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Dana Grubb is a lifelong resident of the City of Bethlehem who worked 27 years for the City of Bethlehem in the department of community and economic development, as sealer of weights and measures, housing rehabilitation finance specialist, grants administrator, acting director of community and economic development, and deputy director of community development.

Gadfly:

(51st in a series of posts on candidates for election)

Election Day is Tuesday May 21

That’s two days from today!

Be sure to review the Gadfly series of Q&A’s with candidates, the like of which you can get nowhere else, on these pairs of posts in the candidate series: 45/44, 36/35, 31/30, 26/25, 24/23, 20/19, 17/16.

Gadfly is writing from the wilds of Indiana.

Desperate for a computer connection, he drove up to an isolated farmhouse like something out of Bonnie and Clyde,  only to be greeted by a bewhiskered farmer cradling a shotgun in his arms like a mother a newborn babe.

I said I needed a computer to help candidates get their message out to constituents on the eve of election. He said, “I know you, you are the Bethlehem Gadfly, come on in.”

And so, over stacks of pancakes and pitchers of fresh, cold, moo-ing milk, Gadfly provides for you — in the order received — last words of encouragement from our City Council candidates.

If the statements are incomplete when you are here, check back — Gadfly will add others as they come in.

Good luck to all!

David Saltzer

I would like to thank The Bethlehem Gadfly for putting this online forum
together to help educate all the voters in the city so that you may
make your best, educated choice at the polls next Tuesday. Thank you to all
of those who have followed this blog for the last several weeks, and for
choosing to learn more about each candidate and our positions on the current
state of the city. By voting next Tuesday, you are setting the course for the
future of Bethlehem. The most important thing that I can say is PLEASE GET
OUT TO VOTE. Remind your friends, neighbors, and family as well. That is
what will make this city and this country better— people voting for change. I
am honored to be in a race with such great candidates, and have met so
many people just like me, who want to continue to create great history for our
beautiful city. On election day please remember to Vote Prompt #5 on the City
Council Ballot, and I promise that I will work hard to continue to move this
great city into the future, while never forgetting our past.

J. William Reynolds

Thank you for giving us a space to share our ideas and thoughts on the future of our great city. Bethlehem is a special place because we have people who care about their community and that is a beautiful thing. Hopefully, our citizens have been able to learn over the past few months about all of the candidates for City Council and their visions for Bethlehem.  See you at the polls on Tuesday!

Michael Colon

Thanks Gadfly and Gadfly followers for all your attention to this election. I hope I have continued to earn both your support and confidence. See you at the polls!

Grace Crampsie Smith

Thanks to Ed for the opportunity to provide thought-provoking responses throughout the campaign.

I feel I am the most qualified, impassioned, and ethical candidate based upon my 40 years of representing and advocating for those in need and justice for ALL, my budgetary experience in County Government, and my lifetime commitment to fighting for democratic ideals.

Will Carpenter

Thank you readers and Gadfly for the opportunity and education this exercise has provided.

Bethlehem is a great city and we need to make the most of our current opportunities to make it even stronger, healthier and more resilient.

What I have to offer is my deep negotiating experience in business and in the real estate development process.  I know from first hand experience how informed and engaged communities can create their own blue print for community-enhancing development without sacrificing what they hold dear. We are fortunate to live in a highly desirable location — desirable to us and to developers — so let’s leverage and protect that advantage.

My role on council will be to ask questions: why has the Administration chosen this path?  What were the other options and what data supports the choice made?  What are the communities concerns and long-term objectives?

To earn my vote, a project must comply with the Climate Action Plan and the Environmental Advisory Council recommendations and be the best available option for the people of Bethlehem.

All politics are local and local politics are the heart of a democracy.  I look forward to the opportunity to serve.

Paige Van Wirt

I hope that in the last 7 essays, I have been able to give the citizens of Bethlehem an idea of who I am, and how I view this city and the people who live in it. I believe in transparency, community, civic engagement, and incremental, organic economic growth. I believe that a well-run government will earn a sense of trust from its citizens, and that efficiency in spending is obtainable with solid Council oversight and foresight so that taxes stay low. I believe that a walkable, environmentally sound city is one that attracts new residents and new businesses. I think that City Council is a representative body, one that engages in a dialogue with the administration so that all options are considered, and all facts are available before voting, and welcomes civic engagement. Bethlehem has proven its resiliency in the past three decades, and we cannot rest on this accomplishment. We must insure that our city is innovative, just, and efficient. I hope to help this amazing city in its path to a place where all citizens can find opportunity and joy in being a citizen of Bethlehem.

Vote Tuesday and vote informed!