District 2: William Wallace (D) vs. Mike Dowd (R)
William Wallace’s response
1.
Why should The Express-Times endorse you instead of your opponent?
I believe that I can provide an alternate veiwpoint to Mike Dowd and more fairly
represent the people of Region 2. I know the working people and their problems in a first
hand way that comes from raising a son in the Wilson District, becoming involved in the
community events and learning about the issues from working men and women in the
area. While Mike has served for a lengthy period of time, it's time for new ideas, new
energy and a fresh perspective on the role and purpose of County Council. I believe that
if County looked at many of it's decisions from a working person's perspective, then they
might understand why many people consider them out of touch, cumbersome and at
times, ludicrous. The Bachman house has been a mistake and misappropriation of
valuable resources. Giving away the Wolf Buildings Parking lot and allowing the Easton
Parking Authority to profit from it's redevelopement is another example of costly
mistakes that Mike has made.
2.
Have you examined County Executive John Stoffa's $314 million proposed
budget? What do you like about it? Not like about it? Identify two significant
changes that you would make.
John's budget reflects a modest attempt to address many of the serious issues that
face Northampton County. Many of his budget items are non specific lines that don't fully
explain, in detail, the spending he is proposing. $10 million dollars for prison
construction could be too much, if we would choose a joint Lehigh/Northampton prison,
but too little for an adequate Northampton facility. Open space and land preservation
appears fair, especially in this depressed real estate market. Hopefully we'll be able to get
more acreage for our money that in years past. I only hope that our projected incomes
meet his expectations.
3.
Do you support a bi-county health department? Why or why not? If so, how
should we pay for it? Should it be subject to referendum?
If a bicounty health dept. is the only choice, then I am definitely for it. However,
an independent Northampton County Dept. of Health is clearly the most preferential.
Those on the other side of this issue claim that it is too expensive or that it is
unnecessary. To that, I say that they truly don't understand the needs of our
disadvantaged and elderly, who need a solid support system that a Board of Health can
provide. We are passing up State money that is waiting for us to get our act together. I
plan on providing that spark. As to a referentdum. I think it would pass overwelmingly. If
that's what it takes to open up a few eyes, then let's do it.
4.
How would you handle the ongoing problem with prison overcrowding? Do
you support building a new prison and, if so, where? Would you consider a bicounty effort such as the one in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, being
proposed by Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham?
It's the County Council's and John's fault that we are in the overcrowding situation
that we are faced with. No action over the last few years has placed us in this
predicament. Having said that, we need to provide EXACTLY what our prison
population needs to break the cycle of prisoners commiting crimes after they are released.
Incarceration without rehabilitation is wasted money, wasted space and wasted humanity.
Let's address the real problems of mental instability, drug and alcohol dependence,
economic factors and provide our prisoners a human and humane alternative. I am
opposed to a prison facility in our already depressed and economically challenged areas
of Glendon, Wison, West Easton and Easton. Let's look at areas where our economy is
booming to provide a halfway house setting that provides opportunities to learn a job,
trade or get an education. There are many areas in Bethlehem that are a good location for
a BiCounty facility, if that is what we decide. I agee with a bicounty facility only if true
prison reform is undertaken.
5.
County Executive John Stoffa has identified overtime as a serious problem
which is costing county taxpayers nearly $6 million this year. Is this a budgeting
problem? Staffing problem? Time management problem? Etc.? What specific
changes would you make to reduce overtime?
My understanding is that John has mistakenly identified workers that are working
holidays and weekends as working overtime. True, they are working for a time and 1/2
wage, but someone has to work those shifts. It' not that these people are working 60 hours
and hiring parttime or full time workers would lower this portion of the payroll. To be
honest, our workers are stretched to the limit and their jobs aren't getting any easier.
Many people are critical of Northampton County and it's the inefficiency and
sluggishness, when it comes to County Services. To that end, we need to address
increasing the number of workers and improving our abilty to provide the people of
Northampton County the services they deserve, in a timely manner and with genuine
caring and consideration.
6.
About $7 million has been budgeted next year for current and future retiree
health care benefits. The county executive says he favors eliminating health care
benefits for retirees. Do you agree? What would you do to reduce health care and
pension costs?
As a Democrat, taking away Health care and retirement benefits is a kick in the
teeth for workers who placed trust and faith in our Government to provide for them when
they retire. Our country/county needs to remember that we are all one serious illness
away from personal backruptcy. Our local hospitals, health facilities and even Gracedale
need retirees who have the necessary benefit programs to enable those facilities to
continue to provide all people the care that peole need. Our County executive, whoever
he/she is, needs to remember that even though many white-collar people like themselves
have great healthcare and retirement programs, the people who serve this county at it's
most basic levels do not. They need these benefits and deserve them. John should look
into joining other counties and combining their pension programs, thereby incresing the
value and getting better package rates.
7.
(Optional) Please identify as many as three other issues that you consider
critical and tell us where you stand on them.
I have talked at great length to many people about the value of bringing back
passenger rail service to the Lehigh Vally and most particularly through Easton, Wilson,
Glendon, Wet Easton, Williams Twp and through to Bethlemehm and Allentown. The
economic benefit to the areas of Region 2 that are most distressed would be greatly
enhanced by such an endeavor. Granted such a progam will take many years to
implement. But in reality, if we don't start now, then future generations may live to regret
our trepedation.
I have spent many nights visiting local Boro and Township meetings, particularly
in Forks, Wilson, West Easton and Willimas Twp. They feel neglected by our County
and to a large extent by Mike Dowd. They are looking for County to help solve problems
that individual municipalities cannot solve by themselves. I pledge to consult local
municipalities BEFORE making decisions such as prison locatons and halfway houses.
Finally, it is time that Northampton County take the lead in bringing green
technologies (solar, geothermal, wind and new generation heating and cooling) to the
economic redevelopment of the Lehigh Valley, and Region 2, in particular. If our Federal
and State Governments would initiate common sense incentives and get homeowners and
businesses actively investing in the free energy that is all around us, then I know the
people in the Easton area would be more than willing to provide the manufacturing and
installation of these technologies. Northampton County could also pass it's own
guidelines for County facilities, requiring minimum green standards and working towards
zero net energy dependence. I believe in looking towards the future and reaching for a
better, cleaner, and healthier environment.
Mike Dowd’s responses
1.
Why should The Express-Times endorse you instead of your opponent?
I believe my terms of office on Northampton County have been characterized by
maturity, leadership and good judgment. My voice has consistently been recognized as
one that is “…the voice of reason” in our deliberations. For more than 35 years my life
has been one of community service and as a builder of consensus. Familiar with the needs
of business through 25 plus years with the Chamber of Commerce and with the needs of
the human service sector, after many years of working with community based
organizations, are distinguishing aspects of the talents, knowledge and skills that I bring
to Northampton County government.
I have been a leader in economic development, am active in Easton’s downtown,
and am presently active in the youth of our community as the convener of the ProKids
organization.
My record of achievement is long and well recorded, and is unique among the
candidates for this office. For these reasons I believe I deserve your endorsement.
2.
Have you examined County Executive John Stoffa's $314 million proposed
budget? What do you like about it? Not like about it? Identify two significant
changes that you would make.
I have read the documents thoroughly in preparation for our annual budget
hearings and I expect to have answer to several questions that strike me at this time.
I am pleased that the proposed budget does not contain a tax increase – the
citizens of the county deserve a respite from tax increases. I am pleased that there is
provision for our continuing efforts to preserve open space, and that we are making
provision for bridge repairs. In addition I believe it is important to continue to draw down
the maximum we can for the Human Service sector. Certainly the good news we have
received about lowered health care costs and Information technology is welcome.
There are several concerns that we need to discuss, among them are:
a. Proposed Health Dept. – I have not been able to find a provision for the funding
of the proposed county health department. I understand that it is difficult to provide a
firm budget number, but if we are to take action before the end of the year or early in
2008 there will be budget considerations. I think that a place holder, at least, should be
provided.
b. We are being asked to consider a $20 million bond issue to meet the coming
needs in community corrections and juvenile detention. I would truly like to see an
analysis that determines that the programs and facilities being considered are of the size
and scale necessary to meet our future needs. We must be sure that we are not simply
providing a band-aid solution to what may become a hemorrhage. In relation to a
subsequent question we must determine if an expanded juvenile detention facility might
allow us to reduce our costs of outsourcing programs. Further, expanded facilities will
require higher operating costs and I am not sure that these are fully taken into account.
Since corrections represents a very large portion of our General Revenue Funds we have
to get a better handle on this issue.
c. Voting Machines – We are reasonably sure that we will have to have an
alternative to our current electronic voting machines for the primary and general elections
in 2008. I do not see provision for what will surely be a $2 million cost out of General
Revenue Funds.
The area of the budget where council has the greatest opportunity to have an
impact is on those areas funded by General Revenue – those funds coming from local tax
payers – this is the area where I expect to place my greatest attention.
3.
Do you support a bi-county health department? Why or why not? If so, how
should we pay for it? Should it be subject to referendum?
I have been an advocate for a county or bi-county health bureau for several years.
I have been a co-sponsor of resolutions and ordinances in support of this idea.
As I look at the growing population of the Lehigh Valley, our proximity to the
New York and Philadelphia markets I am convinced that this is important to our quality
of life. The Health Assessment of Northampton County pointed out several issues that
demand our attention. Among them were:
Low Birth Weight Babies
Teen-age pregnancy in the Slate belt Communties
High Rates of Heart Disease and Cancer deaths
In addition to those concerns I believe that restaurant inspection, vector control,
communicable disease (Avian Flu, etc) are all issues that can be best addressed by a
coordinated regional response.
The Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation and the Poole Trust have agreed
to assist in start up funding, and we certainly can leverage current programs to gain
additional state funding. Mr. Stoffa advocates forming an authority and providing a
dedicated funding stream through the use of Casino dollars to close the funding gap.
Until we can get a better handle on the costs it is difficult to decide upon the best
funding mechanism. We expect to learn more when the interim bureau reports to council
in the near future. My bias is to believe that there is no free lunch and that some local
dollars will be required to assure an effective program.
Among my concerns is the idea that there may be a two tiered level of service,
and that Bethlehem and Allentown citizens will receive a higher level of service that the
other citizens in the counties. That is unacceptable to me. We must also decide upon the
total level of service. By way of example the issue of waste water treatment is one where
we must balance the rights of local municipal government.
Elected officials are elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens I believe
we should carefully listen to any advocate or opponent of the bureau and then decide
rather than postpone the decision with a referendum. However, if the debate determines
that a referendum is needed then certainly move forward.
4.
How would you handle the ongoing problem with prison overcrowding? Do
you support building a new prison and, if so, where? Would you consider a bicounty effort such as the one in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, being
proposed by Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham?
We would be foolish to reject any proposed solution out of hand; bi-county and
separate solutions must be considered.
Northampton County has both long term and immediate issues to address. In the
short term the current over crowding exposes the county to federal and state lawsuits.
Several years ago we faced a similar situation, but at that time the availability of prison
cells in adjacent counties was greater.
In the short term a facility for low security prisoners that includes a work release
component and a true rehabilitation program is critical. This is an issue that must be dealt
with quickly and effectively. Programs such as the one in Delaware have proven to be
very effective in reducing recidivism and should be adopted here. This will, of course,
impose a cost that should be mitigated by the decrease in repeat offenders.
In the long term we have to address the need for an ever increasing number of
high security prisoners. I am hesitant to align myself with any proposed solution until all
of the facts are available. To, at this time, advocate one solution over another is the
province of a fool. We have experts in corrections on our staff in Northampton County
and have consultants who are currently reviewing alternatives. I will wait until I hear
from them before standing solidly behind any long term solution.
However, the idea of a shared program is always attractive to me. Further, I do
not believe that we can move forward with the blind thought that a new or enlarged
facility will be in Easton. Easton already shoulders a great burden in county services and
that burden should be shared.
5.
County Executive John Stoffa has identified overtime as a serious problem
which is costing county taxpayers nearly $6 million this year. Is this a budgeting
problem? Staffing problem? Time management problem? Etc.? What specific
changes would you make to reduce overtime?
Employee and work flow management is the province of the administration and
not of county council; however, the funding of overtime is our responsibility. I think it is
a budgeting and a management issue. Mr. Stoffa indicated that overtime has come to be
an expected salary bonus and if that is the case it is a management issue; several years
ago we retained a management consultant to assess work flow issues, perhaps this
something we should address again. If we are understaffed then we should address it at
budget time; neither I nor my fellow council members are in a position to oversee the
daily operation of the county departments; we will however, ask those questions during
the budget hearings.
While it is easy to paint overtime with a broad brush we must be aware that the
greatest exposure occurs in the prison and at Gracedale. In both cases we have had a
difficult time in attracting the skilled professionals we need in these very important and
high stress areas, and consequently the existing professionals have stepped up to meet the
service need.
We should be working with the Community College, Workforce Investment
Board, CIT/Bethlehem Vo-Tech and be present at local, regional and state wide job fairs
to recruit and train employees for these important positions.
6.
About $7 million has been budgeted next year for current and future retiree
health care benefits. The county executive says he favors eliminating health care
benefits for retirees. Do you agree? What would you do to reduce health care and
pension costs?
While serving at Vice Chairman of the Retirement Board I asked regularly about
our retiree health program. Existing retirees have a right to expect that the benefits they
received at retirement should be dependable. I do, however, advocate taking a look at copays and contribution plans to assist the county in developing a predictable budget
moving into the future.
I am interested in pursuing a change for newly hired employees; I believe that the
total employee package for county employees should be competitive with the private
sector. In a tight hiring market the county must be able to complete for high quality
employees. We should consider higher co-pays, single employee insurance, medical
savings accounts and other programs for new hires in order to get this very high cost
issue under control.
Our pension contribution is mandated by the actuary and we have relatively little
control over the obligation to current employees.
7.
(Optional) Please identify as many as three other issues that you consider
critical and tell us where you stand on them.
Regional Land Use Planning – I believe that the greatest challenge facing the
Lehigh Valley is the ever increasing development pressure that is being imposed on our
local municipalities. The increase in housing is eroding our existing store of open space,
outstripping the local infrastructure and placing an ever increasing load on our local
schools. The idea of regional land use planning, that, allows municipalities to share the
mandated land uses, encourages appropriate commercial and industrial development
coupled with an effective Open Space/Farm land preservation plan will go along way to
preserving quality of life.
Enhancing the Role of the Department of Community and Economic
Development – The DCED can be a very effective tool for appropriate development.
Acting as an ombudsman both for business and local government the department can
assist local municipalities in managing appropriate growth. I would advocate the
expansion of the department. This department can be very important in building
communication links among contiguous municipalities. As COGs and other devices are
empowered Northampton County will be improved.
Focus on our Downtowns and Boroughs - Northampton County has two cities
and multiple boroughs each of which is facing its own economic challenges; our county
recently began a urban community CDBG program – that I heartily endorse. Further we
are supports of the Borough Business Revitalization Program, we must expand our
initiatives in these urban communities. The economic and social vitality of all of our
municipalities and impacted by the activity in our urban communities. Enhanced
economic development programs and incentives such as KOZs, LERTAs and TIFs are
very important in helping the urban communities in competing with the suburban areas.