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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Gracedale Goons Continue Ignoring Election Code

Spring, 2007. Attorney Brian Monahan, running for District Judge in Easton and Williams Township, is savaged by three anonymous mailers viciously distorting his career as a defense attorney. DA John Morganelli refuses to lift a finger, and Monahan's candidacy eventually goes down in flames.

We would later learn that the person behind these anonymous smears is Tom Severson, a political consultant and long-time pal to Morganelli. He would eventually plead guilty, in June 2010, to deceptive campaign practices. Those charges were brought by the state Attorney General, not Morganelli.

History is repeating itself, except this time it's with the Gracedale Goons. When they submitted their initiative petitions, Voting Registrar Dee Rumsey, determined that 1,166 signatories persons were not even registered to vote. Another 1,173 people signed the Petition more than once, including several circulators. Gracedale Union Prez Ellen Weiss and one of her AFSCME pals filed a total of 38 false affidavits, taking credit for petitions they never circulated. Judge Baratta stuck 2,700 signatures, but ignored the Registrar's testimony because I failed to disprove duplication. I lost, but there still was pervasive election fraud.

Call me a lousy lawyer.

In the false belief that the Courts have given them a green light to run roughshod over our election laws, this election fraud is continuing, unchecked, in the runup to the May 17 election. On Saturday, May 1, Ellen Weiss opened up a "Save Gracedale" HQs office in Nazareth. Nothing wrong with that, but it's at Rich Grucela's old state rep office. His official logo from the Commonwealth, is still right there on the office windows, creating a misleading impression that the Pennsylvania state legislature supports the Gracedale initiative. I also saw Ms. Weiss planting about 8 signs on the grass outside the office.

This property, 239 S. Broad Street, has a monthly rental value of $1,200. In addition to that, there's also the cost of a toll-free land line, 1-800-478-4944, which has been in operation since the initiative drive began last October. It takes you right to AFSCME District 88, located in Plymouth Meeting.

I called there yesterday and asked a nice lady at the other end if her refrigerator was running.

In addition to the office and union-funded toll-free line, double-sided "Save Gracedale" yard signs are now littering the County. Those cost about $2 per sign. That's at least another $1,000. All told, at least $2,800 has already been spent on this initiative.

Where's the Committee? Where's the reports?

Under our election laws, a political committee is any group formed to take in or spend money to influence the outcome of an election. Even initiative elections. Once it receives $250 or more, whether in cash or in-kind contributions, it must register within twenty days. Yet as of the close of business yesterday, no political committee had filed any paperwork in the elections office.

The use of AFSCME's toll-free phone since mid-October, along with the money paid to the person answering on the other end, is by itself enough reason to wonder why no registration statement has been filed. That $250 threshold was passed long ago. Now we have office rent and signs as well.

And how about those signs? As you can plainly see, there's no disclosure of the person or political committee paying for them. There's a prominent union printer label, but no identification fo the funding party. This is a direct violation of the Election Code, which requires that the signs must "clearly and conspicuously" identify the paying party. Severson's failure to do this with his Monahan mailers is what got him in hot water. Refusal to include this disclaimer is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and could even include imprisonment.

You can ask Tom Severson.

Gracedale AFSCME President Ellen Weiss, the circulator who was involved in filing those 38 false affidavits, just happens to be the person I see paradng around with Gracedale signs. And at their Broad Street office, which I visited late yesterday afternoon, her name and phone number is attached to the door. Every election cycle, her yard is a cornucopia of Democratic yard signs. At the Gracedale rally last October, she and her husband used it as an opportunity to hand out flyers for John Callahan and Charles Dertinger. She's no novice, and clearly is thumbing her nose at the law.

Again.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's sad because their efforts are actually going to harm Gracedale, causing layoffs and a shrinking of resident population.

Anonymous said...

you heard it yourself...mob rule get used to it!

Anonymous said...

The Angle/Stoffa/O'Hare government of,by and for the three is crumbling. The people are back in charge. keep repeating the same blah, blah, blah you have for months O'Hare.

The vast majority of voters are wise to you three crooks and will vote accordingly. Oh I know, you guys are right and the world is wrong.

Remember Gracedale made over 14 million in the past 15 years despite John Stoffa dropping the ball in the past two years.

He like you is incompetent. But the baggers love you, that's something!

Just the truth!

Anonymous said...

Grucela does support the Gracedale initiative..Ask him..

Anonymous said...

As long as the District Attorney is a crooked thug with anger issues over being repeatedly rejected for higher office, nothing will be investigated. We have a dirty little political hack masquerading as DA.

dj said...

Bernie you really need to get over it! In YOUR opinion there was fraud.....4 COURTS opinion NO FRAUD! You keep trying to twist facts about signatures, bottom line ENOUGH SIGNATURES were received. People will vote on the 17th and the outcome is the outcome. I actually think it is quite amazing that a small group of people were able to accomplish what they did! So you can continue with your bashing, slandering and deceptive means because it isn't working; all the while the rest of the people in Northampton County will continue to band together to make Northampton County a great place to live and work, with or without the blessings Bernie O'hare!

dj said...

P.S. FYI we can't call you a lousy lawyer because you're NOT A LAWYER, remember!

Anonymous said...

The true fraud was that jack-in-the-box Judge Baratta. The black robes stuck together in propping up his disingenuous ruling, and now the Gracedale mob is free to break whatever rules of law they like.

Anonymous said...

WHATEVER anonymous 8:45am

The Battle Cry of Freedom said...

There are those of you out there who need to wake up. We are now at the point of "mob rule" as the mail order Rev proclaimed. These thugs, and have no doubt about it they are thugs, need to be sentence to some prison time. If we allow this kind of activity to go on, and shame on Grucela, we will be an anarchy before we know it. Shame on all of you who have derided those who have been hard at work explaining to you what is going very wrong in this county with an institution that needs to be sold.

Anonymous said...

Government should not be engaged in private business. Government cannot pay for everything. Government is not a charity, nor should it hold onto businesses that are a function of the private sector. The purpose of government is to protect the health, safety and well being of all citizens, not just one group of loud, union run blow horns.

The ones who scream the loudest are not always the ones who win. Smaller, more efficient government, is becoming the wave of the future. Those who refuse to accept change, and refuse to accept the fact that government cannot continue to absorb losses in businesses, will eventually come to see the ill effects of their behavior.

Anonymous said...

Wah,wah,wah, give it a break already the voters will decide,go lay down.

Anonymous said...

Vote YES to save Gracedale. I love it. Now how do I get to vote YES to oust SToffa?

Anonymous said...

Vote YES to save Gracedale, and Gracedale will fail. Vote NO, and a private company will save Gracedale.

A private company will re-negotiate the union contract and make all the necessary changes to guarantee its future.

Anonymous said...

It's a shame the way the question is worded. People do not like to say no. A referendum making a holiday out of bin Laden's birthday would easily pass if written to pass with an affirmative response.

It's all a kabuki dance, however. Gracedale's days are numbered regardless of the vote. It may not be the end. It's certainly the beginning of the end. But council gets credit for commencing the discussion that will ultimately get the white elephant off taxpayers' backs. Not an easy feat in a largely blue county.

Anonymous said...

This whole Gracedale situation reminds me of the global gas crisis problem.

The government is pro-active on cost efficient vehicles, decreased use of fossil fuels, green energy and Marcellus Shale drilling.

A sum total of these initives will ultimately loosen the noose around our necks as we fill at the pump.

Offerred a Prius, and the Goons still choose the Chevy Suburban. Why not? The taxpayers fill that tank.

Anonymous said...

Gracedale is a done deal. How do I vote NO ANGLE?

Anonymous said...

Long LIVE Gracedale !!!

Away with Angle and Stoffa, and Bernie you don't count your a wanna be
disbarred lawyer.
pick at your own nose first.

Anonymous said...

this is NOT FRAUD!! there is no candidate listed on the signs.. there is no need for identifcation of who paid for the signs... this is a referendum not a specific party! please get your facts straight

brenda said...

Offerred a Prius, and the Goons still choose the Chevy Suburban. Why not? The taxpayers fill that tank.

This was perfectly said. I cant agree more

I think in a year from now, they will regret this.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"this is NOT FRAUD!! there is no candidate listed on the signs.. there is no need for identifcation of who paid for the signs... this is a referendum not a specific party! please get your facts straight"

Whether it is a referendum, or not, the rules apply. People have every right to know that the unions are masquerading as a grass roots effort, and the discolsure requirements apply.

Anonymous said...

Blah blah blah Another opinion from Bernie O'hare

Anonymous said...

Those ugly green signs will win them no votes. In fact they may do enough retina damage that their supporters will pull the wrong lever in the booth!

Kermit the Frog for Council!

Anonymous said...

No fraud. Again you are grasping at straws O'Hare. Go tell your masters Angle and Stoffa.

Denied,dismissed!!

Anonymous said...

Amazing that some that post on this blog slamming unions are sitting at home collecting THIER TEACHERS PENSION!!!! You know who you are, hypocrite!

Every dog has there day and hopefully yours is coming soon

Bernie O'Hare said...

Let's just hope it's not you. You could have used a few more teachers. It's "their day," not "there day."

Anonymous said...

Bernie if that is all you have to say about anonymous 8:56am comment then I guess you know how true it is about Chris Miller

Bernie O'Hare said...

What I do know is that you have an abnormal obsession with him.

Anonymous said...

ahhhh yes Mr. Chris Miller and his constant worries about chipping and tarring roads. Can you tell where his priorities are! He's another one who is still crying foul at the most recent Council Meeting even though four courts have now viewed the endless, pointless fight of Bernie O'hare, Ron Angle and John Stoffa. Let the voters decide on the 17th and be done with it

Anonymous said...

I knew it I thought Battle Cry of Freedom was the whiner Chris Miller

Bernie O'Hare said...

Who cares what some anon thinks?