Political Issues in Northampton Township and Bucks County
The Northampton Township Democratic Committee is interested in bringing issues of interest to the attention of the community. If you have an issue that you would like us to investigate please EMAIL us.
Our New Democratic Supervisors are Sworn in
On Monday, January 7, 2008 our newly elected Democratic township supervisors were sworn in at a ceremony at the township administration building. Officiating was the Honorable William Benz. This was followed by the annual reorganization meeting.
Ex-committeeman back on the ballot
By DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
Vincent Deon stepped aside as a Republican committeeman last summer after a controversial e-mail, but he's back on the job and on the ballot for Tuesday's primary.
Some Bucks Democrats are not too happy.
“Pay-to-play politics is alive and well in Northampton Township with Vince Deon,” said Paul Lang Jr., a township resident who serves as the local campaign coordinator for presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton. “The unmitigated gall and audacity of Vince Deon to run for Republican committeeperson again ... is an affront to all the citizens of Northampton Township and Bucks County.”
Northampton Supervisor Frank Rothermel, chairman of the township's Democratic committee, said “There [are] a lot of good Republicans in [Northampton's 8th] district and I think they deserve better.”
But Deon dismissed the criticism, saying he has since paid for the e-mail, which he called “a mistake.”
The Northampton supervisor resigned from his committeeman post in August after the e-mail to about 25 fellow Republicans surfaced during last year's Bucks County commissioners race.
The e-mail, in part, read: “Many professionals, consultants, contractors and loyal GOP supports have benefited handsomely by GOP leadership Bucks County wide.”
The message was sent after a meeting to rally the party to bolster registration numbers, but Deon has said he did not mean to threaten courthouse workers or those who have received county contracts to help the party.
“I made a mistake in the sense that I chose my words poorly,” Deon said. “I made a mistake and I'm back. And I'd be proud to run voter registration in the future if asked.”
Deon was reinstated as a committeeman by local committee members after the election last fall, according to Northampton's Republican committee Chairwoman Gretel Bleich.
And he said he's proud of what he's done for the community.
Deon, the brother of Middletown developer Pasquale “Pat” T. Deon Sr. who serves on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and is chairman of the SEPTA board, said he resigned then because “the Democrats made that a political issue.”
“This is how democracy works,” Bucks' GOP Chairman Harry Fawkes said about Deon's newest bid for committeeman. “Obviously he got enough signatures to be on the ballot.”
And he's running uncontested. Danny Adler can be reached at 215-949-4205 or dadler@phillyBurbs.com
April 19, 2008 5:15 AM