The League of Women Voters in
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of any candidate quoted, and does not assume responsibility for
the content of any candidate’s reply.
Candidates appear in ballot order. Democrats are listed first in each race,
as Pennsylvania currently has a Democratic governor.
Only candidates in contested races were asked to provide information.
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/// indicates a candidate exceeded the allowed word limit.
Municipal Election 2009, Allentown races
Candidates in contested races were asked:
What do you view as the major issue in this campaign and how will you address it?
DEMOCRATIC
ED PAWLOWSKI
D.O.B.: 1965
EDUCATION: M.A., Urban Planning and Public Policy, University of Illinois; B.A., Moody Bible Institute.
OCCUPATION: Allentown Mayor
QUALIFICATIONS: My administration has produced surplus budgets and built a multimillion-dollar cash reserve; rebuilt the police force; cut crime and improved quality of life; revitalized parks; transformed Hanover Acres; and brought unprecedented development with more planned.
RESPONSE: The economy and public safety. Strong fiscal management is required to address both. My administration built a multimillion-dollar cash reserve to help Allentown weather the downturn. We’ve cut costs and identified new revenue. We’ve secured over a half-billion dollars in investments and hundreds of new jobs, with more planned. I will continue to rebuild the police force and enhance our security camera network. These continue to cut crime and improve Allentown’s quality of life.
REPUBLICAN
TONY PHILLIPS
D.O.B.: 1959
EDUCATION: Bachelors Degree Sociology & Teachers Certification, Moravian College. Associates Degree Criminal Justice Administration Lehigh County Community College. Educated in the Allentown School District.
OCCUPATION: Teacher
QUALIFICATIONS: Allentown City Council 4 years, City Council Vice President 2007, Allentown Police Officer 22 years
RESPONSE: Crime, budget and quality of life issues are the major issues. As I moved throughout the city and read the papers is by far the most repeated concern of the citizens of Allentown. I would address the problem by reinstituting the Neighborhood Community Police program. Officers stationed in the neighborhood to do problem solving. Create an Anticrime unit to interdict and suppress criminal activity in areas that high such incidents exist. There will be an increase in the Criminal Investigation and Vice and Intelligence Units ///
Term: 4 years
Vote for not more than four
DEMOCRATIC
MICHAEL D. D’AMORE
D.O.B.: 1969
EDUCATION: Graduate of Dieruff H.S.; BA Moravian College (1992); MA University of Vermont (1998); Ph.D. University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2009)
OCCUPATION: Community College Faculty
QUALIFICATIONS: Current President of Allentown City Council; Current member of Allentown City Council; Born & raised in Allentown
RESPONSE: We must enhance our policing efforts to protect public safety. Also, quality of life issues are extremely important if we are to make Allentown an attractive place to live. We must maintain fiscal discipline to provide needed services to citizens at a time when finances are tight for everyone. Finally, we need to revitalize our downtown, but we cannot forget the East Side, South Side and West End when it comes to community development opportunities.
MIKE SCHLOSSBERG
D.O.B.: 1983
EDUCATION: B.A. (Political Science & Psychology), Muhlenberg College, M.A. (Political Science), Lehigh University
OCCUPATION: Urban Revitalization Specialist
QUALIFICATIONS: Former aide to Representative Jennifer Mann and County Executive Don Cunningham, State-certified Urban Revitalization Specialist, Allentown Rotary Club, Jack Pressmann Memorial Scholarship Fund, West Park Civic Association Officer, Hamilton Street Revitalization Committee, Congregation Keneseth Israel
RESPONSE: Reducing crime and fixing Allentown’s finances. We must hire more police officers and increase their presence within our community. We must also strive to reduce the tax burden by controlling government spending, recruiting more businesses and assisting our already existing small businesses. Allentown needs the right combination of experience, energy and new ideas to be able to survive these difficult economic times, and I believe I can bring all of this to the city.
RAYMOND D. O’CONNELL
D.O.B.: 1949
EDUCATION: BS – Kutztown State University, 1971; M Ed – Lehigh University, 1977
OCCUPATION: Retired
QUALIFICATIONS: Public School Employee/Administrator – 1972 to 2007 (35 years); Allentown resident for 33 years; Member of Allentown Recreation & Allentown Human Relations Commission
RESPONSE: Public Safety. I will work hard to make sure our police department continues to have the necessary resources to fight crime; keeping our streets save(sic) for our children. In addition, through my thirty five years as a public school employee, I will work to assist community groups and organizations within our city to enhance our neighborhoods. I want to bring back the status that this great city once held.
JULIO A. GURIDY
D.O.B.: 1960
EDUCATION: MA in Sociology; BA in Sociology; Minor in CJA Cert. in Community Development; and many post Graduate courses
OCCUPATION: Director of Compact Authorized Investment - DRJTBC; Business Owner, Real Estate Investor
QUALIFICATIONS: In City Council I chair the Public Works Committee and chaired an Ad- Hoc Committee - charged to restore the City’s financial health. Belonged to the Public Safety Committee, Human Resources Committee, Community and Economic Development, Legal and Legislation, and dozens of other community organizations.
RESPONSE: The fiscal stability of the City is the major issue, followed by public safety and economic development. I will continue to work in with financial experts to develop a sound financial management plan for adequate revenue and to keep expenses down. In regards to Public Safety, I will work for a well trained community police force to apprehend criminals, and restore a better quality of life for residents. I will continue to support economic development efforts by working on excellent city services, a clean city, keeping taxes low, support seniors and the youth programs throughout the City.
REPUBLICAN
JOE BRUDNAK
D.O.B.: 1961
EDUCATION: Salisbury High School, one year Lehigh Community College for Business Administration
OCCUPATION: Distribution for HOP Energy L.L.C.
QUALIFICATIONS: A Republican Representative for 8th Ward-4th District, Completed a course for Business from Community Action Development Corp. of Allentown, Sexton for St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church, lived in Allentown all my life.
RESPONSE: Wasteful spending of our tax dollars. We need to control our spending with some common sense.
LOUIS J. HERSHMAN
D.O.B.: 1936
EDUCATION: Lehigh Community College, Accounting
OCCUPATION: Business Owner, Hershmans & Associates, Prepare Income Taxes
QUALIFICATIONS: Business man, Councilman, City Controller, Special Investigator, PA. Dept of Revenue, S-2 US Army.
RESPONSE: Crime, Curfews, Quality of Life, Taxes. When I was first elected, within one month introduced quality of life legislation. I will again review the legislation, update and introduce legislation as to daytime and night time curfew. I believe the legislative agenda I have planned if elected, will reduce crime, improve quality of life in Allentown and help to stablize tax base, by not having residents flee the city because of crime and taxes.
(City of Allentown)
SCHOOL DIRECTOR
(Vote for not more than Four – 4 Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLICAN
ELLEN B. BISHOP
ANDREW J. WEISS
DEBRA H. LAMB
DAVID F. ZIMMERMAN
SCHOOL DIRECTOR
(Vote for One – 2 Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLICAN
DONNA-MARIE DADAY
Candidates were asked: The Judicial Conduct Board handles complaints about sitting judges filed by the general public. The Board reviews the complaints and if necessary, action can be taken by the Court of Judicial Discipline. How do you think this system of judicial oversight is working? Does it meet the public’s need for assurance that justice is being served?
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT 31-1-01
(Allentown Wards 8, 10)
(Vote for One, 6-Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLICAN
PATRICIA M. ENGLER
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT 31-1-02
(Allentown Wards 4, 7, 11)
(Vote for One, 6-Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC
MARYESTHER S. MERLO
D.O.B.: 1959
EDUCATION: 1977, Whitehall High School, Diploma; 1981, Georgetown University, B.A., Economics; 1987, Dickinson School of Law, J.D.
OCCUPATION: Magisterial District Judge
QUALIFICATIONS: Magisterial District Justice, 6 years; licensed attorney, 20 years; member, PA and Lehigh County Bar Associations; resident of Allentown, nearly 20 years; member, Franklin Park and West Park Civic Associations.
RESPONSE: The JCB helps to protect citizens from bad judges. It should remain separate and continue to operate differently than other methods of judicial oversight. Three sources of judicial oversight are fully conducted in a public way. A judge who makes a bad decision is subject to a public review by a citizen’s right to appeal. A judge who commits a crime is openly prosecuted and punished. Voters are the boss of elected officials, including judges.
REPUBLICAN
JAMES E. BOWSER
D.O.B.: 1957
EDUCATION: Attending LCCC working on Degree-Criminal Justice Administration
OCCUPATION: Retired Allentown Police Officer and Private Investigator
QUALIFICATIONS: Successfully completed Magisterial District Judge certification in 1993 (need to recertify if elected)
RESPONSE: The Judicial Conduct Board and Court of Judicial Discipline have grossly failed the general public and the judicial system as a whole. When an elected Judge (Magisterial District Judge) routinely cancels hearings at the last minute and does not show up for work 70% of the time (JAN 09-JUL 09) and no action is taken by the Judicial Conduct Board, the public and judicial system are not being served.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT 31–1–03
(Allentown Wards 3, 13, 17, 18)
(Vote for One, 6-Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC
Walter Felton, Jr.
D.O.B.: 1957
EDUCATION: Salisbury High School (1975); 10 Year Military Veteran; LCCC; Basic Mediation; Professional Mediation Training (2008); PA Deputy Sheriff training program (2007); Magisterial District Justice Certified (2008); 21 years of various Police Schools
OCCUPATION: Northampton Deputy Sheriff (3 yrs)
QUALIFICATIONS: Former CEO of Kobee Enterprise; Landlord (3yrs)
RESPONSE: The Judicial conduct board serves well for sitting judges. I have been subpoenaed in the past to attend alleged misconduct of an MDJ. As a Patrolman, Platoon Sergeant, Detective Sergeant and a Youth Officer, I’ve observed the checks and balances which are in place. It shows the public that justice is being served. The Judicial system dictates that everyone deserves their due process regardless of the accusation and that there shouldn’t be any forgotten people.
REPUBLICAN
RONALD S. MANESCU
D.O.B.: 1954
EDUCATION: Allentown Central Catholic 1972; Numerous College Level Police Education and Qualification Courses
OCCUPATION: Assistant Chief Allentown Police Department
QUALIFICATIONS: 36 year police veteran presented evidence and testimony in hundreds of cases before district judges. Successfully completed required training and certified as qualified to perform the duties of magisterial district judge.
RESPONSE: I am aware of two cases involving local Lehigh County District Judges where the Judicial Conduct Board referred complaints to the Court of Judicial Discipline. Both were removed from office. In these instances, it appeared the system worked. However, because complaints are not usually made public, and there may be good reasons not to make all complaints public, I do not believe the public has the insurance that justice is being served.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT 31-2-01
Allentown Wards 1, 2, 5, 6, 9)
(Vote for One, 6-Year Term)
DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLICAN
KAREN C. DEVINE