"First, Mr. Stoffa has much more experience in county government than Mrs. McHale. He has served for 30 years in both Northampton and Lehigh County; Mrs. McHale has been on county council for about 11 years. As for executive experience, Mr. Stoffa ran Lehigh County's Department of Human Services for eight years and is in the middle of his fourth year as executive. Mrs. McHale's experience in a family insurance business doesn't match up with the varied demands on a county executive.
"Second, Mr. Stoffa better articulates a vision for the county. He puts modernization of the prison at the top of the list, and has been willing, in spite of political risks, to explore public-private and regional options. That includes the proposed Bethlehem Township treatment center, something Mrs. McHale has voted against. The prison is the right priority. Mr. Stoffa can list a series of cost-cutting steps in his administration, but Mrs. McHale is not clear on how she would cope with a rising demand for county services and declining state funding.
"Finally, there is the politics. Mr. Stoffa has run afoul of the Democratic establishment, partly because he appointed Republicans to top positions. So, the county committee endorsed Mrs. McHale in February. Good, clean fun, we suppose. But, if going lockstep with party leaders is to be the qualification for county executive, we'll support the bipartisan man. Nominate John Stoffa on the Democratic ballot."
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