PLANTED PEOPLE AS GOP CANDIDATES

LARRY HOMSHER IS RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE 95TH STATE HOUSE DISTRICT AS A REPUBLICAN. THE INCUMBENT HERE IS PAY RAISE SUPPORTER STEVE STETLER, A DEMOCRAT. HOMSHER RAN AS A REPUBLICAN FOR CITY COUNCIL BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT, THE DEMS ARE SO NASTY AND POWERFUL IN THE CITY THAT THEY HAVE PLANTED PEOPLE AS GOP CANDIDATES SO THEY COULD WIN ELECTIONS. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ON THIS ONE, BUT QUESTIONS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH CITY POLITICS..... Excerpt from NEXTRUSH

From the nextrush profile page, formatted for your reading enjoyment!

NEWS AND NOTES FROM YORK COUNTY PA...FEBRUARY 26TH....STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE STETLER ISN'T GIVING BACK THE RAISE HE GOT LAST JULY WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE PAY RAISE BECAME LAW...BEFORE IT WAS REPEALED IN NOVEMBER. STETLER TOOK $9,188 IN "UNVOUCHERED EXPENSES". STETLER SAYS HE GAVE THE MONEY TO CHARITY, BUT WON'T DISCLOSE WHICH ONES HE GAVE TO. TWO REPUBLICANS FACE OFF IN THE MAY PRIMARY FOR A CHANCE TO RUN AGAINST HIM, LARRY HOMSHER AND KAREN EMENHEISER. BOTH SAY HE SHOULD RETURN THE MONEY. EMENHEISER JUST ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY. SHE IS 32 AND LISTS WORK IN THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE AS PART OF HER EXPERIENCE. EMENHEISER SAYS SHE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE PROPERTY TAX AND CONSOLIDATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SHE HAS SET UP A WEBSITE AT EMENHEISER.COM. SOME DEMOCRATS ARE LINING UP TO OPPOSE INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS IN YORK COUNTY...LONGTIME EAST PROSPECT MAYOR MAXINE KUNTZ IS GOING TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENT STAN SAYLOR IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION FOR THE 94TH DISTRICT SEAT. ALSO, BILL PANEBAKER WILL RUN IN THE 193RD DISTRICT, WHERE DEBRA HOFF IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT STEVE NICKOL IN THE REPUBLCIAN PRIMARY IN MAY....STILL NO WORD IN THE CASE OF FORMER CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ROBIN WINKIS, ACCUSED IN CONNECTION WITH HER SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH TWO STUDENTS. SHE WAS SET TO ENTER HER PLEAS TO THE CHARGES AGAINST HER ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17TH. IS A DEAL BEING CUT IN HER CASE? THAT'S MY SPECULTION. WILL SHE GET LIGHT PUNISHMENT? STAY TUNED....MEANWHILE A NUMBER OF TEACHERS IN YORK COUNTY ARE WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT. DOZENS OF TEACHERS AT THE YORK COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY PICKETED ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH ONE SIGN READING 'GIT R DONE'. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT SINCE JUNE. TALKS ARE UNDERWAY ON A NEW TEACHER CONTRACT IN THE CENTRAL YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A HUNDRED TEACHERS REPORTEDLY SHOWING UP AT A RECENT NEGOTIATING SESSION. PENNSYLVANIA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATOR CLINTON GIBBS SAYS THAT HEALTH INSURANCE IS A STUMBLING BLOCK IN CONTRACT TALKS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TEACHERS TO PAY MORE OF THE COSTS OF HEALTH INSURANCE. ONE PICKET SIGN SPOKE OF A 0% PAISE AT YORK TECH LAST WEEK AND THAT COULD BE WHAT TEACHERS GET IF THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THAT WOULD NEGATE ANY PAY RAISES THEY MAY RECEIVE. PERSONNEL COSTS ON AVERAGE MAKE UP 60 PERCENT OR MORE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETS...THE DEAL WAS DONE IN DOVER LAST WEEK. THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 8-0 LAST WEEK TO APPROVE A MILLION DOLLAR LEGAL SETTLMENT, MOST OF WHICH WILL NOT PAY FOR LEGAL EXPENSES FOR THE LAWYERS WHO SUED THE DISTRICT OVER INTELLIGENT DESIGN, BUT GO TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AND THE AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. DOVER CARES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BRYAN REHM, A PLAINTIFF IN THE LAWSUIT ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE. EACH OF THE PARENTS WHO SUED THE DISTRICT GETS A DOLLAR EACH. DOVER CARES PEOPLE USED THE OCCASION OF THE VOTE TO DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT IN INTELLIGENT DESIGN. THOSE WHO SUPPORT INTELLIGENT DESIGN SAY THEY HAVE NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR. THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO LAWSUITS AND EACH SIDE ALWAYS BLAMES THE OTHER. WHY SHOULDN'T THE DOVER CARES PEOPLE APOLOGIZE FOR SUING IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN PLANO, TEXAS A SCHOOL LAWYER BLAMED CHRISTIAN PARENTS WHO SUED WHEN THEY CHALLENGED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OUTRAGEOUS PROHIBITIONS AT CHRISTMAS TIME INCLUDING BANNING RED AND GREEN PLATES FROM A PARTY.....SOME IMPORTANT NOTES HERE..CONGRESSMAN TODD PLATTS IS THE SPEAKER FOR MONDAY NIGHT'S YORK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CLUB MEETING..WITH THE PASSING OF CHAIRMAN JOHN THOMPSON SR., PLATTS IS THE UNDISPUTED LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN YORK COUNTY. ON TUESDAY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TRY AGAIN TO GIN UP SUPPORT FOR THE EMINENT DOMAIN SEIZURE OF THE KOHR FAMILY FARM IN YORK COUNTY. THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO TELL THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR PLANS BUT OPPONENTS MADE A BIG SHOWING AT THE FIRST MEETING AT EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL. NOW THEY PLAN TO USE PENN STATE-YORK AS THEIR VENUE FOR AN 'INFORMATIONAL MEETING.' THE KOHR FAMILY IS BEING EXCLUDED FROM THIS EVENT AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR POINT OF VIEW HEARD. FEBRUARY 19TH.....MORE POLITICAL NEWS THIS WEEK AS PETITIONS CIRCULATE FOR CANDIDATES IN THE MAY PRIMARY....DEBRA HOFF HAS EMERGED AS A CHALLENGER TO LONG-TIME REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT STEVE NICKOL IN THE 193RD STATE HOUSE SEAT IN THE HANOVER AREA. HOFF HOLDS A LABORATORY POSITION AT HANOVER HOSPITAL AND IS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. SHE WAS FEATURED AS A CANDIDATE SUPPORTED BY PA CLEAN SWEEP AND INFORMATION ABOUT HER IS ON THEIR WEBSITE. HOFF MENTIONS THE NEED TO REFORM PROPERTY TAXES (THE BIG BUZZ IN HARRISBURG THESE DAYS) BUT SEEMS FUZZY ON HOW TO DO IT. SHE ALSO EXPRESSES DISAPPOVAL OF MANDATED STUDENT TESTS IN SCHOOLS UNDER THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW. THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OPPOSES THE TESTS AS WELL BECAUSE BAD RESULTS MAY HOLD THEIR MEMBERS ACOOUNTABLE. CANDIDATES WITH EDUCATION BACKGROUNDS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH SOME SKEPTICISM BECAUSE THEY MAY BE OPERATIVES FOR THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WHO WANT TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS. AS FOR THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE STEVE NICKOL, HE DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE PAY RAISE FIASCO BUT DID JOIN WITH THE DEMS IN PUTTING THROUGH THE INCOME TAX HIKE JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2003, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE 'DIRTY DEALS' IN HARRISBURG THAT GET SNUCK PAST THE PEOPLE. LIKE MOST OF YORK COUNTY'S STATE LEGISLATORS, NICKOL IS PRO-ABORTION....INCUMBENT STATE LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AT POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS THIS YEAR AND THEIR NAMES SEEM TO APPEAR A LOT IN NEWSPAPERS LATELY PUSHING LEGISLATION ON 'HOT BUTTON' ISSUES. LAST WEEK THE YORK DISPATCH RAN A STORY ABOUT THE PROPOSAL OF STATE REPRESENTATIVES BEV MACKERETH AND STAN SAYLOR TO CONSOLIDATE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS INTO ONE BIG ONE. MY FIRST REACTION. IS THIS ANOTHER PENNSYLVANIA STATE EDUCATION PLOT AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS? AT BEST IT REFLECTS THE LEGISLATORS IGNORANCE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MAYBE JUST AN ATTEMPT TO APPEASE CERTAIN INTERESTS LIKE THE YORK NEWSPAPERS THAT SUPPORT THE IDEA. THEY THINK ITS A WAY OR REDUCING EXPENSES AND HELPING THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN. SIMPLY IT IS NO WAY. ELIMINATING SUPERINTENDENTS JOBS IS MENTIONED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN. IF YORK COUNTY GOT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT THE SUPER WOULD GET A BIG NEW JOB FOR THE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BIG DISTRICT AND THE OTHER SUPERS WOULD GET NEW TITLES AT THE SAME HIGH SALARIES (100 THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE). NOW WE GET TO THE FUN PARTS. MACKERETH AND SAYLOR SPEAK OF JOINT PURCHASING OF SUPPLIES BY A BIG SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT ALREADY HAPPENS IN OUR AREA FOR EVERYTHING FROM PAPER AND PENCILS TO JANITORIAL SUPPLIES UNDER THE LINCOLN INTERMEDIATE UNIT 12 THAT ENCOMPASSES YORK AND ADAMS COUNTIES. SALARIES AND BENEFITS ACCOUNT FOR 60 PERCENT OR MORE OF SCHOOL BUDGETS, BUT THEY DIFFER FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT. IN SOME DISTRICTS TEACHERS START AT AROUND 30-DOLLARS A YEAR, IN OTHERS AROUND 40-THOUSAND A YEAR. IN SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS CUSTODIANS START AROUND SEVEN DOLLARS AN HOUR AND IN OTHERS AROUND ELEVEN DOLLARS AN HOUR. WHICH PAY SCALES WILL PREVAIL IN A BIG NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT. I THINK THE HIGHEST ONE WILL AND THAT MEANS HIGHER COSTS AND TAXPAYERS GET THE SHAFT IF MACKERETH AND SAYLOR GET THEIR WAY. THE UNION MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION IN THE LOWER PAID SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL GET BIG RAISES AND THE UNION CAN BEAT ITS CHEST AND GET THE HIGHER PAY THEY ALWAYS TRY TO GET IN THE LOWER PAID DISTRICTS.....ENOUGH OF POLITICS AND THE GAMES POLITICIANS PLAY BUT ONE OTHER NOTE....FORMER CENTRAL YORK HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER AND GIRLS SOCCER COACH ROBIN WINKIS WAS SCHEDULED TO ENTER HER PLEAS IN COURT ON FRIDAY. I HAVE NO WORD ON WHAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED. IT MAY APPEAR IN THE NEWSPAPERS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT IS POSSIBLE A DEAL WILL BE CUT IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHARGES AGAINST HER IN CONNECTION WITH HAVING SEX WITH TWO STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL. AFTER SHE APPEARED BEFORE A DISTRICT JUSTICE LAST MONTH THERE WAS A REPORT THAT SOME CHARGES AGAINST HER WERE DROPPED WITH A COURT OFFICIAL TELLING THE YORK DISPATCH SHE "COULDN'T FIND THE PAPERWORK." A STORY BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG?..... FEBRUARY 12TH...A FOURTH CANDIDATE IS IN THE RACE FOR THE 92ND DSITRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE SEAT BEING VACATED BY BRUCE SMITH...CARL MEISS HAS A LONG RESUME OF REPUBLICAN PARTY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND MORE. PERHAPS HIS ENTRY COMES AS A RESULT OF SCOTT PERRY'S CANDIDACY, A PARTY ESTABLISHMENT ALTERNATIVE TO CONVICTED FELON PERRY, WHO PLEAD GUILTY TO CHARGES OF FALSIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL RECORDS BUT CAN CLEAR HIS NAME THROUGH THE ARD PROGRAM. SOME CRITICS SAY THAT PERRY GOT A BREAK FROM DA STAN REBERT FOR BEING ADMITTED INTO PROGRAM, COMMONLY USED FOR FIRST-TIME DUI CONVICTIONS. JOSHUA ESHELMAN AND JAY MCKIERNAN ARE ALSO ANNOUNCED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE MAY PRIMARY. CIRCULATION OF NOMINATING PETITIONS STARTS TUESDAY FOR A THREE WEEK PERIOD....WILLIAM MILLER WAS REINSTATED AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IN DOVER LAST WEEK WITH THE DOVER CARES BOARD VOTING 8-1 TO BRING HIM BACK. THE PREVIOUS BOARD VOTED TO REMOVE MILLER AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED OF DUI IN 2003. SPORTS FANS ARE MANY IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR ANGER MAY BE ANOTHER REASON THE DOVER CARES BOARD GOT ELECTED. BACK IN THE 90'S A CONSERVATIVE SCHOOL BOARD IN SPRING GROVE GOT THE BOOT AFTER AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY REFUSED TO RENT OUT FIELDS FOR YOUTH SOCCER BECAUSE THEY PLAYED ON SUNDAYS. ONE OF THE YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZERS WAS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WHO REPLACED THE CONSERVATIVE BOARD AND RETURNED SPRING GROVE TO THE TRADITIONAL TAX AND SPEND POLICIES OF YORK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS....A TWO-YEAR PAY FREEZE FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WAS ONE OF THE MANY IDEAS PRESENTED TO YORK CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY AS A MEANS TO SAVING THE CITY FROM BANKRUPTCY. MAYOR BRENNER AND OTHER LEADING POLITICIANS ARE PUSHING THE STADIUM IDEA AS A WAY TO BRING TAX MONEY INTO THE CITY (SPORTS AND POLITICS AGAIN), BUT FOR NOW A CONSULTANT OFFERING COST CUTTING IDEAS TO CITY COUNCIL. THE STUDY DONE AT A COST OF 150-THOUSAND DOLLARS NOTED THAT POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION MAKE UP THE BULK OF CITY EXPENSES AND ALSO CALLED FOR CUTTING 11 POLICE POSITIONS. THIS ALL GAVE ME CAUSE FOR THOUGHT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES IN GENERAL. THE POLITICIANS WANT TO CREATE NEW TAXES TO OFFER "PROPERTY TAX RELIEF." THE PROPERTY TAX WILL STILL EXIST TO BE RAISED LATER AND NEW TAXES WILL BE IMPOSED (SALES, INCOME). SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND 60 PERCENT OR MORE OF THEIR BUDGETS ON PERSONNEL COSTS. WOULD A PAY FREEZE IN EDUCATION OFFER RELIEF TO PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WITHOUT NEW TAXES? FEBRUARY 5TH...MAY POST MORE NEWS LATER, BUT FIRST ITS WORTH THIS SPACE TO TAKE NOTE OF THE PASSING OF YORK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN JOHN W. THOMPSON SR. HE DIED LAST WEDNESDAY AT AGE 91 "WITH HIS BOOTS ON", STILL HOLDING THE TITLE HE CLAIMED IN 1963. THOMPSON WAS CLEARLY IN THE "MODERATE" WING OF THE GOP. HE WORKED IN THE GUBERNATORIAL ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM SCRANTON SR., WHO TRIED TO DERAIL BARRY GOLDWATER'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN 1964. THOMPSON'S "MODERATE" REPUBLICAN MODEL LATER CALLED "MAINSTREAM CONSERVATIVE" BY HIS CRONIES MEANT OPPOSITION TO RONALD REAGAN TWICE. OPPOSING REAGAN BY SUPPORTING GERALD FORD IN 1976 AND GEORGE H.W. BUSH IN 1980 PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA. IN 1994 WHEN CONSERVATIVE PRO-LIFE CANDIDATES FOR REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE IN YORK COUNTY RAN A RADIO AD RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, A FURIOUS THOMPSON TIRED TO GET DA STAN REBERT TO PROSECUTE THE CANDIDATES, BUT REBERT TOLD THOMPSON THE AD WAS WITHIN THE LAW. THOMPSON TOLD CANDIDATES NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ABORTION AND WAS EVEN QUOTED ONCE AS SAYING HE BELIEVED IN THE "RIGHT TO CHOOSE." IN RECENT YEARS HIS POWER WAS REDUCED BY THE RISE OF CONGRESSMAN TODD PLATTS, WHO HAD TO FIGHT HIS WAY INTO OFFICE AFTER YEARS OF LOYALTY TO THE PARTY BECAUSE THOMPSON OPPOSED HIM. YORK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CLUB PRESIDENT DAVID BRINTON EXPRESSED SHOCK OVER THOMPSON'S DEATH. BRINTON IN RECENT DAYS HAS BEEN ON A MISSION NO DOUBT SUPPORTED BY THOMPSON, THAT OF TRYING TO GET STATE COMMITTEE PEOPLE FROM YORK COUNTY TO SWITCH SUPPORT FROM LYNN SWANN TO WILLIAM SCRANTON JR. FOR GOVERNOR AS IT APPEARS THAT SWANN HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT NEXT WEEKEND. I SUSPECT THAT CONGRESSMAN PLATTS WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN WHO THE NEW PARTY CHAIRMAN WILL BE. WE SHALL SEE..... JANUARY 29TH....POLITICS FIRST...ONE OF YORK'S BIGGEST RICH LIBERALS, TOM WOLF, WON'T RUN FOR THE DEMOCRAT NOMINATION FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. THE CONTRIBUTOR TO DEMOCRAT POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND CONGRESSMAN TODD PLATTS WHEN HE FACED CONSERVATIVE PRIMARY OPPOSITION IN 2002, SAYS HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON HIS BUSINESS AND THE COMMUNITY....WOLF IS INVOLVED IN AN ORGANIZATION CALLED BETTER YORK INC. AND A BIG SUPPORTER OF MANY CAUSES INCLUDING PRO-ABORTION PLANNED PARENTHOOD...WOLF ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE LANCASTER-YORK HERITAGE REGION THAT WANTS TO GRAB THE EASTERN YORK COUNTY LAND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SEIZE BY EMINENT DOMAIN....THE LAND GRAB PLAN WAS PROMOTED IN A PUBLIC MEETING LAST THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE CAFETERIA AT EASTERN YORK HIGH SCHOOL. POLICE WERE ON HAND TO DEAL WITH A LARGE CROWD THAT RECEIVED INVITATIONS TO ATTEND A MEETING HELD IN A ROOM THAT ONLY SEATS 300 PEOPLE...WHY NOT USE THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM THAT WOULD HAVE ACCOMODATED A LARGER CROWD?...OPPONENTS OF THE LAND GRAB WERE ALLOWED A TABLE IN THE LOBBY OF THE SCHOOL IN FRONT OF THE CAFETERIA. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAY THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MEETING TO EXPLAIN THE PLAN TO A LOCAL COMMUNITY WHERE MANY ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAND SEIZURE..AND NOW A LOOK AT MARK PLATTS, PRESIDENT OF THE LANCASTER-YORK HERITAGE REGION, WHO'S THE CHIEF ARCHITECT AND PROMOTER OF THE PARK PLAN INVOLVING THE SEIZURE OF THE PRIVATE LAND FOR GOVERNMENT USE. MARK IS THE OLDER BROTHER OF CONGRESSMAN TODD PLATTS. THE PLATTS FAMILY WERE LOYAL FOOT SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLICAN MACHINE BUILT IN THE 1960'S BY YORK COUNTY CHAIRMAN JOHN THOMPSON, SR...THE ENTHUSIASTIC INVOLVEMENT OF "DUTCH" AND "BABS" PLATTS WAS REPLICATED IN MARK AND TODD WHO FULLY INVOLVED THEMSELVES IN THE TEENAGE AND YOUNG REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATIONS. BACK IN THE 1970'S AT YORK SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL MARK WAS LOYAL TO THE "MODERATE" MACHINE AND ALL OF ITS CANDIDATES INCLUDING GERALD FORD WHEN HE WAS OPPOSED BY RONALD REAGAN IN 1976. AFTER COLLEGE MARK WORKED HIS WAY INTO GOVERNMENT PLANNING BUREAUACRACY, INCLDUING SOME TIME IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA (ORLANDO). HE THEN WENT TO WASHINGTON AS A CONSULTANT BEFORE WORKING HIS WAY BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA AND HIS PRESENT POSITION....PLENTY OF SCHOOL NEWS...FIRST SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PUTTING OUT WORD WAY AHEAD OF NEW SCHOOL BUDGETS IN JULY ABOUT THEIR PLANNED TAX INCREASES...THIS HAPPENED IN DALLASTOWN AND CONEWAGO VALLEY, ADAMS COUNTY...IS THIS A STRATEGY TO GIN UP SUPPORT FOR SUPPOSED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IN HARRISBURG THAT WOULD IMPOSE NEW TAXES ON US AND HOPE FOR SOME GAMBLING REVENUE DOWN THE ROAD?...OR IS IT THE USUAL TRICK TACTIC TO TALK ABOUT A BIG TAX INCREASE THEN MAKE IT SMALLER IN THE FINAL PLAN, TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE "SMALLER" TAX INCREASE YOU HAVE TO PAY....AND SPEAKING OF WHAT DRIVES THE ANNUAL TAX INCREASES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TEACHER CONTRACT TALKS ARE UNDERWAY OR WILL SOON BE IN A NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISRTICTS...CENTRAL YORK TEACHERS CONTRACT EXPIRES JUNE 30TH AND NEGOTIATING TEAMS HAVE BEEN APPPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL YORK EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT...EXPECT THE MEDICAL BENEFITS TO BE A POINT OF CONTENTION. CENTRAL EMPLOYEES PAY 24 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENEFITS, THE SAME AMOUNT THEY'VE PAID SINCE A TEACHERS STRIKE IN 1991....IN HANOVER, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT AFTER THE OLD ONE ENDED LAST JUNE 30TH. THE SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO MAKE THE CONTRACT OFFERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE HANOVER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PUBLIC, BUT A UNION REP IS CHALLENGING THE IDEA, CLAIMING IT "MAY BE ILLEGAL"...NOTE HE SAYS "MAYBE", NOT "IS."....LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT BOTH SIDES HAVE ON THE TABLE WAS THE POLICY OF THE OLD CONSERVATIVE SCHOOL BOARD IN DOVER WHERE CONTRACT TALKS WERE UNDERWAY LAST YEAR...NOW THE NEW DOVER CARES BOARD IS CONDUCTING TALKS WITH THE UNION THAT GAVE NEARLY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THEIR CAMPAIGN. THE NEW BOARD IS NOT REVEALING DETAILS ABOUT THE TALKS, BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THEY ARE GOING ON. A NEW CONTRACT WITH DOVER TEACHERS COULD PROBABLY COST TAXPAYERS WELL IN EXCESS OF FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.....JANUARY 22ND,2006...WELL PLENTY THIS WEEK...IN POLITICS, JOSHUA ESHELMAN HAS ENTERED THE FRAY AS A THIRD CANDIDATE IN THE 92ND STATE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. HE'S IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, ALSO YOUNG REPUBLICANS AND THE REPUBLICAN CLUB. HIS INSIDER MEMBERSHIPS MAKE ME WONDER IF HE IS A THIRD CANDIDATE DESIGNED TO SPLIT OPPOSITION VOTES SO INSIDER SCOTT PERRY CAN WIN WITH SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION INSIDERS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS THREATENED, THIRD CANDIDATES COME IN TO SPLIT ANTI-INCUMBENT VOTES...OUTSIDER CANDIDATE JAY MCKIERNAN IS ALSO RUNNING IN THE GOP PRIMARY...LARRY HOMSHER IS RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE 95TH STATE HOUSE DISTRICT AS A REPUBLICAN. THE INCUMBENT HERE IS PAY RAISE SUPPORTER STEVE STETLER, A DEMOCRAT. HOMSHER RAN AS A REPUBLICAN FOR CITY COUNCIL BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT, THE DEMS ARE SO NASTY AND POWERFUL IN THE CITY THAT THEY HAVE PLANTED PEOPLE AS GOP CANDIDATES SO THEY COULD WIN ELECTIONS. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ON THIS ONE, BUT QUESTIONS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH CITY POLITICS...A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR MARAKAY ROGERS LAST WEEK. SHE IS FROM YORK AND IS A LAWYER-GREEN PARTY "ACTIVIST." HER NAME CAME UP LAST YEAR IN NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE FAILED EFFORT TO CHANGE THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WINDSOR TOWNSHIP. ("HOME RULE"). ONE STORY NOTED HOW THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE CREATED A LAW THAT FORCES THIRD PARTIES TO GET 33 TIMES MORE SIGNATURES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICES THAN REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS. OLD EL RUSHBO LIKES TO SAY THAT THE GREENS ARE THE NEW HOME FOR THE OLD REDS. AND IN THIS CASE IT STANDS OUT, THE YORK DISPATCH NOTED ROGERS MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD, A GROUP FORMED BY COMMUNISTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1940'S TO DEFEND "CIVIL LIBERTIES" WHEN THE FBI ARRESTED COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS ON SUBVERSION CHARGES. THEY FORMED IT BECAUSE THE ACLU WASN'T SYMPTHETIC ENOUGH TO THE COMMUNISTS BACK THEN. THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN BUT THE LAWYERS GUILD STILL EXISTS TODAY...SPEAKING OF REDS, ACTOR ED ASNER IS COMING TO YORK ON JANUARY 29TH. ASNER, WHO'S LENT HIS NAME IN A NEWSPAPER AD CALLING ON PROTESTORS TO DROWN OUT PRESIDENT BUSH'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE WITH POTS AND PANS ON JANUARY 31ST, IS PORTRAYING WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN IN A PLAY ABOUT THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL OF 1925...IT GOT NASTY AT YORK CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK. COUNCILMAN JOE MUSSO, CITED BY POLICE AFTER HE SHOVED HIS WIFE LAST MONTH, SAYS HE WAS GRABBED BY THE THROAT IN A MENS ROOM BY FELLOW COUNCILMAN WILLIAM LEE SMALLWOOD DURING A BREAK IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MUSSO SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING FILING CHARGES. SMALLWOODS ANGER WAS AROUSED BY COMMENTS MUSSO MADE ABOUT SMALLWOOD'S WIFE, JANIS ROZELLE, WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO THE BASEBALL STADIUM PLAN THAT WILL DISPLACE DOZENS OF CITY RESIDENTS AT WHAT OPPONENTS CONSIDER LOW BALL PRICES FOR THEIR PROPERTIES. WILL MUSSO BE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT IN HIS HOME LAST MONTH? HIS WIFE HAS MADE UP AND OTHER POLITICAL INSIDERS LIKE CITY COUNCILWOMAN TONI SMITH ARE CALLING IT A "PRIVATE MATTER." IT LOOKS LIKE MUSSO'S WRONGDOING WILL BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG...AND SPEAKING OF "PRIVATE MATTERS," IT SEEMS THAT WHENEVER SOMEONE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING, BE IT YORK SUBURBAN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAM HARTMAN FOR DUI OR FORMER CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ROBIN WINKIS FOR SEXUALLY MOLESTING BOYS, THE WAGONS ARE CIRCLED BY SCHOOL BOARDS AND "PRIVACY" IS SH0UTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS. HARTMAN'S PUNISHMENT IS GOING TO BE A "PRIVATE MATTER" ACCORDING TO SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT JOHN DEHAAS. THW WORD SPREAD ABOUT PRIVATELY BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN THE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE WINKIS THING IS A "PRIVATE MATTER" AND THEY SEEM TO WISH IT WILL GO AWAY. WINKIS AND HER OUT OF TOWN LAWYER TERRANCE MCGOWAN CAME INTO A DISTRICT JUSTICE'S OFFICE OVER THREE HOURS AFTER A PRELIMINARY HEARING WAS SCHEDULED LAST WEDNESDAY TO SAY SHE DIDN'T WANT A HEARING WHERE THE CHARGES AGAINST HER WOULD BE PUBLICLY DETAILED. INSTEAD SHE WILL ENTER HER PLEAS ON FEBRUARY 17TH IN COURT. SOME OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HER HAVE BEEN REPORTEDLY DROPPED. IS A PLEA DEAL IN THE WORKS? WILL A PLEA DEAL PLUS HER RESIGNATION AS A CENTRAL TEACHER (ACCEPTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST WEEK) ADD UP TO HER BEING ABLE TO TEACH SOMEWHERE ELSE? IT IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY...JANUARY 15TH,2006....FORMER YORK MAYOR CHARLIE ROBERTSON WAS PICKED FOR JURY DUTY LAST WEEK IN YORK COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT. ROBERTSON, WHO WAS ACQUITTED OF MURDER CHARGES INVOLVING THE KILLING OF LILLIE BELLE ALLEN IN THE 1969 RIOTS IN YORK WAS SEATED ON A JURY THAT ACQUITTED A DRUG DEFENDANT. FORMER POLICE OFFICER ROBERTSON SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THE POLICE HAD THE EVIDENCE IN THE CASE. THE JURY AGREED BUT ROBERTSON SAID HE WAITED UNTIL OTHER JURORS SPOKE BEFORE VOICING HIS OPINION. OF THE HUNDREDS OF CASES ON THE DOCKET ONLY EIGHT JURIES WERE PICKED FROM A POOL OF AROUND 200 JURORS LAST WEEK. ROBERTSON WAS A LIVELY MEMBER OF THE POOL IN THE JURY ROOM SHOWING THE FRIENDLINESS THAT HELPED ELECT HIM MAYOR OF YORK TWICE...YORK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REJECTED THE KOHR FAMILY'S ATTEMPT TO PRESENT THEIR SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE COUNTY'S USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO SEIZE FAMILY OWNED LAUXMONT FARMS TO BUILD A PARK. THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE PUSHING THE IDEA AT A PUBLIC MEETING WITH LOWER WINDSOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AT EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL ON JANUARY 26TH. MANY RESIDENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP ARE OPPOSED TO THE PLAN AND THE TOWNSHIP GIVING TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP WITH IT. THE NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL BE SEEKING AN OPINION FROM AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM OVER WHETHER THE COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY SPENT THE MONEY YET. IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM THE NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR AN ACCOUNTING OF THE MONEY OR ITS RETURN PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER LORI MITRICK SAYS THE MONEY IS SPENT ALREADY.... JANUARY 8TH,2006...THE REVOTE IN DOVER ENDED WITH BRYAN REHM'S VICTORY, BUT BY ONLY 68 VOTES. THE DOVER CARES CANDIDATE DEFEATED INCUMBENT JAMES CASHMAN IN THE ONE PRECINCT REVOTE. ONLY 653 OF THE 817 ELIGIBLE VOTERS SHOWED UP. PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN NOVEMBER WERE ELIBGIBLE TO REVOTE. AS THE VOTES WERE COUNTED THE NEW DOVER CARES BOARD VOTED TO NOT APPEAL THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN LAWSUIT AS EXPECTED. THE NEW MORE LIBERAL SCHOOL BOARD WILL MOVE TO OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING THE NEW TEACHER CONTRACT. WHILE THE YORK NEWSPAPERS HAVE GIVEN MUCH PLAY TO A POSSIBLE MILLION DOLLAR OR MORE LEGAL COST OF THE LAWSUIT, NO ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE POTENTIAL COST OF OVER FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO TAXPAYERS OF A NEW TEACHER CONTRACT. THE DOVER AREA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WANTED A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT INCLUDED A 19.1 PERCENT PAY RAISE THE FIRST YEAR. DOVER CARES CANDIDATES PICKED UP NEARLY FIVE THOSUAND DOLLARS OF UNION SUPPORT IN THEIR CAMPAIGN AND HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING QUICK AGREEMENT ON A NEW CONTRACT WITH TEACHERS...THE NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN LOWER WINDSOR TOWNSHIP WANT AN ACCOUNTING OF THE TWO MILLION DOLLARS THEY FORKED OVER TO THE COUNTY FOR TAKING AWAY PRIVATELY OWNED LAND INCLUDING LAUXMONT FARMS FOR A PROPOSED PARK. THEY VOTED 2-1 TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE MONEY OR RETURN IT. PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER LORI MITRICK SAYS THE MONEY IS ALREADY SPENT. COMMISSIONER STEVE CHRONISTER SAID LAST MONTH HE BELIEVES IT WAS NOT SPENT. MANY RESIDENTS IN LOWER WINDSOR ARE ANGERED BY THE COUNTY USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE THE LAND AND MITRICK IS PLANNING A MEETING WITH RESIDENTS ON JANUARY 26TH TO PITCH THE PLAN. AN INCUMBENT SUPERVISOR WAS DEFEATED BY AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN LAST FALL'S ELECTION WHO RAN IN OPPOSITION TO THE LAND GRAB ..JANUARY 1,2006...THE SPECIAL RE-VOTE IN DOVER TOWNSHIP PRECINCT FOUR IS THIS TUESDAY. THE CONTEST IS BETWEEN INCUMBENT DOVER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE JAMES CASHMAN AND DOVER CARES CHALLENGER BRYAN REHM. A LOT OF MEDIA HYPE IN THE LAST WEEK FOCUSING ON THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN ISSUE AIMING QUESTIONS AT MR. CASHMAN, BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THE YORK NEWSPAPERS AREN'T ASKING MR. REHM ABOUT. ONE, SHOULD A MAN WHO'S SUING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CONTROVERSY SIT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THAT LAWSUIT? TWO, SHOULD SOMEONE WHO IS A TEACHER AND WHO WAS A TEACHER IN THE DOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT BE ON A BOARD THAT WILL DECIDE ABOUT A NEW TEACHER CONTRACT INVOLVING TEACHER PAY AND BENEFITS? NOTHING ABOUT THESE TWO POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST INVOLVING REHM...LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CONTRIBUTOR AND ONE OF THE LEADING RICH LIBERALS IN YORK COUNTY IS THINKING ABOUT A RUN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE. THE YORK DAILY RECORD LAST WEEK SAID THAT TOM WOLF IS CONSIDERING A RUN. IF HE GETS IN WOLF MAY BE ONE OF MANY WHO ARE CHALLENING THE INCUMBENT CATHERINE BAKER KNOLL. SHE IS REPUTED TO BE UNPOPULAR AMONG THE INSIDER POLITICIANS IN HARRISBURG WHO SAY SHE'S INCOMPETENT. SHE'S ALSO A PRO-LIFE DEMOCRAT, A RARITY. WOLF IS AMONG OTHER THINGS A LIFETIME SUPPORTER OF PRO-ABORTION PLANNED PARENTHOOD...IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A 'PRIVATE' MATTER? LEADING YORK CITY DEMOCRATS ANSWER WITH A RESOUNDING 'YES' AFTER DEMOCRAT CITY COUNCILMAN JOE MUSSO WAS CITED FOR HARRASSMENT FOLLOWING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE AT HIS HOME ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 22ND. THE YORK DAILY RECORD REPORTED THAT MUSSO WAS SLAPPED BY HIS WIFE, CATHERINE, THEN SHE AND ANOTHER WOMAN WERE SHOVED BY THE COUNCILMAN RESULTING IN INJURY. CATHERINE AND JOE MUSSO SAY THEY ARE SEEKING COUNSELING AND MR. MUSSO PUT OUT AN APOLOGY TO THE MEDIA LAST WEEK. HE WAS BACKED UP BY LEADING DEMOCRATS INCLUDING THE OUTSPOKEN CITY COUNCILWOMAN TONI SMITH, ALL SAYING ITS A 'PRIVATE MATTER.' SMITH SAID THE INCIDENT ISN'T LIKE THE PROBLEM FACING COUNCILWOMAN VICKI WASHINGTON, WHOSE HUSBAND HAS BEEN CITED FOR NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES. THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CAMERON TEXTER IS PUSHING AN ETHICS CODE AIMED AT PUNISHING WASHINGTON FOR HER HUSBAND'S TAX PROBLEM. BUT IT APPEARS NO CENSURE FOR MR. MUSSO AFTER THE DOMESTIC DISPUTE. THE POLICE HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION THAN THE ONE MR. MUSSO AND HIS WIFE NOW HAVE OF WHAT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 22ND. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS GOES BEFORE THE DISTRICT JUSTICE. WILL MUSSO ESCAPE ANY CONSEQUENCES? WILL THE POLICE SOMEHOW NOT SHOW UP TO TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT THEY FOUND THAT NIGHT? THE CITY POLICE FORCE IS NOW A MAJOR BUDGET ISSUE WITH CUTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. STAY TUNED...DECEMBER 25TH..MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...WITH BRUCE SMITH OUT IN THE 92ND STATE HOUSE DISTRICT AFTER NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THE GOP PARTY INSIDERS WOULD COME UP WITH A CANDIDATE TO TAKE OUT THE OUTSIDER JAY MCKIERNAN. LONGTIME PARTY INSIDER SCOTT PERRY IS IN THE RACE TO REPLACE SMITH...TOM RIDGE FRIEND AND PRESIDENT BUSH APPOINTEE FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE JOHN JONES UPHELD THE 'SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE' LEGAL PRECEDENT IN THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CASE INVOLVING THE DOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT LAST WEEK. THIS SHOULD GIVE THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD THE COVER IT NEEDS TO DO WHAT IT WANTS ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AGAINST IT. NEW MEMBERS QUOTED AS SAYING THEY WANT NO APPEAL OF THE DECISION. IT MAY ALSO HELP THE EFFORT OF DOVER CARES CANDIDATE BRYAN REHM WHO FACES THE REVOTE IN ONE PRECINCT ON JANUARY 3RD AGAINST INCUMBENT JAMES CASHMAN. BEFORE THE JUDGES DECISION REHM WAS CHALLENGING CASHMAN TO A DEBATE AND TRYING TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON INTELLIGENT DESIGN AS AN ISSUE, HOPING IT WOULD HELP HIS CHANCES OF BEATING CASHMAN...THE YORK NEWSPAPERS GAVE THE DOVER STORY THE KIND OF OVERKILL COVERAGE NOT SEEN SINCE THE YORK RIOTS MURDER INVESTIGATION...CHRISTMAS AND JULY 4TH ARE SPECIAL TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR LESS HAPPY REASONS..THESE ARE THE TIMES OF YEAR WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS INCREASE SPENDING AND RAISE TAXES HOPING HOLIDAYS PREVENT US FROM NOTICING WHAT THEY ARE DOING...COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DO THE DIRTY DEEDS NOW AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STATE GOVERNMENT DO IT IN THE SUMMER...YORK CITY BUDGET PROBLEMS DRAW A LOT OF ATTENTION WITH AN OLD TACTIC SHOWING ITSELF. BEFORE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER DIRE PREDICTIONS OF A 50 PERCENT OR MORE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, NOW IT WILL BE LESS WITH SOME BELT-TIGHTENING ADDED IN. POLITICIANS ROUTINELY TALK BIG TAX INCREASE EARLY ON THEN VOTE SMALLER ONES HOPING YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOUR TAXES ONLY GO UP 20 PERCENT INSTEAD OF 30 PERCENT...REASSESSMENT ALSO OFFERS THE TAX AND SPEND POLITICIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFUSE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR TAX INCREASES. THE COUNTY BUDGET APPROVED LAST WEEK INCLUDES A 16 PERCENT INCREASE IN LIBRARY FUNDING AND A NEW .1 MILL LIBRARY TAX. THE NEW YORK COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE OVERALL IS 3.8 MILLS, DOWN FROM 4.51 MILLS LAST YEAR. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY TO THE NEWSPAPERS SHOWED THAT A 24 PERCENT HIGHER PROPERTY VALUE WOULD MEAN A 4.5 PERCENT TAX INCREASE...THIS IS MISLEADING AND I KNOW FOR ME THE STORY DOESN'T TELL THE TRUTH..MY VALUE IS OVER 55 PERCENT MORE THANKS TO REASSESSMENT AND MY COUNTY PROPERTY TAX IS GOING UP OVER 30 PERCENT NEXT YEAR. YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK YOUR FIGURES... DECEMBER 18TH...SHOULD AN EXTRA-JUDICIAL GROUP WITH THE POWER TO PUNISH PEOPLE BE SET UP IN YORK COUNTY. SOME LIKE YORK CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TOM FOUST THINK A COUNTY-WIDE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SHOULD BE SET UP. RIGHT NOW ONE EXISTS IN THE CITY OF YORK, WITH THE POWER AMONG OTHER THINGS TO PUNISH PEOPLE WITH FINES WHO DON'T FOLLOW THE CITY'S GAY RIGHTS ORDINANACE. ALL THIS TALK COMES AFTER THE CITY'S SETTLEMENT WITH THE FAMILY OF LILLIE BELLE ALLEN, KILLED IN THE 1969 RIOTS. IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THESE 'HUMAN RIGHTS' COMMISSIONS ARE NO LAUGHING MATTER. CALGARY, CANADA BISHOP FRED HENRY IS FACING ONE FOR WRITING A PASTORAL LETTER OPPOSING GAY MARRIAGE TO CATHOLICS. WILL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LIBERAL MITRICK-KILGORE MAJORITY IMPOSE ONE ON US WITH MORE MONEY BEING SPENT ON A BAD IDEA AGAIN? NOW THE CONTINUING SERIES ON FIGURES IN THE LAND GRAB STORY IN EASTERN YORK COUNTY. THE THIRD COUNTY COMMISSIONER, STEVE CHRONISTER IS IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND THOSE GROUPS OPPOSE THE ANTI- DEVELOPMENT SCHEME, EMINENT DOMAIN LAND GRAB PLAN. THIS IS NOT AN EASY ISSUE FOR CHRONISTER. WHEN HE RAN AND GOT ELECTED IN 2003 HE DID SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF TODD PLATTS, WHOSE BROTHER MARK PLATTS IS A LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT 'HERITAGE' ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS THE PARK BUILT ON THE LAND. CHRONISTER SAID AT ONE MEETING THAT HE HAD TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MARK PLATTS EVEN THOUGH HIS BROTHER THE CONGRESSMAN HAD CALLED AND ASKED HIM NOT TO. TODD PLATTS DID INFLUENCE CHRONISTER NO DOUBT ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE HE DID THIS YEAR. THAT WAS TO ENDORSE ALONG WITH THE OTHER REPBULICAN COMMISSIONER LORI MITRICK, TODD'S OLD FRIEND DEMOCRAT JOHN BRENNER FOR RE-ELECTION AS MAYOR OF YORK. FINALLY, WHO MADE A FUSS ABOUT THE NATIVITY SCENE THAT USED TO BE ON THE OLD COURTHOUSE STEPS IN YORK. NONE OTHER THAN THAT FAMOUS-INFAMOUS NOW EX-ATTORNEY MARK DAVID FRANKEL. FRANKEL WAS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THE PAST AS A POSSIBLE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATE. DECEMBER 11TH... MORE ON THE TEACHER SEX SCANDAL EXCLUSIVE FROM LAST WEEK LATER...FIRST...SOME INTERESTING ITEMS APPEARED IN THE SATURDAY DAILY RECORD WHICH FEW PAY ATTENTION TO...THE FIRST STORY DEALT WITH BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT LAST WEEKS MEETING OF THE NEW DOVER SCHOOL BOARD. THE DOVER CARES DOMINATED BOARD VOTED TO SPEND OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ON AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR A SCHOOL, THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION...IS THIS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME? THE BOARD IS WAITING FOR A FEDERAL JUDGE'S DECISION BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CASE. THEY MUST WANT TO HANG THEIR HATS ON HIS ROBE. NO DECISION YET ON THE TEACHER CONTRACT, EITHER. MAYBE THE NEW BOARD WANTS TO DELAY CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS UNTIL THE SPECIAL RE-VOTE IS CONDUCTED NEXT MONTH IN THE PRECINCT WHERE A VOTING MACHINE MALFUNCTIONED THAT MAY HAVE GIVEN JAMES CASHMAN THE VOTES HE NEEDED TO OVERTAKE DOVER CARES CANDIDATE AND LAWSUIT PLANTIFF BRYAN REHM...ANOTHER IMPORTANT STORY WAS THE DECISION BY LOWER WINDSOR TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS TO IMPOSE A 1 MILL REAL ESTATE TAX NEXT YEAR.. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS FOR A TOWNSHIP THAT HAS ENJOYED THE BENEFIT OF LANDFILL FEES TO FILL ITS TREASURY. THIS DECISION COMES AFTER TWO MILLION DOLLARS OF TOWNSHIP FUNDS WERE GIVEN TO THE COUNTY TO HELP WITH ITS LAND GRAB OF LAUXMONT FARMS AND HIGHPOINTE.WOW! MAYBE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHOULD HAND OUT THE TAX BILLS WHEN THEY MEET WITH TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS TO UPDATE THEM ON THE LAND GRAB....AND ANOTHER POLITICAL FIGURE IN THE LAND GRAB CONTROVERSY IS DEMOCRAT COUNTY COMMISSIONER DOUG KILGORE. ALONG THE LORI MITRICK, KILGORE MAKES UP THE 2-1 MAJORITY FOR THE LAND GRAB. KILGORE HAS A FARMING BACKGROUND AND WAS A PERENNIAL DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE AND PERENNIAL LOSING CANDIDATE. BUT HIS LUCK CHANGED IN 2003 WHEN HE EDGED OUT JACK SOMMER FOR THE MINORITY COMMISSIONER SPOT. MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT SOMMER WOULD WIN BUT STORIES ABOUT SOMMER TREATING HIS WORKERS BADLY EMRGED LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN AND NOW DOUG KILGORE IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER...WELL IT WAS QUITE A WEEK AT CENTRAL YORK HIGH SCHOOL..I PLAN A POST WITH MORE DETAILS ON THIS STORY..THE ARRAIGNMENT LAST WEEK OF ROBIN WINKIS ANSWERS ONE QUESTION..THE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DID REPORT HER TO THE AUTHORITIES. BUT SINCE ARRAIGNMENTS OCCUR WEEKS AFTER ARREST, ITS OBVIOUS THE CENTRAL YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT WASN'T TELLING THE MEDIA ANYTHING UNTIL A REPORTER SAW THE RECORD OF HER ARRIAGNMENT AND CONTACTED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR COMMENT. SCHOOL DISTRICT SOLICITOR MIKE KING SPOKE OF HER BEING SUSPENDED WHEN "CREDIBLE EVIDENCE" WAS DISCOVERED. WAS THE EVIDENCE DISCOVERED WHEN THE ARREST OCCURRED..SHE WAS REMOVED FROM THE CLASSROOM DURING SCHOOL LAST MONTH,ACCORDING TO STUDENTS. WAS THIS HER ARREST? LAST THURSDAY WHEN THE STORY CAME OUT IN THE MEDIA STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE TOLD "NOT TO TALK" ABOUT IT. STUDENTS SAY THEY WERE THREATENED WITH THREE DAYS SUSPENSION AND QUESTIONING BY POLICE IF THEY DID. THE SOVIET APPROACH? I HOPE TO DO A POST THIS WEEKEND WITH MORE DETAILS ON THIS. POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO WHETHER ROBIN WINKIS HAD SEX WITH OTHER UNDERAGE BOYS...HEY HERE'S A QUESTION TO THINK ABOUT THIS WEEK. WHO SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE NATIVITY SCENE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND HELPED GET IT REMOVED? THE ANSWER NEXT WEEK. DECEMBER 4TH....THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE !!!!!IS ANOTHER YORK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT COVERING UP MISCONDUCT INVOLVING A TEACHER? EARLIER THIS YEAR THE YORK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS CITED AFTER IT FAILED TO REPORT A HANNAH PENN PHYS ED TEACHER FOR INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHING FEMALE STUDENTS. THE MAN WAS CHARGED AFTER PARENTS WENT TO POLICE..HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW. A FEMALE TEACHER WAS REMOVED FROM HER CLASS AT A YORK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TWO WEEKS AGO. STUDENTS SAY SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF CLASS AND DIDN'T RETURN BECAUSE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH MALE STUDENTS. PHONE CONVERSATIONS WERE MENTIONED BETWEEN HER AND ONE MALE STUDENT. I ASKED A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE WHO SAID HE HAD HEARD SHE HAD SEX WITH SEVERAL BOYS WHO SHE TOOK TO HER HOME, INCLUDING ONE BOY WHO HAD GRADUATED...WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. SOMETIMES SCHOOL DISTRICTS ASK PEOPLE TO RESIGN WHEN THEY'RE CAUGHT. I HEARD A STORY OF ONE MAN WHO WAS A TEACHER-COACH WHO LOST HIS JOBS FOR HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH A GIRL HE COACHED. HE ENDED UP GETTING A JOB WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN QUESTION HERE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THE TEACHER WAS BREAKING THE LAW BY HAVING SEX WITH UNDERAGE BOYS? HAVE THEY REPORTED HER TO AUTHORITIES? DID THEY ASK HER TO RESIGN HER JOB TO KEEP IT ALL QUIET? DID THEY CONDUCT AN "INTERNAL INVESTIGATION" AND ARE WITHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMES THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED? STAY TUNED..MAYBE IT WILL MAKE THE "MAINSTREAM" NEWS.IT DID ON THRUSDAY DECEMBER 8TH....NOVEMBER 27TH...ANOTHER 2-1 VOTE FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LAST WEEK ON THE LAUXMONT FARMS-HIGHPOINT LAND GRAB. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAJORITY PLAN TO USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO GET LAND FOR A NEW PARK INVOLVES MANY POLITICAL PERSONALITIES. THIS WEEK I TAKE NOTE OF ONE.... COUNTY COMMISSION PRESIDENT LORI MITRICK.... HER POLITICAL CAREER LAUNCHED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO WITH HER OPPOSITION TO THE BUILDING (DEVELOPMENT) OF THE GALLERIA MALL. SHE THEN DECIDED TO RUN FOR SPRINGETTSBURY TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR, A POST SHE HELD PRIOR TO BEING A COMMISSIONER. IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME SHE IS OPPOSED TO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS LAND...AND TWO STATE SENATORS WHO REPRESENT PART OF YORK COUNTY WERE ON THE YES FOR A PAY RAISE LIST. THEY ALSO DON'T FACE RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR (HOW CONVENIENT). TERRY PUNT OF THE 33RD STATE SENATE DISTRICT IN NORTHWESTERN YORK COUNTY (REPUBLICAN) AND GIBSON ARMSTRONG OF THE 13TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES EASTERN YORK COUNTY INCLUDING HELLAM AND SPRINGETTSBURY TOWNSHIPS (REPUBLICAN)...NOVEMBER 20TH... I DID LEAVE ONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OUT OF MY VOTED FOR THE PAY RAISE STORY LAST WEEK..DEMOCRAT STEVE STETLER, THE OTHER YORK COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE WHO VOTED YES ON THE PAY RAISE. STETLER WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 1990 FROM WHAT IS CONSIDERED A 'SAFE SEAT' THAT NOW INCLUDES THE CITY OF YORK, NORTH YORK, WEST YORK AND SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP. STETLER SPENDS TIME AT TWO OFFICES WHEN HE WORKS, THE ONE AT THE FAMILY BUSINESS (STETLER DODGE) AND HIS LEGISLATIVE OFFICE. THE FACT THAT HE HAS TWO JOBS SPEAKS SOMETHING ABOUT WHETHER HE REALLY NEEDED A RAISE. CAN THE GOP HOPE TO CHALLENGE HIM NEXT YEAR OVER THAT ISSUE. MAYBE A MAVERICK LIKE GERRY TURNER WOULD CONSIDER IT? HE SEEMED TO DRAW A BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT IN A DEMOCRAT DOMINATED CITY. HE WOULD STILL NEED AROUND 40 PERCENT OF THE CITY VOTE AND A LANDSLIDE OUTSIDE OF IT TO WIN. THAT'S A TALL ORDER...A VOTING MACHINE MALFUNCTION APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED IN THE DOVER SCHOOL BOARD RACE. THE STORY GOT PUT ON THE FRONT PAGE OF SATURDAY'S YORK DAILY RECORD (FEWER PEOPLE READ IT). JAMES CASHMAN THINKS THAT MACHINE MISSED A HUNDRED VOTES IN A RACE WHERE HE LOST BY 99 VOTES TO BRYAN REHM. THE MEDIA TEMPLATE ON THIS ELECTION WAS THE INCUMBENT BOARD BEING KICKED OUT, BUT NOT THE CLOSENESS OF THE ELECTION. LAWYERS HAVE DISCUSSED VARIOUS OPTIONS ACCORDING TO THE STORY, INCLUDING A COIN TOSS TO DETERMINE A WINNER. STAY TUNED...NOVEMBER 13TH.. I SPOKE TO A MAN WHO WAS AT THE YORK CITY DEMOCRATS VICTORY PARTY ON ELECTION NIGHT. HE SAID THAT CITY COUNCILWOMAN TONI SMITH KISSED HIM. I ASKED IF SHE WAS STANDING UP WHEN SHE DID IT....NEARLY TWO TO ONE NO VOTE ON RETAINING REPUBLICAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SANDRA NEWMAN AND MORE THAN TWO TO ONE NO VOTE ON DEMOCRAT RUSSELL NIGRO. WE HERE ARE IN THE HEART OF SOUTHCENTRAL PA WHERE OUR BIG TWO TO ONE, THREE TO ONE IN DAUPHIN COUNTY NO VOTES MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OUSTING OF NIGRO BY AROUND 30-THOUSAND VOTES STATEWIDE. WHP HARRISBURG RADIO HOST BOB DURGIN IS HEARD EVERYWHERE IN THIS AREA AND HE GATHERED MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS REJECTING THE BIG PAY RAISES PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE LAST SUMMER. THIS IS A WAKEUP CALL TO POLITICIANS EVERYWHERE IN PA BUT ESPECIALLY HERE IN OUR REGION, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR LOCAL LAWMAKERS IS DEAFENING..STATE SENATOR MIKE WAUGH, WHO VOTED NO ON THE PAYRAISE FOR HIM, JUDGES AND OTHER STATE OFFICALS IS UP NEXT YEAR, PLUS ALL OF OUR STATE REPS, INCLUDING THE ONE WHO VOTED FOR THE RAISES, BURCE SMITH. SMITH HAS BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR OVER 24 YEARS. HE FIRST GOT ELECTED IN 1980. NEWBERRY T0WNSHIP SUPERVISOR JAY MCKIERNAN IS PLANNING TO CHALLENGE SMITH IN THE PRIMARY NEXT MAY.

Isn't there something about smokin' crack on the Sabbath?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.