Dean Browning Responds

Responding to the inquiry over his failure to properly label his political signs, Dean Browning updated the Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Dean's message follows.

Tim

Thank you for bring this matter to my attention. My name is on the yard sign and I listed the purchase on the campaign finance report for my committee so they were indeed paid for by Browning For County Executive. It was my oversight in proof reading that a disclaimer to that point was not listed on the signs. While that requirement may be more from over substance (particularly for signs viewed at 60 miles an hour on Rt. 22), the fact is that rules are rules. As we discussed yesterday, I'm happy to correct the situation by putting stickers on the signs that have been placed. I've attached a photo of one corrected sign. I will be sending the stickers to those individuals that requested signs for their yards and I will tell my volunteers to put them on any signs they have placed or any others that they may encounter as they are traveling through out Lehigh County.

Thanks again

Dean N. Browning

I'm offended in Dean's attempt to attack the disclaimer, the law's most public requirement, as form over substance in order to excuse his omission. A more appropriate response would have been simply, I'm sorry. We have corrected the problem.

Elections are governed by laws designed to provide transparency for voters and particularly with respect to who is financially supporting those running for office. Candidates are required to display who paid for all of their communications from yard signs to mailers. . . . The voting public can then know who the financial backers of a candidate are and incorporate this information into their voting decision. When candidates fail to follow the rules, the voting public is denied a basic right at law.

The Flying M Airport in Germansville . . .

Eight years ago, then Community and Economic Development Director, Ed Pawlowski proposed to redevelop the Queen City Airport, propounding the use of land as taxable property, and not as an airport, would benefit the local economy, namely the City's tax revenue . A private developer, Carver Mills Properties, then unveiled plans for a $20 million development project on the 200-acre Queen City property.

The then proffered site for the relocated Queen City Airport was none other than the Flying M Aerodome in Germansville, which set off a firestorm in Heidelberg Township. The plan was later quashed by local residents and the airport authority alike.

The Flying M, today is in foreclosure. The sheriff sale is scheduled for May 24. It's number 86 on the call list (case no. 2012-C-3900).

Given the foreclosure of the Flying M, problems within the Authority and the City's ongoing financial problems, might a likelihood exist for new proposal? My magic 8 balls says, Cannot predict now!

A Bipartisan Call for Greater Transparency

Political opponents David Najarian, a Republican, (i.e. Yours Truly) and Scott Feinour, a Democrat, jointly issued a bipartisan statement calling for greater transparency in elections. Each are running for Supervisor in Lynn Township. The issue started locally when a third Supervisor candidate, Steven Feinour, a Republican, failed to register his campaign committee. Steven has since registered his committee and was asked to change his signs.

The controversy, which brewed for about a week, is now spreading. Several other candidates also failed to register their committee or incorrectly displayed their source of funding. Some pretty big names fall into that pot.
 
County Executive Candidate Dean Browning’s campaign signs do not say who paid for them. The report of Commissioner Candidate Nathan Brown shows no expenditures but his signs have been out for some time.

Dean’s signs are reportedly being changed as I write. Brown will file an amended report to reflect that his signs (or at least the down payment) came out of Brown's pocket. I expect we'll hear more about this.

Browning is not the first former Party chair who  tripped over election law. Coincidently, that matter also involved a Browning campaign but not Browning directly. The rebuke came only after the election but could not remedy it. A mere 29 votes separated the election winners from the election losers.

The Steven Feinour controversy took about a week to remedy. If Browning were given a full week, his problem would not be remedied before the election, which is why I call for greater scrutiny over campaign material. These matters should be remedied more quickly.

Yet, the bigger picture is perhaps more troublesome. . .

How can a candidate be expected to govern with transparency if he [or she] cannot campaign that way? It should be alarming to voters and . . . raise concerns the candidate is either too inexperienced to assume public office or is unwilling to govern with the respect the office requires, so much so as jeopardize the public’s trust in  the elected office. 

Read the bipartisan statement here.

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Its official . . .

Yes, I am formally announcing my candidacy for the Republican party nomination for Lynn Township Supervisor. Read more here!