Back door cronyism

To the editor: Stephen McBride, District Judge for Lehman, Delaware and Porter townships, has succeeded for now in eliminating his only opponent ever from the ballot. But Mark Johnson, a decorated NYC detective and hero of 9/11, has let it be known that he does not give into bullies so easily. There are many details of this case that should alarm the citizens of Pike County about how our local government gets run like a private club, but a few aspects in particular really stand out. First, how the Pike County bureaucracy gave priority to McBride’s legal challenge and raced it through on March 12. Beginning at 9:03 a.m., it took just over three hours for McBride’s challenge to get through the prothonotary’s office, Judge Kameen, the board of elections, and the Pike County Sheriff, who served the papers to Mark Johnson, 22 miles away in Bushkill, Lehman Township, by 12:14 p.m. the same day. Second, how Johnson’s request for a continuance to find a lawyer was denied, twice, on March 14. While McBride and his attorney had plenty of time to prepare their case, not to mention help from the Pike County Board of Elections, Johnson had just two days notice. That was not enough time to prepare adequately or to find an attorney versed in election law, and it was blatantly unfair. Third, the startling revelation from Yolanda Goldsack that she devoted six hours to going over Mark Johnson’s petitions, together with Stephen McBride. Goldsack’s admission in testimony before Judge Kameen brings the controversy that surrounded her appointment to head the Pike County Board of Elections right back to center stage. So much for her pious protestations, and those from her husband, that she would never behave in a partisan fashion. The people of Pike County need to say “no” to this kind of back-door cronyism, which seems almost inevitable with one party rule, and elect a healthy helping of Democrats this November to help clean things up in Milford. Cheryl R. Glenn, Dingmans Ferry