11.12.08
McCLURE AND DONOVAN MEET WITH LVAR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Frank Renaldi Jr., GAC Vice-Chair (left); Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure (right)
The LVAR Government Affairs Committee (GAC) continues to maintain strong relationships with elected officials across the Lehigh Valley. This month’s GAC Roundtable Series featured Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure and Allentown City Councilman Michael Donovan. The first half-hour of the GAC meeting featured County Councilman McClure, who gave a presentation on his proposed suspension of sheriff sales legislation. McClure explained that his idea is to help homeowners stay in their homes and possibly avoid foreclosure by suspending sheriff sale for 90 days for those who qualify. The GAC had a number of questions and concerns, however since no ordinance has been drafted yet, they did not take a formal position on the matter yet. McClure invited GAC members to attend his Legal & Judicial Committee public hearing on this issue November 24.
Allentown City Councilman Michael Donovan speaks with GAC members
Allentown Councilman Michael Donovan also met with the GAC to give an update on the City’s housing inspection committee that Donovan formed to analyze the recently enacted pre-sales inspection ordinance. Donovan shared draft recommendations from a report he is giving to City Council next month that aim to improve data collection and increasing public awareness on the inspection requirements.
The Roundtable Series serve as a forum for elected officials to share with our members’ first-hand information on ongoing economic development and revitalization projects, local politics, and other real estate related matters. The meetings also serve as an opportunity for REALTORS® to show elected officials that we are organized and interested in the being a part of the public policy making process.
11.5.08
POST-GENERAL ELECTION UPDATE - 2008
History was made on Election Day as Barack Obama was elected the nation's 44th president, becoming the first black American to occupy the nation's highest office. Nationally, Obama won handily with 349 electoral votes to McCain’s 161, with a few states too close to call as of this writing. The popular vote reflected a closer race, with Obama winning 52% to 46%.
Here in Pennsylvania, in what was considered a “toss-up” state, Obama won by a strong margin of 55% to 44%. Obama won both Lehigh and Northampton County.
The Lehigh Valley’s most closely watched race was the 15th Congressional District, where REALTOR-supported incumbent Charlie Dent (R) defeated Sam Bennett (D) by a large margin. In other races, incumbent State Representatives Jennifer Mann (D-132) and Robert Freeman (D-136) easily defeated their Republican challengers to retain their seats. All other incumbent Lehigh Valley State Representatives also won their re-elections easily, as most of them had either no opponents, or faced little known third-party candidates.
LVAR supported candidate Gary Day (R) defeated John Ritter in 187th District open seat election. All told, the State Senate Republicans expanded their control by one seat, to 30-20, while the State House Democrats seemed to have retained a slim majority.
In other news, incumbent State Attorney General Tom Corbett (R) held onto his seat by defeating Northampton County native own John Morganelli (D). In the Auditor General race, incumbent Democrat Jack Wagner defeated newcomer Chet Beiler (R). In the State Treasurer seat, Rob McCord (D) beat Tom Ellis (R).
Overall, Election Day was good for REALTORS in the Lehigh Valley, with all of our Realtor-friendly candidates winning their elections.
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