It should be condemned at every level., Hanover approves conditional use for warehouse, Bethlehem home earn developer architecture award, Theater Review: Civic Sister Act is inspired fun. Whos ready for phase 2? McClure said his fiscal responsibility with three straight no-tax-increase budgets resonated with voters. He advocated for abandoning the ES&S machines and switching to a completely paperless system, he said. Republican candidate for Northampton County executive Steve Lynch has repeatedly and unashamedly downplayed the severity of COVID-19 and its impacts, writer says. Now hes created a stir again over what many perceive as a threat to coerce Northampton Area School Directors to reverse a temporary mask mandate. The Northampton Area School District brought in extra security after Lynch vowed to bring 20 strong men to force board members out of office and replace them with parents the same night. His 2022 budget proposal would reduce the millage rate by 8.5%, rolling back the 2015 tax hike. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The county did not need to tap into its reserves to survive the 2008 Great Recession, and it hasnt had to during the economic fallout of the pandemic, he said. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Its unclear what corruption hes referring to or what phase 2 of his plan consists of. A small crowd of about 25 gathered in the cold to listen. Over the weekend, he called for a brute takeover of school boards, not by electoral means, but simply by brute force. But whatever information Lynch may possess, it has yet to be turned over to law enforcement or any agency with the authority to follow up, he told lehighvalleylive.com after the news conference. I am not satisfied with Tom Wolf or his secretary of state, he said. McClure wanted to focus on his record when lehighvalleylive.com talked to him this week about why voters reelected him. https://t.co/17mUxv0Sre. Snover is also seeking a spot on the state committee and said she will relinquish her duties as party chair. Make men men again. Unofficial results say McClure got 18,467 mail-in votes to Lynchs 3,327 votes. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610-820-6168 or tshortell@mcall.com. Further, Lynch alleged the county executive overstepped authority and overruled the election commission by hiring an election registrar and purchasing electronic poll books devices that keep track of eligible voters before the 2020 election. When he does allude to McClure, its usually to criticize him for not fighting what he calls Constitutional violations by state and national figures. This post is public so feel free to share it. Heres how. He's opposed by Republican challenger Steve Lynch, who has modeled his controversial campaign after Donald Trump. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. We can only hope that phase 2 involves quietly disappearing from politics and not coming back until hes educated himself on civics. Lets go. Im going in with 20 strong men and Im gonna give them an option - they can leave or they can be removed. pic.twitter.com/A0M6SsOldI. Lynch hasnt made any effort to understand county government, McClure said. Northampton County Council member Ron Heckman, himself a graduate of Northampton Area HS, called Lynchs remarks shameful and reprehensible. After the interview Lynch did say he will try to add more context to his speeches in the future. Lynchs latest remarks comes on the heels of contentious school board meetings across the country where anti-mask parents have aggressively pushed back at school mask mandates even as the delta variant prompts spikes in COVID-19 cases among children who are ineligible to get vaccinated. Im going in with 20 strong men, and Im going to speak to the school board, and Im going to give them an option. to force an end to mask requirements in schools, is seeking election to the Republican State Committee from Northampton County. Lynchs Democratic opponent, incumbent County Executive Lamont McClure, responded Monday evening to each point of Lynchs afternoon news conference. Instead of conceding, he ranted his Facebook page about corruption and other nonsense that sounded like it belonged in an episode of Game of Thrones. He promised supporters he was now entering phase 2 of the race but didnt offer further explanation. Lynch posts videos almost every day on his Facebook page where he rails against the establishment and makes embittered remarks about COVID-19-related restrictions such as the mandatory wearing of masks. To those statements, McClure said Lynch should have apologized for Lynchs Gracedale mailer. In addition to Lynch addressing the crowd, about 10 local citizens also spoke. They dont follow the law! McClure also identified warehouse proliferation as a threat to the quality of life within the region. Hes modeled his candidacy after former President Donald Trump, harping on conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, denouncing mask and vaccine mandates and criticizing Gov. In a video clip making the rounds on social media, Lynch says he'd like to bring "20 strong men" to a school board meeting. On face value, it seems like an unnecessary luxury funded at the expense of taxpayers, but keep in mind that there may be long-term economic benefits that come with a safe, attractive connection between the state park and the thriving Downtown business community. I need you in the coming weeks because when we walk into those school boards, were gonna have everything we need to do to go in there with those 9-0 school boards that voted to put these masks back on the children with no scientific its done. Lynch, 42, said Friday that he does not believe Biden fairly won the 2020 presidential election and advocated for redoing the vote. Schumer And Jeffries Demand Murdoch Stop Fox Hosts From Spreading False Election Narratives, McCarthy Goes On Defense, Says Jan. 6 Footage Will Be Screened Before Its Given To Tucker, Arizona Child Welfare Director Dismissed Amid GOP Attacks Speaks Out, Election Deniers Who Lost In Midterms Advance Trumpian Precinct Strategy As State GOP Chairs. The John Birch/Tea Party/right wing extremist playbook is always the same: Start with local offices like school boards, take them over and use that as the launch point for higher office. To be clear, it was a winnable election for the Republicans. Smell the coffee! He was in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying election results he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Error! Its sad that the leadership of the Northampton County GOP will either ignore this or claim its rooted in liberal MSM bias instead of taking it for what its intended to be: A friendly reminder that the countys voter base is pragmatic and doesnt respond well to extremism. His newcomer status hasn't stopped a local blog, Community Research Opposing Hate, from alleging he's a far-right extremist who harassed peaceful Black Lives Matter . Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610-820-6168 or tshortell@mcall.com. Lynch then turned his threat into a call to arms to other dudes who apparently think might makes right is a valid legal argument. 2. JANE THERESE / Special to The Morning Call, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Route 33 crash: Coroner called to scene of five-vehicle wreck caused after tractor-trailer crossed median into opposite lanes, Donald Trump may be out of office, but Northampton County GOP executive candidate shows his influence, Paul Muschick: How to end the legislative standoff over child sex victim lawsuits, Joanna McClinton voted Pa. House speaker after Mark Rozzi steps aside; first Black woman to win post, Mark Rozzi says he will step down as Pa. House speaker, John Fetterman on path to recovery, will be out of Senate for more weeks, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Lorde reveals why she doesn't use TikTok, Olly Murs: 'My wedding plays are all over the place! Because we had three no-tax-increase budgets, we now know we can pass a tax cut.. He said 92% of Gracedale residents and 65% of staff have received a shot, that there are no current coronavirus infections at Gracedale and that no resident has died from the virus since April. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sent a letter to Fox Corporation Chairman, After days of pushback, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) finally broke his silence on the exclusive internal Jan. 6 footage, This story first appeared at ProPublica. I am trying to balance those interests with the tools the county has, he said. During his Harrisburg speech he says he was referring to other states where board members were voted out by recall, and his post-rally video was to clarify that point. Suit up Patriots We are just getting started! Steve Lynch announced his candidacy for Northampton County Executive Friday outside the Northampton Courthouse in Easton. Lynch spoke at an anti-mask and anti-vax rally in Harrisburg Aug. 29, and complained to a supportive crowd about the mask mandate. Skip to Article Set weather If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Lynchs campaign Facebook page touts his desire to rally locals into firing rogue school board members. She previously covered the 2016 election for Fusion, conducted investigative research for The Nation Institute, and has written for NBC Chicago and the Chicago Reader. "No, that's neutralizing intimidation from the school board," he responded. McClure, who voted against the 2015 tax hike as a member of county council, insisted his proposed cut is no gimmick. Lynch said he was speaking up for them. "I'm going in with 20 strong men. They can leave or they can be removed.". Thats just not going to fly with most voters around here, as the unofficial results show. Lynch got 26,540 in-person votes to McClures 19,518. CORRECTION: Gloria Lee Snover, Mary Barket, Nancy Dienel, Craig DeFranco, John Brown and Linda Stubits presently represent the county on the State Committee. Steve Lynch lost his bid for Northampton County executive to Democratic incumbent Lamont McClure by about 8,000 of the roughly 67,000 total votes. Steven is related to Knstina Guyette and Charles C Okeke as well as 3 additional people. This past weekend, Steve Lynch, who is running for Northampton County Executive, gave a speech at a Freedom Rally in Harrisburg where he chillingly suggested forcibly removing elected officials who dont do things his way. McClure had no comment on Lynchs rant. Northampton Countys machines malfunctioned in 2019 due to errors by manufacturer ES&S. Snover said Friday she was unaware if the unannounced Republican candidates for executive were Trump supporters or more traditional Republicans. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Steve Bannon Drops F Bomb Defending Joseph McCarthy? Lets go, men, I need you. Its just rhetoric, Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said when asked whether he considered Lynchs statement threatening. Among them was Northampton County Republican Committee Chair Lee Snover. What the county can do, the county does do.. "Forget going into these school boards with frigging data. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. About two dozen mostly maskless friends and family members of Lynchs gathered outside the county courthouse in Easton to offer their support, braving the cold to mingle, sing the national anthem, pray and listen to his 15-minute speech. "People thought I would go in and physically remove people, that would never be the case, that's not what I stand for," he said. A Republican running for office in Pennsylvania is under fire after threatening to physically remove school board members who attempt to enact mask mandates. According to the Morning Call, Lynch regularly posts conspiracy theory theories on social media, which often mimics Trumps rhetoric that pushes the Big Lie of a stolen election. "I'm going in with 20 strong . A backlash erupted on social media and even received national news attention. Lamont McClure, the Democratic incumbent, has held a persistent presence in county government for nearly 15 years. I think theres a clear message because I ran pretty clearly on the 8.5% percent tax cut, McClure said. He also said he believed Lynch was lying about the party mail being intercepted but that he has asked administrators to look into the matter if there is truth to it, McClure said, that person will be punished. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Challenging him is Steve Lynch, a Northampton body builder and fitness coach. McClure also said that despite promises from President Joe Biden, the federal government has not formulated a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for nursing homes. He described himself as a supporter of liberty, saying businesses and property owners should be free to operate as they saw fit. The district previously had an optional mask requirement in place before the board voted to make face masks mandatory last week. Please. (I) have no idea whats going to impossible to answer that question at this time based off of what were going to see over the next few days and on Election Day.. This administration and their minions miscalculated big time messing with me, my family, and We the People. Enjoy ad-free browsing while paying as you go. "So the rhetoric you are saying right now you believe is responsible and will not cause any violence?" Northampton County presently has six people who serve on the state committee. Steven Lynch, candidate for Northampton County executive, tells rallygoers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania he wants to take "20 strong men" to force a local school board to resign. McClure and other Democrats carried the 2017 election with an unpopular Trump in the White House. Anti-vaccine protesters gathered on the steps of Pennsylvania State Capitol during the Rally for Freedom. He also alleged that someone was intercepting GOP mail before it got to residents and shredding it. Its a week until Election Day, and Steve Lynch, the Republican candidate for Northampton County executive, slung a slew of allegations at the current administration, ranging from conditions at the county-owned nursing home to illegal immigration and election impropriety. In an interview with The Morning Call on Monday, Lynch claimed that he did not intend to threaten violence against school board members, but simply wanted to kick off a grassroots movement that would prompt changes in school boards. ranted his Facebook page about corruption, building a pedestrian bridge over the Lehigh River. Later he said he didnt condone the use of violence to remove board members. They have no idea who they messed with! Steven F. Lynchaspiring GOP politician, personal trainer, and the field director for Lisa Scheller's (R) failed campaign for PA's 7th District Congressional Seatprovided video proof on Facebook that he attended the Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021. No elections necessary. called for 20 strong men to attend school board meetings. Steve Lynch, the Republican candidate for Northampton County executive, holds a news conference outside of Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home in Upper Nazareth Township, on Oct. 25, 2021. He added that since Lynch participated and tried to incite a coup to overthrow our nation, it doesnt surprise me at all that hes threatening local school boards with violence.. You go into school boards to remove em! 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. In response, McClure said the former employees who have spoken are clearly aggrieved avowed anti-vaxxers. He said frequent unfounded complaints are investigated by the state health department (which could not immediately be reached for comment Monday evening). Its the week of Halloween, McClure said, so youve got a scary guy up there telling misinformation, half-truths and outright lies in order to scare people., McClure did say he is willing to accept the election results whatever the outcome. I plan on giving a voice to people who are not OK with being told how they are going to live their lives. After receiving social media criticism, Steve Lynch put out a YouTube video the next day claiming he did not intend to incite violence or physical intimidation. PA Candidate Wants To Muscle Out Local School Boards, PA Candidate Calls For Brute Takeover Of School Boards, Netflix CEO Wants To Dump Local School Boards, Stabbing Spree At PA High School Leaves 20 Injured. https://t.co/4hhhTYAI4U, It's interesting that nobody says "This isn't the GOP I know" anymore. Thats proof the county can trim down its reserve fund, and that more cuts may be feasible in the future, he said. Speaking to a crowd at a political rally in Harrisburg, Lynch is seen in a video ranting about his opposition to school mask mandates and issuing the rally cry of: Make men men again!. Then she stumped for the Republican: Change needs to happen, she said, and it starts with Steve Lynch., Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure at a news conference in January 2020.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com. 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