1. His annual out-of-balance budgets, relying on reserves to cover deficit spending, this year to the tune of $12 million. In 2005, he attacked the incumbent for precisely the same fiscal
charade, at which time he professed belief in 5-year budget plans. Such a long-term plan, if it
exists, would have to show a major tax increase in 2010 or 2011. But his personal 5-year career plan doesn’t include serving as Lehigh County Executive past 2010. (see item #5 below).

2. During his 2005 campaign he rightly criticized the incumbent for raising taxes 69.5 percent, but once elected, he didn’t return that money to the taxpayers nor slash the tax rate. He spent all of that, and more. (see item #1 above)

3. Campaigning in 2005 he promised to build the county courthouse for a mere $17 million
instead of the then-forecast $73 million. He told voters that he would lease space in existing
buildings to save some $56 million. Instead, he built a courthouse that’s half of the original plan, and rehabbed some existing rental space for a total of about $70 million.

4. With workers and business people nationwide concerned about losing the right to a
federally-supervised secret ballot union vote, Don Cunningham has actually certified a
card-check “election” adding 447 new unionized employees to the Lehigh County government
payroll. Doing so, he denied workers the protection that the secret ballot provides from potential abuses by both union leaders and business owners.

5. By running for Governor while also running for re-election as County Executive Don
Cunningham sends a message that the people of Lehigh County are merely a speed bump on
his road to Harrisburg. He hopes to serve only one year of his four-year term, and most of that
he’ll devote to running around the state raising millions of dollars. That time would be better
spent working to cut spending from his $12 million unbalanced county budget.

Please RSVP of your attendance by contacting Kim at 610-435-3322 or by e-mailing her at kim8thward@yahoo.com.  Thank you!  See you at the meeting!

Cite the need to lead by example heading into budget debate

For Immediate Release Contact: TBD

Allentown, June 19, 2009 - Calling it a good faith down payment on their pledge to balance the County budget by 2012 without raising taxes or raiding the county surplus, the five Republican District Commissioner candidates on the ballot this year vowed to reject the taxpayer-funded pay raise they’d be eligible to receive if they win election in November.

The pay raise went into effect in 2008 for those Commissioners elected the previous year and will go into effect in 2010 for those Commissioners who are successful in being elected this coming November.

The Republicans applauded Commissioner Dean Browning’s recent proposal to curtail the growth in compensation for County employees as a means to rein in county spending, and said in light of Browning’s proposal and the economic recession facing the country, there is no justification for elected officials to vote themselves a pay increase or accept one if offered.

“In these economic times, government absolutely must live within its means,” said incumbent District 2 Commissioner Percy Dougherty. “As the County’s elected representatives, we need to set an example and share in any necessary reductions and that’s what we are going to do.”

“With County residents struggling to make ends meet at home, their elected officials have no business expecting taxpayers to give them a raise, regardless of the amount.” said incumbent District 5 Commissioner Glenn Eckhart. “This is just as much about principle and leadership as it is about dollars and cents.”

“Anyone who gets into public service for the money shouldn’t get involved in the first place,” said Bob Smith, Commissioner candidate in District 3. “I would not have voted for the pay raise and I certainly won’t accept it if elected. My opponent this year, who has already accepted the pay hike, should give it back and refuse to accept the increase moving forward.”

“In order to achieve a balanced budget by 2012 without the use of gimmicks and one-shot deals - like raiding the county surplus - everyone is going to be asked to give up something,” said District 1 Commissioner candidate Tom Creighton. “It’s only right that the Commissioners surrender their pay raises before asking county employees to sacrifice.”

“I talk to residents every day who are seeing their pay frozen or cut and to many who have even lost their jobs,” said Mike Welsh, District 4 Commissioner candidate. “In that climate, rejecting the pay raise shouldn’t be a hard decision. It’s the responsible thing to do.”

For Immediate Release Contact: DeanBrowning@lehighcounty.org

Allentown, June 18, 2009 - In order to balance Lehigh County’s budget without using financial gimmicks or by raising taxes, County government needs to rein in the growth in employee compensation. This can be done by linking basic wage increases to the growth in property tax revenue, said Republican Commissioner Dean Browning in a letter sent yesterday to Tom Muller, Director of Administration, outlining his proposal.

Browning’s proposal was a follow up to Resolution 2009-16, authored by Commissioner Percy Dougherty, that called for a 3 year plan to balance the County’s budget by reducing expenditures in order to bring them in line with County revenue by 2012. Dougherty, along with Commissioner Glenn Eckhart, Republican Commissioner candidates Tom Creighton (District-1), Bob Smith (District-3) and Mike Welsh (District-4), originally made this proposal in May at a press conference held at the Government Center.

“The gross wages line item in the County’s 2009 Budget accounts for 27% of the total expense and represents 58% of that portion of the budget funded by County property taxpayers,” said Browning. “Any serious proposal to rein in County spending, hold the line on property taxes and balance the budget cannot ignore this large and growing expenditure.”

Browning pointed out that compensation for County employees has been completely unaffected by the worsening economy, while private sector employees are being hit hard.

“Assuming they were able to keep their job, many private sector workers have seen their wages held constant, or even cut, in the midst of this recession” said Browning. “At the same time, County government has increased compensation to its employees by more than 15% since 2006, while County property tax revenue has grown by less than 4% over that same time period.”

“I realize this proposal will not be popular with some, and is akin to the third rail of county politics,” said Browning. “But I was elected to represent all the taxpayers in Lehigh County, not just those employed by County government.”

Browning’s proposal would limit the general wages increases for County employees to lesser of the following:

• the percentage increase in the County’s tax revenue as determined from the appropriate year-end audited financial statements, or
• the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security as reported each October.

This class is free and open to all Republican candidates, campaign managers and interested committee members.

Location: Holiday Inn – Fogelsville

Date: Saturday, July 18th

Time: 8:00 - Registration and Complementary Continental Breakfast

9:00 to 4:00 – Class with Complementary Lunch

Featured Speakers
Congressman Charlie Dent

Chris Russell
Chris Russell Consulting

Tim Perskie
Wavelength Communications

Holly Robichaud – Keynote Speaker
Tuesday Associates

Adam Geller
National Research

Richard Young
FTIN

Seating will be limited so to reserve a spot please complete the attached form.
Please reserve a seat for me at the Republican Candidate’s School to be held at the Holiday Inn- Fogelsville on Saturday, July 18.

Name: ________________________________________________________

Campaign (if any): ______________________________________________

Phone Number: _________________________________________________

Email Address: __________________________________________________

Email to LehighCountyVictoryPAC@gmail.comil.com or send by regular mail it to:

Lehigh County Victory PAC
3140B Tilghman Street , Su 120
Allentown, PA 18104

We are looking to help purchase our yard signs for our re-election. Yard signs are about $3.00 a piece and our goal is to raise enough money from our e-mail and our face book group to purchase about 500. If anyone can help at all please go to www.glenneckhart.com to make credit card donations and to pay by check make check out to Committee to elect Glenn Eckhart 511 East Federal Street Allentown PA 18103.

Thanks for all your continued support !

Glenn

Red & the Pledge