Don Cunningham, Lehigh County Executive, a Profile--part 1

Now it is time to look at his opponent, Don Cunningham.

 

When Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham kicked off his campaign in February, most of those in the large crowd at Allentown’s Palace Center thought Don was starting a 21 month-quest to end the Lehigh Valley’s drought in state-wide elective office. As the former Bethlehem councilman and mayor and Rendell cabinet member effortlessly worked the crowd, as Cunningham can do so well, it was Harrisburg and not the Lehigh County Government Center on many minds.

 

In introducing Cunningham, Rick Daugherty, the county Democratic Party Chairman did his best to stir the pot. He termed Cunningham “one of the most outstanding public officials I have ever seen in the Lehigh Valley,”  and then introduced Cunningham as the best man to lead the county, but added “dare I say the state.”

 

Cunningham told the crowd “People often ask me if I’ll run for governor.” His answer was “Today, I don’t know the answer to that.” A few months later, Cunningham had given his answer. He was not going to run in 2010. Rumors followed as to a run for Congress (which is unlikely now that Bethlehem’s latest boy wonder mayor is running) or Lt. Governor. Maybe Cunningham knows 2010 is the GOP’s turn. Since Pennsylvania started allowing governors a second term, we have not elected two men in a row from the same party.

 

For now, Cunningham is staying put. When I sat down with him after a recent talk, and asked “what’s next?” Cunningham was clear. He said 4 more years in his current job. 

 

It is worth noting of Cunningham that he not only talks to on-line reporters (I will not call myself a blogger) but he encourages us (as did Scott Ott). He is a very approachable county executive. Often e-mailed questions that I send (in my life as a print reporter) to Don’s press person looking for a quick quote end up with the phone ringing and Don wanting to talk directly. He is very open about his views on good government. He pulled no punches a year ago in talking about his hopes for Harrisburg. 

 

For now, he has his sights on re-election as Lehigh County executive. When he was elected in 2005, Cunningham was the first Democrat to ever hold that office. In many ways, party affiliation means little at this level. With Cunningham, a blue collar, Bethlehem Steel Democrat with aspirations beyond Lehigh Country, it often seems to mean even less.

 

Cunningham, in previewing his next budget, points out that the real budget under his control (that which is funded at the county level) has risen about 1% per year during his 4 years, well below the rate of inflation. He has had no tax increases, although he will have spent down much of the Taxpayer Relief Fund by the end of next year.

 

While Cunningham has not slashed programs and he has expanded the county government in some ways (Safe Streets Program, central booking facility, new 9-1-1 center, future Regional Police Data Center, more direct effort in bridge repair, etc.), he clearly continues to claim the mantel of fiscal conservative. With spending on police and roads, that sounds almost Republican.

 

Asked how he can balance that with his aspirations as a Democrat, Cunningham readily admits that it sometimes takes a bit of explaining. He said he often has discussions with fellow Democrats about the need for fiscal restraint. “The Democratic party needs to focus on fiscal responsibility along with being social progressive,” Cunningham told me. Clearly, he says, “there is no reason Democrats can’t stand for fiscal responsibility.”

 

Cunningham showed that early in his administration when he fought to scale back the plans for the Lehigh County Courthouse. Instead of a new building, Cunningham pushed through renovation and expansion of the existing building, at a price tag of about $20 million less. Much of that $20 million has been used for other needed projects, including the Linden Street Bridge replacement. He can tout stripping $20 million from the “Taj Mahal Courthouse” project and replacing “20-foot high ceilings” with repairs to county bridges and a new 9-1-1 center.

 

That project would pit Cunningham against those on the Board of Commissioners who preferred to have the state and federal government repair the bridge, which is wholly within the City of Allentown. The theory of some is that the county should only get involved with those spans that connect two municipalities.   Waiting would have saved the county millions (although not in the operating budget as the funds were already raised in the courthouse bond issue) but would have left the bridge as a gaping hole for a few years until it could get on the PennDOT schedule.  Cunningham followed the mantra that says tax dollars all come from the same place and pushed forward to have the bridge done. It will be open soon. Nobody knows when it would have been done on the PennDOT schedule.

 

Cunningham addresses fiscal conservatism beyond simply cutting items in the budget. He has been very vocal and very proud of his administration’s ability to operate under budget and garner operational savings. They are very good, indeed at that.

 

The fact that Cunningham was in Gov. Rendell’s cabinet hasn’t hurt either as Lehigh County has seen more than its share of oversized (in physical terms and amount of funds) checks from the governor. “Relationships help,” Cunningham said. He points to an additional $35 million a year in human services funds from the state which he has obtained in recent years. He has added that $35 million in programs while REDUCING the county contribution by $100,000.

 

In a clear difference between the candidates, Scott Ott suggested in an op-ed piece that the county should run and fund these programs locally without tax dollars round-tripping to Harrisburg. Since Lehigh County seems to be a net payer of taxes to Harrisburg, the Ott view could reduce the total amount paid locally. Still, these are federally and state-mandated plans.

 

When Cunningham became the first Democrat elected as the county executive in 2005, he defeated Jane Ervin with over 60% of the vote. Since then, Cunningham has tried to appeal to Republican and Democratic constituencies in the county. That, combined with a 25,000 edge in voter registration, according to Cunningham, adds to the optimism of the candidate in his 2009 re-election battle.

 

Cunningham has not abandoned his Democratic union base. He helped to organize Cedarbrook, the county’s nursing home complex. On the other hand, when talking with senior leaders from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Cunningham can recite his pro-business and pro-growth credentials. Republican business leaders at these events readily praise Don’s leadership and his track record.

 

Cunningham told me. "Time and again we've found win-win situations where you can promote policies that are pro worker, pro economic development and that are fiscally responsible," he said

"In these times of economic turmoil, Cunningham has said, “we believe a record of fiscal responsibility at all levels of government and promoting economic development and economic opportunity will have broad appeal.” 

 

“We have partnered with labor unions, made them our allies and not our enemies,” the son of a Bethlehem steelworker told an appreciative crowd  when he announced his candidacy “while at the same time partnering with our chamber of commerce and business organizations to improve our downtowns and grow our economy.”

 

Cunningham can recount the 30 new businesses that located in the county and 20 that have expanded. He claims the creation of 5,000 new jobs and $1.5 billion in investments during his first term.

 

Tomorrow, more of the first 4 years.