Thomas Giovanni first candidate in Norco executive race
Northampton County Councilman Thomas Giovanni announced that he is running for county executive.
The Republican is the first candidate to announce since incumbent Democrat Lamont McClure said this week that he will not seek a third four-year term. Democrat Tara Zrinski, who is the county’s elected controller, said she is considering a run.
“After seven years of failed leadership under County Executive Lamont McClure, it is time for a change in Northampton County,” said Giovanni, 71, of Plainfield Township in a press release issued Thursday.
“McClure and his allies have taken Northampton County backwards,” said Giovanni, who represents council’s District 4 in the county’s northern sector.
He specifically leveled criticism against McClure over issues involving county voting machines in 2023 and 2019.
McClure faced public outcry and calls for his resignation when it was discovered on Election Day on Nov. 7, 2023, that voting machines were switching yes and no votes on a paper summary of selections in two judicial retention contests. The issue was linked to a clerical error. Votes had been properly recorded on the 300-plus voting machines.
Similar problems with the ExpressVote XL machines, manufactured by Election Systems & Software, occurred in November 2019, when the county first used the machines in a general election.
“He failed in his constitutional responsibility to administer fair and secure elections; disastrously failed to give county residents an equal opportunity to vote after two election fiascos in 2019 and 2023,” Giovanni said.
He also said that McClure has not maintained quality of care at Gracedale Nursing Home, which has a below average rating on the federal government’s Medicare.gov website.
“The dysfunction and incompetence of Mr. McClure’s tenure motivated me to offer better leadership and a new direction for Northampton County,” Giovanni said. “I will help Northampton County reach a brighter future and continue to be a champion for every resident as I have done as a council member.”
Giovanni is a retired IT consultant and purchasing manager. He is trustee chair of the Nazareth Mutual Insurance Co. and serves on the Community Economic Development Committee of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
He was first elected to council in 2019 and reelected in 2023. He said he plans to make a formal announcement on Feb. 6, along with a slate of Republican candidates who will be seeking nominations on May 20. Five at-large county council seats will be up for election this year.
This will be the first election where the winner of the county executive seat will be limited to two consecuative four-year terms. Council members will be restricted to three consecutive four-year terms.
Though he was eligible to run again, McClure cited respecting the spirit of the executive term limit, which was adopted in a 2023 referendum, and a desire to serve the public in a different capacity as reasons for not seeking reelection.