The State of Affairs in Montgomery County
Bruce Castor reported on the local government at a banquet in Towamencin Monday night.
Photos
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor Jr. leaves his decisions up to faith.
“A person of faith worries that God is looking over his shoulder and does the correct thing,” he said.
Castor was the featured speaker Monday at the annual banquet of The Men’s Group of Christ United Methodist Church in Towamencin.
His message was that morality and moral decisions are lacking in government today, with politicians making decisions based on what is politically correct or what friend or crony could benefit, rather than doing what is right.
“In my career, I have seen the worst things that people can do. We need to take the talents that we are given to better ourselves and our community,” Castor said.
Castor is in his 26th year with Montgomery County, which makes him the longest serving elected official in the county.
He revealed that he grew up in Abington and currently resides in Lower Salford Township with his family. He still attends the Abington Presbyterian Church—noting that his faith has had a big influence on his life and the decisions that he makes.
Castor, a Republican, began his career in 1985 working as an intern in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. He went on to become an assistant district attorney with the county, holding statuses in the Sex Crimes Unit, the Major Crimes Unit, and as assistant district attorney of the Investigating Grand Jury.
Castor then moved on to deputy district attorney and Chief of the Trials Division. Under District Attorney Michael Marino, he was appointed to first assistant district attorney, and then district attorney, where he had an accomplished career in prosecuting a number of murder cases.
Currently, Castor serves as a Montgomery County Commissioner, along with Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel, while he also holds a position at the Blue Bell firm of Elliott, Greenleaf and Siedzikowski.
“The county is a pretty big place with a lot of complex problems, and it has been an interesting last three-and-a-half years,” he said.
Castor explained that Montgomery County is governed by just three commissioners: Two represent one party, and the third represents the other political party. They each serve for four years, with no term limits.
They are responsible for governing 800,000 people in the county. There are 3,200 employees in the county with a $500 million budget.
“People ask what qualities are necessary for a commissioner. You have to be honest. I am a black-and-white person, which was perfect in the D.A.’s office,” Castor said.
He bluntly stated that after three-and-a-half years, Montgomery County is bankrupt — it has spent all of its money.
Debt is at the highest level in the history of the county. He said that the governor’s budget has been tough on a lot of areas, but he wanted to put the blame for the problem to rest.
“The economy has caused the county to be broke, [that] is just a lie. The problem is the county has spent more money and borrowed more money than they took in,” Castor said.
When asked what can be done to get the county back on track, Castor said that, first off, he has cast more “No” votes on issues that would increase spending than any other person. He feels that the debt needs to be restructured, and the county needs to get rid of waste and big ticket items.
Castor said commissioners need to get to the core of their jobs, which are the social services, bridges, roads and the like, and get away from what some say is “economic development.” He said that is just a drain on taxpayer money; it is used to try and entice private industry to the county, which is often unsuccessful.
One overwhelming issue that was discussed was the friction that continues to exist between the three commissioners. Castor openly admitted to the problem and how it hinders their ability to work together.
In the 2007 election—even though he earned the most votes—the other two commissioners took over.
“I’ve been accused of being sour grapes and being a dictator, but Jim Matthews can’t tell the truth, and Joe Hoeffel is an opportunist,” he said.
He reminded the audience that the upcoming election is a critical one.
“Voters occasionally make mistakes. But they don’t have to live with them. This is an election year,” he said.
Jenny Brown, a Lower Merion Township commissioner, is Castor’s running mate in the upcoming election. Castor said it is a long and involved process in the selection of a candidate, and he feels confident in Brown and her abilities as an articulate lawyer.
“Montgomery County is a bellwether county in the presidential election of the United States, and the upcoming elections will be the predictor,” Castor said.
And what did Castor think about the media?
“They keep government officials honest, and they don’t always do it. The public distrust of the media is almost as bad as that of politicians,” he said.
In This article
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Christ United Methodist Church
1020 S Valley Forge Rd, Lansdale, PA -
Abington Presbyterian Church
1082 Old York Rd, Abington, PA
Chris Butler
9:44 am on Sunday, June 5, 2011
Let's keep God in religion, and out of politics.
Richard Liberatoscioli
3:42 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
I would like to know the name of this person assaulted by the Lower Merion Police. Felony criminal charges have been formally filed against the Lower Merion Police and the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners in criminal collaboration of the LMPD murder attempt and now standing threats to commit this crime.
Please contact Richard Liberatoscioli at richard.liberatoscioli@gmail.com or phone 610-945-8050.
Richard Liberatoscioli
12:43 am on Sunday, July 17, 2011
Rick
7:24pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
To let everyone know these problems are not just in that township they are occurring all over the state including the town of Stewartstown PA. A town full of police corruption and harassment.
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Richard Liberatoscioli
11:40pm on Saturday, July 16, 2011
Hi Rick!
yes ... criminal public corruption is of epidemic proportions here in Lower Merion. The chain of public criminal collaboration spans from our policeman, commissioners, DA and the judges themselves.
Within my own family we have policeman(Lower Merion) and detective(Norristown) that are major criminal felons with felony criminal charges filed against them.
you can read more at:
http://lowermerioncivic.blogsite.org/
Richard Liberatoscioli
12:44 am on Sunday, July 17, 2011
“I was totally shocked,” said Board of Commissioners President Liz Rogan. “I certainly wasn’t expecting to see anything like that. But we take any allegations of impropriety very seriously, so we want a thorough and objective investigation to take place."
The Lower Township Board of Commissioners assured me too of a full felony criminal investigation committed by the Lower Merion Police Department.
No investigation into the alleged murder attempt nor the standing murder threats were ever conducted.
Me and my family are still waiting to present sworn testimony to the major felony crimes committed by the Lower Merion Police under the direct oversite of the Lower Merion Commissioners. "
I hope to present felony criminal testimony in the Federal lawsuit now pending against the Lower Merion Police Department to show the "clear and present danger" to the community and the criminal "pattern and practice" allowed by the Lower Merion Township Commissioners.
Richard Liberatoscioli
6:36 am on Monday, July 18, 2011
Hello Tom!
...... "half-wits" ??
Can you enlighten all of us Tom?
Richard Liberatoscioli
12:57 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
Well thank-you Tom!
The DA and commissioner here are the ones presented with the criminal felony charges against Lower Merion Township Police for the attempted murder and standing threats to commit this murder resulting in the victims full disability.
Now do you see the connection of these two public servants to my post?
..... take your time.
Richard Liberatoscioli
7:52 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
Thank-you Tom for realizing your error in judgement! .... I admire that.
If you assess the horrific damage and decimation done to our children and family's in the community by the years of un-checked criminal public corruption in the "cash for kids" crimes by nothing less than the senior judge of Luzerne County .... the wide spread felony corruption and criminal collaboration in Montgomery County ... will be making that look like "child's play" when investigated outside of this "criminal ring".
The senior judge here in Montgomery County is dearest friends with our family for years now and have an intimate working relationship *wink* for many years.
A perfect example, A Lower Merion Policeman arrested this person (I know him personally for over 40 years) for DUI. Our local judge presiding over this case is requested to "send him the case" *wink* (Both courthouse clerks are good friends of our family and called us). No investigation, No charges, No crime committed. "like it never happened". These are Felony crimes committed against the entire community. When your child or family member is killed by a drunk driver, you can then thank the Montgomery County criminal ring.
Richard Liberatoscioli
11:04 pm on Monday, July 18, 2011
The lawsuit also alleges that Lower Merion Township, the Lower Merion Police 'Department and Police Superintendant Michael McGrath have “a custom, pattern, practice and/or policy of failing to monitor the actions of its police officers while they are on duty,” and “of allowing police officers with untreated mental illnesses and/or mental problems” to remain on active duty."
Of the same "mental illness" charges formally reported earlier to the Lower Merion Police Superintendent and to the Lower Merion Township Commissioners with the subsequent promise of a full criminal investigation and report before the Commissioners by the Police Superintendent .... was later reported by the Lower Merion Information Officer .... " that NO investigation was ever done" .... CRIMINAL nor for MENTAL illness!
My family knows about this Lower Merion Police Officer very well (I personalty have changed his diapers on many occasions!). We where always concerned about the shape of his head ... something was not right for sure.
In the recorded 911 emergency call to Lower Merion Police to report the Felony crimes just committed by other LMPD officers .... was brutally attacked just outside the LMPD Headquarters by this officer. He was in a full "mental rage" threatening criminal harm. This officer is the head of all the other Lower Merion Police policemen under him. "A clear and present danger to all in the community"
Joe
6:20 am on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
WTF