Meet County Executive Candidate Glenn Reibman

Editor's note: In the weeks leading up to the May 21 primary, we asked  candidates to fill out questionnaires about themselves. This is how Northampton County executive hopeful Glenn Reibman responded.

Glenn Reibman

Age: 66

Family:  I live in Forks Township with my wife of over 30 years, Sue Ann.  We have two grown children: a son Clay (26), and a daughter Morgan (23).  They are pursuing successful careers.  

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Tell us about your educational background: Graduate of Easton Area High School (1965).  Earned both a Bachelor of Science Degree (1969) and a Masters Degree in Education (1978) from East Stroudsburg University.     

Tell us about your professional/business background:  

I was an English/Reading Teacher in the Warren Hills Regional School District for more than 28 years.  During this time, I also served as the Strength and Powerlifting Coach at Lafayette College for over two decades.  

I was elected to Northampton County Council in 1989 and re-elected in 1993.  I served eight years on County Council, the last six of which as County Council President.  In 1997, I was elected Northampton County Executive and was re-elected in 2001.   After serving two terms as County Executive, I accepted a position as the Director of Policy and Planning with the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC), from which I recently retired.

Why are you running for Northampton County Executive?  

I am running because I am the candidate with the experience, vision and results to get the job done.  I am running to institute a vision that includes: Job Creation and Economic Development, Fiscal Responsibility, Investments in the Criminal Justice System, Upgraded Human Services, and Open and Transparent Government.

What qualifies you to serve as the executive?  

While serving two terms as Northampton County Executive, my administration was results-oriented.  We passed the first Stimulus Package in Northampton County, facilitating billions of dollars in Economic Development, which brought thousands of jobs to all corners of Northampton County.  We need to revive the unprecedented development that my administration accomplished.  We upgraded Human Services and Gracedale was running efficiently and making money.  We saved lives by building the state-of-the-art 911 Operations Center. We preserved over 7,000 acres of open space which included growing our county park system by 600 acres.  The experience I received on the DRJTBC working with multiple county governments, combined with my experience in Northampton County Government, makes me the right person to lead Northampton County.

What do you see as the job's primary role and responsibilities?  

The primary role of the County Executive is to be the chief executive and administrative official of Northampton County.  Some of the responsibilities are to provide the vital Human Services necessary for our residents, create a balanced and fiscally responsible budget, facilitate job creation and economic development, maintain and upgrade county facilities as necessary, and provide an open and transparent County Government.

Tell us about three major challenges facing the county and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):  

The first is Upgrading our Human Services.  My vision to achieve this is:  Keep Gracedale Under County Control; Revisit the Plan for the County Health Department, Including a Bi-County, or, a Tri-County Health Department; Revive the Award-Winning “Seniors Count” Program; Evaluate Capital Needs; and Strive for a Two Campus Approach were applicable.

The second challenge is Job Creation and Economic Development.  My vision to achieve this is:  Expand the Tax Base by Encouraging Businesses to Locate in the County;  Fund Infrastructure and Transportation Upgrades;  Improve Job Training Programs at Local Schools and Colleges;  Form Economic Partnerships with Surrounding Counties;  and Conduct a Feasibility Study on an I-78 Interchange at Route 378.

The third challenge is Fiscal Responsibility.  My vision to achieve this is:  Evaluate All Aspects of the Budget;  Shared Services with Surrounding Counties;  A Comprehensive Contract Review; Maintain Funding for Open Space Initiatives; and Target Ways to Reduce Future Cost of Government.

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?  

We are spending as much as we can afford to get our message out.  Our campaign is being funded by donations from average citizens and those labor unions that share my vision for a better Northampton County.

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock, Roseto Mayor Desiree De Nicola, Glendon Mayor Charles Seip, Easton Vice-Mayor Ken Brown, Forks Township Supervisor Robert Egolf, Lower Mount Bethel Township Supervisor John M. Mauser, Upper Nazareth Township Supervisor Willard Mohn, Northampton Borough Council President John Yurish, Northampton Borough Councilman Edward Pany, North Catasauqua Borough Councilwoman Michele Hazzard, Bath Borough Councilwoman Kathryn E. Roberts, Esq., Pen Argyl Constable Paul Gilmore, Northampton Area School District Board Member Jean Rundle, Borough of West Easton Mayor Gerald W. Gross, Borough of West Easton Councilwoman Kelly Gross, Bangor Area School District Board Member Frank Addessi, Borough of Freemansburg Tax Collector Davina Gallich, Borough of Freemansburg Councilman Rudolph Gallich, North Catasauqua Councilwoman Cherie D. Gebhardt, Bath Borough Council President Robert Fields, Roseto Councilman Carl Renna, Bangor Borough Council Vice-President Craig N. Roberts, Bangor Borough Councilman David G. Houser, and James Hartman, Business Manager for Laborers Local 1174.

Do you use social media?If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter. 

Yes.  My campaign utilizes a web site: reibmanforcountyexecutive.com, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glenn-Reibman/486414841423723?fref=ts.  We also have a YouTube channel where you can view our TV commercials and watch my press conference on Economic Development:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ReibmanforNorco

We decided not to use twitter since it is difficult to communicate campaign messages in such a short format.