EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council voted Monday to keep Lori Vargo Heffner as the body’s president for a second consecutive year, while choosing John Goffredo as its next vice president.
Though several members called for a less discordant 2025 for the council compared to last year, Monday’s vote gave little reason to expect any change.
Vargo Heffner, who abstained from voting, received support from five of the council’s nine members.
“If we want the County Council to move forward, then we need a president who is going to work with the county executive and not obstruct him. "Northampton County Commissioner Kelly Keegan
The remaining three-member bloc — Jeff Warren, Kelly Keegan and Ken Kraft — backed Warren for the post, arguing he would work more closely with County Executive Lamont McClure’s administration.
“If we want the County Council to move forward, then we need a president who is going to work with the county executive and not obstruct him,” Keegan said.
“We want to elect somebody who is going to bring us forward, and the previous president has not.”
Several of Vargo Heffner’s supporters, among them Goffredo, responded by arguing that it was important for county council to remain independent and act as a check on the executive.
“We need the president that leads this council to be independent of the administration,” Goffredo said. “Tell me the one time when you went against the administration's agenda.”
In 2024, council voted down major wish-list items from McClure, including a new garage/office beside the county courthouse and a proposed health clinic for county employees.
Both proposals failed because of opposition from two Democrats and the council’s three Republicans, despite support from Kraft, Keegan and Warren.
McClure has vowed to make both projects key issues in the 2025 municipal election.
