'Dirty Politics' Website Upsets Locals

An anonymously owned political website that has been circulating in the community was severly criticized at the Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday night.

The Friends of Northampton website, first registered in August, 2009, is updated with information about the current election. The site, though not endorsed by the Northampton Republican Party, takes a Republican slant on many township issues such as water in the western end, the GIANT hearings and recent tax increases.

Supervisor and Republican candidate Vincent Deon said during the meeting that he has no connection to the website whatsoever.

On Deon's own website, Friends of Deon, he posted a statement asking the creator to take it down.

"Despite the fact that I have no control over the web site in question, I am publicly requesting that whoever is responsible for the posting of the pictures of my opponent remove them immediately," the site said. "I do not wish to be associated with this web site or those responsible for its creation."

Featured on the site are politically charged and sometimes defamatory statements about the Democratic candidate for Board of Supervisors, Kimberly Rose.

On the site Rose is called "The Puppet" and her face has been digitally placed on the body of a jester with strongs controlled by Supervisor Frank Rothermel. 

During her time at the mic, Rose called the website "creepy" and asked it be taken down. She discounted the statements about her, including those that insinuated that she could not think for herself.

Rose said her parents raised her to be "independent," and she has worked hard her whole life to achieve such milestones as a degree to practice medicine and opening her own small business.

Also featured are statements about other citizens, mainly those who reguarly comment at supervisors meetings.

Rodger Bushnell, of Ivyland, said he's concerned his health and safety were in jeopardy because of the statements about him on the site. Chairman George Komelasky suggested that Bushnell file a formal complaint with the police department.

Many of the statements refer to his continued involvement in the water and sewer issues in Traymore Manor, where he is a resident.

He also refuted the statement that it was his septic system's failure that poisoned the neighborhood.

"It’s dirty and it’s filthy and it’s defamatory," Bushnell said about the site. "I’m going to ask you to ... work with the right people and take it down."

Bill O'Neill, of Holland, seconded that, adding, "This used to be a nice place to live. It’s a horrible example of politics in the United States."

O'Neill asked the supervisors to take the website down, to which Komelasky replied that the board did not know who was running it, but would do what they could.

At this time the website is still live and no one has publicly claimed ownership of it. Investigation into ownership reveals that the parties responsible registered through Domains By Proxy, a company whose goal includes the mission to help "voice political and First Amendment speech."