Meet The Candidate: Brad Osborne

When Brad Osborne kicked off his campaign for Lehigh County Commissioner in March, he braced himself for a lively primary, given that eight Republicans are in the running for four seats.

"It will be a very competitive race, which is good for the electorate, and I believe, good for the candidates," he said at the time. "It will force us to distinguish ourselves from one another, and at the same time, give voters real choices in the voting booth."

In the two months since then, the Republican primary has devolved into a political battle between incumbent Dean Browning and a slate of four candidates intent on ousting Browning from office for his budget vote last fall.

But Osborne is staying out of the fray, focusing voters' attention on his background, on what he brings to the table -- leadership experience in both first-class township government and business.

He said he had decided early on that he would not attach himself to any group, but would run on his own merits. He said he also decided to be neutral on any candidate and resist attempts to have him comment on the others in the race.

"I don't believe I'm being drowned out," said Osborne, in reference to the verbal sparring that has gone on among other candidates.  He said his support will be broad-based and widespread, and that it will come from those looking at the candidates' individual backgrounds and experience.

Osborne, 55, has been a South Whitehall commissioner for seven years, the past three as board president. He touts his successes there in his run for county office: the township has not raised taxes in his seven years on the board. (Or, for the past 23 years).  That comes from good planning, management and leadership, he said. 

He is also plant manager of Geo Specialty Chemicals, which manufactures specialty chemicals for paints and coatings, water treatment and construction industries. He received his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Virginia, and he is a graduate of the Lehigh University Manufacturing Leadership Institute.

The Lehigh County budget, and this year's 16 percent tax hike, looms large in the county commissioner race. 

Historically, Osborne says, the county commissioners have not been able to work productively with any administration, whether Democratic or Republican. On the day he announced his candidacy, he told supporters that he is running for "a very simple reason," namely, the need for a more effective county board of commissioners. 

"A high performing board will work with the administration to not only advance worthy and productive goals, but also serve as a check in matters of fiscal responsibility," he said that day.

Osborne advocates what he calls "common sense initiatives" to control county spending: line-by-line reviews of the budget, long-term financial planning and a focus on priorities. He says he would work to institute a zero-based budgeting system, which requires department heads every year to justify programs.

In South Whitehall, where officials have been able to hold the line on taxes, commissioners review every major line item in the budget, including major infrastructure investments, he said.  

Following the county's tax hike for this year, he said the county administration needs to understand that cost reductions will be needed in next year's budget. "I don't advocate they count pencils," he said, but major spending needs a closer look.

And with Lehigh County ending 2010 with a $5.4 million surplus, Osborne said the surplus could be an opportunity to reduce the tax millage for 2012.

He has outlined a five-point plan on his campaign website: to hold the line on county taxes, rein in county spending, protect taxpayers, create an environment for small businesses to create jobs, and fight for property tax reform and fiscal responsibility.

Given the showdown last October among the commissioners over the budget, he sees a need to improve the county budget process. He says the commissioners must be fully engaged in the budget process so that decisions don't come down to one night.

Despite his talk of fiscal conservatism, however, Osborne says he is not "a slash and cut" Republican. The county commissioners and administration need to identify ways to be efficient without shirking the county's responsibilities in funding human services, law enforcement and corrections, he says. 

"While I promote and promise fiscal discipline, I do not suggest we renege on those responsibilities," he said. "I think we use our ingenuities, talents and resources to continue pressing forward and provide better services at reduced cost."

Osborne was elected twice as South Whitehall commissioner, and he will be finishing out his latest term at the end of the year. Prior to that, he served on the township's Board of Authority, which is charged with maintaining the township’s sewer and water system. He also serves on the board of the Allentown Rescue Mission.

He is a member of Lehigh County’s General Purpose Authority, which works with the Lehigh County Economic and Community Development Fund to help attract new employers to the area and retain jobs.

He and his wife, Janice Osborne, director of marketing and communications for the local chapter of the American Red Cross, are runners. Over the years, they have each run more than 20 marathons, he said.

Return to Meet the GOP Candidates

Here are the candidate profiles presented in ballot order:

Scott Ott

Norma Cusick

Brad Osborne

Vic Mazziotti

Lisa Scheller

Mike Welsh

Dean Browning

David C. Najarian