Judy, love her or hate her... she will be missed!

Every once in a while you come across a politician who absolutely makes you believe that their real interests is in the people they have been elected to represent. Judy Schwank is one of those people. But lately a sleazy blogger has attacked her and her record of service to our community. I have emailed Judy and asked her to give us a farewell message before she leaves and sort of respond to this attack. I hope that she will oblige my request. I have been a loyal supporter of hers since she came on the scene and I hope she will do us this one last request.

When she came on the scene she was one of those people you just knew where she was coming from and what she was all about. Coming from the agricultural background, Judy understood the needs of creating jobs while maintaining our agricultural heritage. The labor movement welcomed her with open arms and she enjoyed a warm relationship with them during her time as our Commissioner. She consistently was on the forefront of fighting to help rebuild the City of Reading but she did not forget the small borough and townships that make Berks County so great. When it came to working families and seniors, you could trust Judy to make the right decision. When legislators in Harrisburg or Washington needed a push on issues to help the lower and middle class, Judy fought hard and did not back down.

When Judy came upon a tough vote, knowing that she would face the music from people not thrilled with her decision, she had the courage to stand and take the fire. Her message was simple - treat people with respect, hear their thoughts and at all times, exhibit a level of professionalism.

In our Party, despite the asinine assertions of some off- the-wall blogger, Judy was warmly received and respected by all factions, liberal or moderate. She helped elect Democrats, moderate or liberal, it did not matter: she was there. She knew the art of compromise, but yet she could stand firm when she felt her decision was in the best interests of the people of Berks County. If you look at her record of service there are many highlights that could be listed, but I think the election results speak for themselves. The people of Berks County, across Party lines and Demographics, believed in her and voted for her, easily making her the highest vote getter in General and Primary!

So, let's look at the attack on her record.

"Judy is responsible for losing the majority." Wrong. The only person who is responsible for that is the outgoing Commissioner, Mr. Gajewski.

When your ego is so driven that your friends become your enemies, your days are numbered. People who had supported Gajewski in his first successful run for Commissioner, were taken back by his constant attacks on anyone who did not "kiss the hand of the Emperor". History is full of elected leaders who consistently forgot where they came from and who put them there and we know form the history books what happen to them.

Now that he has lost, Gajewski and his blogging cohort need to place blame on anyone other then Gajewski himself. Gajewski routinely, as evidenced by the letters uploaded to another Pennsylvania blog, chastised people for conspiring against him. He was even sent a letter from the Reading Eagle stating that they would no longer tolerate his abusiveness towards their writers. That is what cost Gajewski his race - his ego and paranoia - not Judy Schwank!

I believe Judy Schwank would have continued serving Berks County, but the thought of four more years with Tom Gajewski was enough to give the 10,000 Friends opportunity another look. If Kevin Barnhardt, who I will cover in a later story, was your candidate after the Primary instead of Gajewski, the Demoracts maintain the majority. It was that simple.

The nefarious blogger who attacks her record and blames her for the loss of the majority does not see the proverbial forest through the trees. Gajewski's behavior and lack of professionalism, combined with working with the likes of the blogger, is what cost Mr. Gajewski his election.

But, alas, I have digressed from my original intent to showcase the class and courage of our Commissioner, Judy Schwank. Whether you loved her or hated her, Judy was respected and that, despite the pitiful attempts to derail her legacy by the supposedly-disabled blogger, will always remain as a testimony of her love for Berks County. We all will miss her infectious attitude of "let's get it done", but we wish her well in her new endeavors.

Respectfully, I am...

S. Dogood