EASTON, Pa. – The Democratic primary for Northampton County controller has turned on different backgrounds between two candidates — Tara Zrinski, a Hanover Township resident serving her second term on Northampton County Council; and Nadeem Qyyum, a former businessman and prosecutor married to Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana.
- Northampton County Council member Tara Zrinski and Easton businessman Nadeem Qayyum are facing off to be the Democratic nominee for county controller
- The controller is Northampton County’s fiscal watchdog, and has the power to order audits scrutinizing county funds
- The Democratic nominee will likely face Republican John Cusick in the November general election
The county controller is “responsible for the internal control of the fiscal transactions of” the county, as the home rule charter puts it, and has the power to conduct audits scrutinizing the use of county funds.
With incumbent Richard Szulborski retiring, the county is guaranteed a new controller next year.
The eventual winner of Tuesday’s primary will likely face longtime county council member John Cusick in November. Cusick, a Republican from Williams Township, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. He teaches math at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, New Jersey.
Only registered party members will be able to vote in the Democratic primary.
Tara Zrinski
Zrinski sees her run for controller as an extension of the political work and advocacy she has long been interested in.
“The position of the controller is actually a lot more than just somebody who does accounting,” she said. “It's really about holding people, departments or other entities accountable.”
Zrinski has served on Northampton County Council since 2018. She also teaches philosophy at DeSales University, and works as a consultant for a home solar energy company.
“I thought legislating was the seat at the table, but now I really think that following the money is even more important to doing the kind of service that I'd like to do.”Tara Zrinski
She ran for a seat in the state Senate last year, losing the 14th District Democratic primary by less than 50 votes. In 2020, she mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the 138th District state House seat.
“I thought legislating was the seat at the table, but now I really think that following the money is even more important to doing the kind of service that I'd like to do,” she said.
Her argument to voters hinges on her experience in local government, and the relationships she’s built over her tenure. Managing employees in restaurants, in a home solar company, and as a community organizer have taught her valuable interpersonal skills, she said.
“I have a lot of experience working on systems, and looking at how systems function to understand how to make them more efficient, and how to bring about change. I think it's really important to have that mindset,” she said, with an eye toward ensuring taxpayer money is spent “as efficiently and as wisely as possible.”
The best way to achieve that, Zrinski said, is to work in tandem with other parts of the county government as a skeptical partner.
“I don't think, at this point in time, we need someone who is antagonistic with the administration, or other county departments,” Zrinski said. “The best way to hold people accountable is to work collaboratively with them and ask the questions that are necessary and deliver a different perspective.”
Taking a less adversarial approach doesn’t mean being a “rubber stamp” for the administration, she said. “I don’t agree with Lamont [McClure] all the time.”
Zrinski’s campaign has received support from the administration. Democratic County Executive Lamont McClure, her largest individual contributor, donated $1,000, campaign finance filings show.
She has also received support from a number of local labor organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers, the Plumbers’ Union, the Union of Operating Engineers, and the Insulators and Allied Workers’ union.
Nadeem Qayyum
In his campaign for the Democratic nomination, Qayyum positions himself as an outsider without ties to “special interest groups,” and emphasizes his more than 30 years in finance and business management.
Qayyum, of Easton, worked as a lawyer prosecuting white-collar crime in Pakistan, he said, specializing in cases involving misuse of government funds. After moving to the United States, he started managing restaurants, and earned a master's degree in administration from the University of Phoenix.
“But I will not compromise with any mishap, or misrepresentations, or any fraud in a financial matter.”Nadeem Qayyum
He also previously owned and ran the Ladybug Restaurant in Phillipsburg, an experience he said was deeply educational.
“I learned to manage the company's overall operations including making policy, managing companies, organizational structures, auditings,” he said.
These skills, he argues, would transfer well to the county controller’s office.
“Some rules and regulations are universal… basic principles of mathematics and rules are [the] same," Qayyum said. “Two plus two is equal to four.”
He emphasized the importance of the controller’s independence, and the strong personal ethics he would bring to the job.
Regarding his approach to working with other parts of county government, Qayyum said he would pursue “a good working relationship” with other agencies in the county.
“But I will not compromise with any mishap, or misrepresentations, or any fraud in a financial matter,” he said.
His campaign is largely funded by a $40,000 loan to himself, plus another $7,000 loan from Taiba Sultana.
Qayyum is confident he will continue to the general election, saying he enjoys substantial grassroots support.
“This will all be proven in a few days,” he said. “We’ll get the scores of the voters.”
