After last year's mass exodus, there are now 1,143 retired Northampton County employees. Nearly 250 of them packed into Northampton Memorial Community Center recently for lunch with judicial candidates Abe Kassis, Sam Murray and Vic Scomillio. Those three were in the middle of a race against each other, but have remained on friendly terms and sat together at the same table for lunch.

Executive John Brown was invited, but did not appear. He sent no representative from his administration, either. Ken Kraft was council's delegate to the luncheon.

Abe Kassis. - Like everyone else, he was surprised at the turnout, and feels like he's among family when with workers and retirees. If elected, this veteran prosecutor pledged to treat everyone with respect "the way we respect each other in this room." He promised he would go that extra mile. He lives in Bethlehem Township.

Sam Murray. - Sam joked that when he walked into the community center, he saw so many friendly faces that he felt like he was back at the courthouse. He discussed his commitment to his wife and three children, his 32 years of experience as a lawyer and his time as both a custody master and Juvenile Hearing Court officer. He mentioned his Little League coaching experience, which took a Bethlehem team to the World Series. But the topic he feels most passionate about is his work with Easton's Community Center, which feeds children in Easton's West Ward, where he grew up, both before and after school. Murrays and his family now live in Hanover Township.

Vic Scomillio.- He is running to help "protect values we all share." He started as a clerk to Judge Robert Simpson (who now sits on the Commonwealth Court) and has 15 years of experience representing businesses, big and small, as well as ordinary people. An Eagle Scout, he volunteers with North Penn Legal Services and would like to see more problem-solving courts like a court for veterans who run afoul of the law. Scomillio lives in Palmer Township.

Before the lunch ended, retirees paused to remember former Northampton county employees who passed on in the past year. They include Mary Cantalupo, Sigfriedo Diaz, Thomas Fenstermacher, Dominic Fimiano, Henry Heil, Tom Marchetti, Joanne Miller, Harold Smith, Pat Repsher, Alan Fowler, Pat Hannon and Rae Moyer.