34%

It's not as catchy as "Remember The Pay Raise" but a simple number followed by a percentage sign could be the key to Republican control of the Berks County Board of Commissioners.

Red and white signs with "34%" started appearing along Berks County roadways a few weeks ago. Nothing on the signs but "34%" ... no other words ... no mention of any candidates ... just "34%" in big, bold numbers.

People started asking what the number meant, which I guess was the point of the campaign. The answer to the mystery of "34%" starting appearing in mailings from the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania.

The current Board of Commissioners, led by Democrats, raised property taxes in Berks County by 34% in 2005. The two commissioners who voted for the massive tax hike were Judith Schwank and Tom Gajewski. The third commissioner, Republican Mark Scott, voted against the tax hike. More on Scott's vote later.

Schwank, who is very popular among Berks County voters and could have survived the backlash over the 34% tax hike, dropped out of the race over the summer to take a job with an advocacy group.

That left Tom Gajewski to defend the tax hike. Gen. George Armstrong Custer had a better chance at the Little Big Horn than Gajewski has as he faces the wrath of voters on Nov. 6.

The Republican Party, especially GOP candidate Christian Leinbach, want voters to remember the 34% tax hike. The recent mailing features an angry senior citizen waving her finger and telling voters that "Tom Gajewski voted to raise county property taxes by 34%"

Gajewski's chances of winning re-election to a second term are slim and none ... and slim just left Berks County.

How bad have things gotten for Gajewski? Not only did Schwank refuse to campaign with Gajewski in the months leading up to the primary, but Schwank endorsed another candidate for Nov. 6. She doesn't want anything to do with Gajewski.

Look for a new Republican majority on the Berks County Commissioners come Nov. 6, with Scott and Leinbach leading the pack. The third spot, which by law must go to the minority party, will probably be picked up by Democrat Kevin Barnhardt, who is the beneficiary of campaign funds and public support from Schwank.

Don't feel sorry for Gajewski. This guy has been feeding at the public trough for more than 30 years as an elected or appointed official. He's got a big state pension line up. If he wants to continue working, I'm sure he'll bounce back as a aide to one of Berks County's veteran Democratic state lawmakers: Sen. Mike O'Pake, Rep. Tom Caltagirone and Rep. Dante Santoni. All three are notorious for handing out patronage jobs.

The interesting revelation during the current campaign about the 34% tax hike was that it wasn't needed in the first place. Commissioner Mark Scott said Berks County is sitting in a $70 million budget surplus, much of it coming from the 34% tax hike.

It appears that Gajewski and Schwank raised taxes in 2005 for the sake of raising taxes. That's what Democrats do.

Berks County is the wrong place to raise taxes. Gajewski will learn that lesson the hard way on Nov. 6.