Lehigh Valley candidates denounce local official’s alleged comments on Charlie Kirk

Some Lehigh Valley candidates are distancing themselves from comments made by Northampton County Council member Kelly Keegan following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, the 31-year-old activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University.

Images shared on social media show a Facebook post in which Keegan, a Democrat and Easton Area School District nurse, called Kirk a “monster” and wrote that “his wife and kids are better off without him, as is the rest of the world.”

The posts have not been independently verified. Keegan has not responded to requests for comment. The alleged social posts appeared to be scrubbed as of Monday afternoon, and she paused/privated her social accounts.

Several candidates seeking county office issued statements saying they disagreed with the remarks.

County Controller Tara Zrinski, who is running for county executive, said in a Facebook post that Keegan’s words “were in poor judgment and have no place in civil discourse.”

“Her words do not reflect me, the Democratic Party or the values of Northampton County,” Zrinski said. “She speaks only for herself.”

Jason Boulette, a Wind Gap Council member running for county council, released a statement condemning the comments.

“I didn’t agree with the comments that were made, and they should not have been made,” Boulette said. “As the parent of a 13-year-old, my heart goes out to these children who will now grow up without a father. We have children being shot in our schools and children losing their parents, and it has to stop.”

Teresa Fadem, a Hellertown zoning officer and another Democrat running for county council, did not reference Keegan by name but stressed that freedom of speech comes with responsibility.

Tim Hughes, who is running for Forks Township supervisor, issued a statement calling for Keegan’s resignation.

“I am absolutely disgusted by the hateful and heartless comment made by Kelly Keegan about the death of Charlie Kirk,” Hughes said. “To say that his wife, children, and the world are ‘better off without him’ is beyond cruel — it’s inhumane.”

Easton Area Superintendent Tracy Piazza said in a message to families last week that the district was reviewing “deeply concerning” social media comments made by an employee, though she did not identify Keegan.

Piazza said the statements were “insensitive, without merit, and in conflict with all that we stand for as a district.”