In Coatesville the time between 2006 and 2010 was a tough time

It took a toll on everyone that lived here, including the Coatesville City Council Members. I am talking about the Coatesville City Council members that Coatesville resident, or so he refers to himself, Ernie Campos helped to elect to Coatesville City Council.

During the first year of the "Bloc of Four" Ernie appeared to be coaching the new city council from the back of the room. And then there were the accusations of alleged "dress rehearsal" city council meetings at Ernie's business place on Merchant Street on Sunday nights before the Monday meetings.

Later Kurt Schenk recorded a message on Coatesville resident Mike Zemake saying he "got the call" on how to vote at the City Council meeting. 

I believe nearly all the people on City Council “helped” by Ernie Campos regret that they ever let themselves be talked into being Coatesville City Council members. You see no matter what you might think of them they have feelings and feel responsibility and feel hurt.

As I said many times, I enjoyed being around Richard Legree. He was funny and charming. I just didn’t like some of the things he was alleged to have done.

But I never enjoyed being around Ernie Campos. Kind of like most people don’t enjoy the reptile house at the Philly Zoo.

I’m not so sure that Ernie Campos feels hurt, responsibility or any other emotion.

Did you ever come across a person who appeared to mimic the expression on your face? A person who your friends and associates say not to trust? But at the same time he or she seems to share your feelings exactly? He knows just how to make you like him.

Does he have the ability to change his demeanor and facial expression immediately?

This person offers to “help” you but there is always a part of that help that makes him profit the most from that “help”. 

I think you may have come across a sociopath and I think Ernie Campos is at least somewhat a sociopath. Not the kind in a serial killer movie. There are some “stories” about Ernie Campos like the one about a man he allegedly caught with his wife that ends up in a cemetery but he is not a particularly violent person.

I haven’t talked to the City Council members that he helped to elect but I think they might express regret about their city council experiences.

As far as Coatesville characters go Ernie has got to be in the top ten. He sort of does stuff that I think if you wrote it as fiction no one would find believable. Take the:

COATESVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION

May 10, 2006 at 6:00 pm

Harry Walker and Patsy Ray were at this meeting; Kurt Schenk rode in on his Harley and was sitting at the table. Ernie Campos was sitting at the table. Richard Legree remained standing behind Ernie. Richard appeared to be very reluctant to be there. Ernie waited patiently until the regular meeting was over and then addressed the Planning Commission. Saying, “I’m going to sit down and talk like we do in Mexico.”

This is from the Minutes of the meeting:

“Mr. Campos then expressed his feeling that all of the committees, commissions, and council need to work together.  He stated he “wanted to make peace P.E.A.C.E. or P.I.E.C.E. it doesn’t matter to me it is up to you.  This is your last chance and the last time I will say this.”  At this time Mr. Pitcherella asked Mr. Campos if he had brought Mr. Legree with him to try and intimidate the Planning Commission.  Mr. Legree seemed offended by the comment at which point many people started speaking.  Mr. Kahler stopped the arguments by stating he wanted to adjourn the meeting.  Mr. Campos asked if Mr. Kahler meant that he didn’t want to speak to him.  Mr. Kahler stated very clearly he would speak with Mr. Campos on matters concerning Planning Commission business only.  Mr. Campos felt he comments were just that.  Mr. Kahler did not agree and immediately called for a motion to adjourn.

When I SHOUTED “ARE YOU THREATENING US” Harry Walker, Kurt Schenk and Patsy Ray stumbled over each other running out of the room.

I filed a police report and called some prosecutors that I knew.

The Planning Commission Meetings at that time were approximately two weeks apart. When I came into the next Planning Commission Meeting District Attorney Joe Carroll was seated at the table. I found out he arrived about an hour before the meeting started. He was still there after the meeting was over.

I asked Joe why he was at the meeting. He told me that what Campos said was not quite enough to charge him with terroristic threats. But if he so much as came to the next Planning Commission Meeting he would charge Campos.

There was other uniquely Ernie stuff like, “The Patsy Ray Show with Moses Coates” an “Internet Radio Show” with the barely disguised voice of Ernie Campos pretending to be Moses Coates the founder of Coatesville.

In one memorable audio posting interview of “Moses Coates” by Patsy Ray; Patsy said that someone hacked into her website. She said, “We know that you are from Herndon Virginia. When I find your address I am going to come down there and knock on your door.” I would love to see her knock on the door one of the intelligence centers tracking internet sites in Herndon, VA. The "Patsy Ray Show" stayed up about 10 more days, and then shut down.

Here are a few excerpts from the “Patsy Ray Show”.