Plenty of contests in Tuesday’s election for Lehigh Valley voters
Ballots filled with important races for school boards, county and municpal offices plus ballot questions
In Tuesday’s election, Lehigh Valley voters will pick candidates who make decisions affecting their everyday lives – from judges presiding over court cases, controllers watching county spending and mayors guiding city policy to city councils fixing roads and keeping communities safe and school boards striving for academic excellence amid budget constraints.
Some of the races have already been settled. These include the Northampton County district attorney race where former Judge Stephen Baratta, a Democrat, is the only candidate on the ballot after incumbent Democrat Terry Houck dropped out after losing to Baratta in the Democratic primary but winning as a Republican write-in candidate.
In Lehigh County, Republican Gavin Holihan, a well-known criminal defense attorney hired as first assistant district attorney in January, was the only candidate to run for district attorney after Republican Jim Martin announced his retirement after 25 years in office. Sheriff Joe Hanna, a Republican who also won the Democratic nomination via a write-in effort, is seeking a third term; and Democrat Michelle Graupner, a clerk in the judicial records office, is running for clerk of judicial records to replace Andrea Naugle, who is retiring.
Over in Easton, longtime incumbent Democrat Sal Panto Jr. is assured of another term as mayor as are the three Democrats for Easton city council. Likewise, the election for Allentown city council has also been settled.
Check out ballots for Lehigh County and Northampton County.
Here are some of the bigger races taking place tomorrow. If you — or anyone you know — are still undecided, you can read about them by following links to our primary stories below.
School board races
Across the Lehigh Valley, dueling slates are vying for ideological control of nine-member school boards where, in most cases, five seats with four-year terms are up for election.
Races in many districts feature slates of GOP newcomers whose May 16 Republican primary wins were boosted by advocacy for parental choice, transparency, low taxes, student safety and, in some cases, dissatisfaction with transgender bathroom policies, social emotional learning curriculum and library book choices.
Some of those Republican candidates in Northampton County were endorsed by Moms for Liberty - Northampton County, whose members and those connected with the book issue are seeking to remove 23 books in the Nazareth Area School District, according to an article in Lehigh Valley Live.
Supported candidates include Cindy O’Brien, who is running in the Bethlehem Area School District; Bill Jones, who is running in Northampton Area; and Melinda Gladstone and Elmo “Jake” Frey Jr., both of whom are running in Nazareth Area.
Challenging Republican slates are incumbent Republicans, who cross-filed and were spurned by GOP voters on May 16 but won Democratic primaries, Democratic incumbents and newcomers. Their platforms include upholding reputations of academic excellence, being welcoming and inclusive to all students, having quality teachers and passing budgets that weigh the need for tax hikes with providing quality education.
Bethlehem Area
The race features four incumbent Democrats and one newcomer. O’Brien, the Moms for Liberty endorsed candidate, is seeking an at-large and a regional seat.
In Bethlehem Area, 5 Democrats, 1 Republican running for school board
East Penn
The race features two dueling slates and one individual candidate in a race that has drawn thousands of dollars in donations from political action committees.
In East Penn, dueling slates seek 5 school board seats
Lehigh Valley business leaders donate heavily to Republican slates in East Penn, Parkland
Nazareth Area
Only one incumbent is running again in Nazareth Area where two Moms for Liberty-endorsed candidates are on the ballot.
In Nazareth Area, seven in the running for four seats in three regions
Parkland
The race, which has seen an influx of PAC money, features two slates clashing for six seats that would give control of the board to the winner.
In Parkland, 11 running for 6 seats in race that could swing school board direction
Lehigh Valley business leaders donate heavily to Republican slates in East Penn, Parkland
Saucon Valley
Incumbents face a slate of newcomers in a district where a proposed After School Satan Club drew an outcry from parents.
In Saucon Valley, incumbents run on their record as challengers seek to end ‘legal melodramas’
Southern Lehigh
Two slates are facing each other, one of which endorses a pledge that includes eliminating “woke policies.”
In Southern Lehigh, pledge dominates race for five school board seats
Lehigh County
Commissioner
With only one incumbent running for reelection, party control is up for grabs in this race.
In Lehigh County, race for 4 commissioner seats could bring change in party control
Controller
In this race, an incumbent faces a former Allenown School Board member. Both ran for and lost state legislator races last year.
In Lehigh County controller race, it’s incumbent Pinsley vs. Smith Jr.
Coroner
A seasoned employee who is now interim coroner faces a newcomer with a medical degree.
In Lehigh County coroner race, it's experience versus a medical degree
Whitehall mayor
Two incumbent officeholders face each other in a race that now has a former commissioner as a write-in candidate.
In Whitehall, familiar names squaring off for mayor as write-in candidate emerges
Northampton County
An expensive and nearly year-long campaign for Northampton County judge between Democrat Brian Panella and Republican Nancy Aaroe will finally end on Nov. 7.
Panella, Aaroe judicial campaigns raise nearly $400,000 in total
County voters will also elect a new controller – Democrat Tara Zrinski and Republican John Cusick, both of whom sit on county council.
Northampton County Commissioners Zrinski, Cusick battle for county controller
County council has four district seats up for election, but only two have contested races: Former council member and Democrat Ken Kraft and political newcomer Republican Bill Rowe are seeking a spot from District I; veteran Democrat Jeff Warren faces Casey Foreman, a Republican making his first bid for elected office, in District III. Democrat Kelly Keegan, a Forks Township supervisor looking to represent District II, and Tom Giovanni, a Republican seeking reelection from District IV, are unopposed.
Control of Northampton County Council to be decided on Tuesday
Bethlehem
Republicans haven’t had a candidate for city council in a decade. Now, three are in the running for three seats.
Bethlehem council races features a rarity - three Republicans facing three Democrats
Ballot questions
In Allentown, city voters will decide whether to increase the salaries of:
City council members to $15,000, with the council president receiving $16,000. Council members presently earn $6,400.
The controller to an amount that is 80% of the mayor’s salary, which is presently $95,000. At that rate, the controller’s new salary would be $76,000. The salary is now $49,900.
Northampton County voters will decide whether to establish term limits on three county offices: the county executive and county controller could serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms while county commissioners would have a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms on council. If approved, term limits for the controller and council members would begin in 2024 while the executive’s limit would start in 2026.
Norco ballot questions would limit terms for executive, council and controller
In Lower Saucon Township, residents will also consider whether to impose a limit of two consecutive four-year terms. If approved, the restriction would take effect in 2026. Any council member who is appointed to fill a vacancy could still be elected to two full terms after that.
Judicial retention
In Lehigh County, voters will decide whether to retain county Judge Brian Johnson, a Republican, who is the president judge, for a third, 10-year term. He was retained in 2013 with nearly 73% of the vote.
In Northampton County, voters will determine whether county Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold, a Republican, will serve a second, 10-year term.
District magistrate
All Lehigh Valley district magistrate elections were settled in the primary except one – magisterial district 31-3-02 in Lehigh County.
District Judge Michael J. Faulkner, a Republican and former Allentown police officer who is seeking reelection to a third, six-year term, is challenged by Julie Tamerler, a Democrat and a lawyer.
Each cross-filed in the primary, with Tamerler winning the Democratic nomination (2,274 to 2,105) and Faulkner, the Republican (3,293 to 1,143). The annual salary of a district magistrate in 2023 is $106,254 and, because the salary is adjusted for inflation each year, likely will be increased for 2024. The district comprises Alburtis and the townships of Lower Macungie and Upper Macungie.
County, municipal and school board races highlight full ballot for Nov. 7 election