Two Democrats left in 16th Senate District’s primary
By Charles Malinchak
Richlandtown Mayor Wayne Codner has withdrawn from the Democratic primary race for 16th state Senate District.
With Codner withdrawing, the primary race will be between Bradley Merkl-Gump and Mark Pinsley.
Merkl-Gump, 39, lives in Perkasie and is an eighth-grade social studies teacher in the Perkiomen School District. He is a member of the Pennridge School Board.
Pinsley, 55, lives in South Whitehall Township, and is the Lehigh County controller. This will be his third run for the 16th.
The winner will face incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman, who is unchallenged in the GOP primary in seeking his second four-year term.
In a Facebook post dated March 24 Codner said, “After careful consideration I have decided to withdraw from the race for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 16th District. … My team and I explored several paths forward but it would go against my principles to ask for political donations without a clear path to victory.’’
In a phone interview Sunday, he said the decision had nothing to do with how he was received in the district, which spans both Bucks and Lehigh counties.
“I had a good reception all over the voting district,” he said.
Codner gathered more than 800 signatures to officially get his name included as a primary candidate. The minimum required is 500.
He will continue to perform his duties as mayor of Richlandtown and said he will regroup “and follow through with moving ahead with the betterment of the community.”
Codner wants to nurture the dialogue he developed with young people following a protest over agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that led to a recent clash between students and Quakertown police.
“Tempers are running very hot and I hope to tamp that down – many young people sought me out as a voice. They’re not forgotten and need to know people will listen to what they have to say.’’
Codner said he is not throwing his support to either of the two Democratic candidates adding, “Let the voters decide. Let the Democratic process play out.”
Codner, 59, was born in Jamaica and raised in Easton. He was in the Marine Corps from 1985 to 1989, attaining the rank of corporal. He manages and is in a partnership with a mobile veterinary surgical services company called Cool Vet with his wife, Dr. Anjilla Cooley.
The 16th District
Lehigh County: Allentown (Wards 13 and 18 only); townships of Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, South Whitehall (Districts 03, 06 and 08 only), Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington and Weisenberg; boroughs of Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington.
Bucks County: Townships of Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Hilltown, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield, Tinicum and West Rockhill; boroughs of Dublin, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Silverdale, Telford (Bucks County portion only) and Trumbauersville.