Lehigh Valley procrastinator’s guide to voting
While political battles are still being waged over the 2020 election, voters will determine the outcome of local races Tuesday. While the races may not have gotten the wall-to-wall coverage national and state politics gather, the stakes may be higher. People elected as mayors, lawmakers and judges usually have more control over people’s day-today lives.
Millage rates set by municipalities and school boards make up the biggest chunk of most residents’ property taxes. The judges issuing court rulings determine criminal sentences and sometimes determine the outcomes of local civil cases.
Voters can cast a ballot Tuesday at their local polling place or return their mail-in ballot to a local election office or drop box. Those mail-in ballots must arrive by the time polls close at 8 p.m. Election Day.
Northampton County executive
The top race to watch may be the Northampton County executive race, where incumbent Lamont McClure is opposed by challenger Steve Lynch. In past years, this race has often been decided by locals’ feelings about national politics — the party out of power in Washington has won every contested executive the race in the 21st century.
McClure, a Democrat, is hoping to break that trend. He’s called Lynch a domestic terrorist and insurrectionist, pointing to his attendance at the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol building. Lynch acknowledged being interviewed by the FBI but denies taking part in any violence. Lynch also drew national headlines when he vowed to take “20 strong men” and remove members of the Northampton Area School Board after it instituted a mask mandate. Lynch has denied his comments were intended as a call to violence.
Lynch has focused his campaign almost entirely on state and national topics, including conspiracies about the 2020 election and the handling of the pandemic. His campaign website and social media accounts make no mention of local policies or goals he would pursue if elected. When he has mentioned county government, it’s been to criticize McClure and Democrats for not fighting pandemic shutdown orders and mask mandates.
Allentown mayor
Democrat Matt Tuerk emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic primary in the spring, making him the front runner in the Queen City. But Republican Tim Ramos is hoping longtime ties to the city will make him Allentown’s first Republican mayor since 2001. Independent candidate Solomon
Tembo is on the ballot but is considered a long shot.
Both Tuerk and Ramos have cited their ability to connect with the city’s fast-growing Latino community. Ramos, the son of Puerto Rican parents, grew up on Seventh Street and says he knows firsthand the challenges facing blue-collar families in Allentown. Tuerk is the grandson of a Cuban immigrant. He has held campaign events in English and Spanish and has made a commitment to work with the community to bring opportunities to the city.
Lehigh County executive
Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, a former Whitehall Township commissioner, is seeking his second term in office. He’s opposed by former Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart, who’s hoping to end nearly two decades of Democratic control of the executive’s suite.
Armstrong has based his political career around what he calls “pothole politics” — working with all sides to find solutions to common problems plaguing the community. His efforts led to the county passing a bipartisan tax hike for the 2020 budget. County officials didn’t know it at the time, but the decision may have staved off financial challenges brought by the pandemic months later. His administration also partnered with nonprofits across the region to distribute millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief aid to local renters, small business owners and others.
That hasn’t stopped Eckhart from criticizing his administration. Staff shortages at Cedarbrook and the county jail have persisted for years and became even worse during the pandemic. Stronger leadership from Armstrong and his Cabinet could have helped avert problems in those departments and others, Eckhart said.
Bethlehem mayor
With incumbent Robert Donchez facing a term limit, Democrat J. William
Reynolds and Republican John Kachmar are vying to become the next mayor of Bethlehem. The city has not elected a Republican mayor since the 1990s, making Reynolds the favorite as Election Day approaches.
Reynolds, a lifelong resident, has served 13 years on City Council and works as a teacher at Allen High School. He’s depicted himself as the forward-thinking candidate, saying he would help the city create sustainable development while taking steps to protect against climate change and create diversity in government. As a city council member, he’s contributed to the city’s climate action plan and North Side 2027, a revitalization plan targeting the neighborhood between the Moravian University campus and the Bethlehem YMCA.
Kachmar served as the Lehigh County administrator from 198693. He then worked as a government administrator for municipalities across the country, returning to the Lehigh Valley four years ago. Kachmar has built his campaign around Bethlehem’s finances. Even though taxes have gone up three of the past four years, he’s warned voters more hikes may be on the horizon as the city’s pension fund is underfunded by $64 million. He’s pointed to his experience leading local governments, saying he’ll take a firm hand to the city budget and refocus on essential services.
Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas
Voters will have the opportunity to dramatically influence court proceedings when they select three candidates to serve on the Lehigh County bench. Lehigh County solicitor Tom Caffrey; Tom Capehart, a partner at the law firm Gross McGinley; and criminal defense attorney David Ritter are running on the Republican ticket. Zachary Cohen, a partner at Lesavoy Butz & Seitz; District Judge Rashid Santiago; and Maraleen Shields, an attorney with Fitzpatrick
Lentz & Bubba, are running as Democrats.
Lehigh County commissioners
Voters in every district of Lehigh County have a contested race to review. Republicans would need to win all five races to regain control of the board.
In District 1, which covers the northern portion of the county, Republican Antonio Pineda will face off against Democrat Luke Savage. The race is Savage’s first; Pineda has lost races for county commissioner and Whitehall Township commissioner. Incumbent Marc Grammes did not seek reelection.
District 2 pits Lower Macungie Township Supervisor Ron W. Beitler against businessperson Mark Fedorov. The district covers Alburtis, Lower Macungie Township, South Whitehall Township and Upper Macungie Township. Incumbent Percy Dougherty is not seeking reelection.
Voters in Catasauqua, Fountain Hill, Hanover Township and neighborhoods in East Allentown, South Whitehall and West Bethlehem will decide the District 3 race. Political newcomers Zachary Cole Borghi, a Democrat, and Jacqueline Rivera, a Republican, will compete for the seat. Incumbent Amy Zanelli did not seek reelection and is instead running for district judge.
Democratic incumbent Geoff Brace will be the most senior commissioner on the board if reelected. But first, he’ll need to face Republican newcomer Marjulee Colon. Their District 4 seat represents Center City Allentown and the city’s West End.
The Board of Commissioners appointed Republican Jeffrey Dutt to the board after Nathan Brown resigned in 2020. Dutt is now seeking a full term but is being challenged by Upper Milford Township Supervisor Joyce Moore. The District 5 seat represents Coopersburg, Emmaus, Lower Milford Township, Macungie, Salisbury Township, Upper Milford Township and Upper Saucon Township and neighborhoods in South Allentown.
Northampton County Council
Ten candidates are running for the five at-large seats on the county council. Republicans would need to win three spots to regain control of the board. Democratic incumbents Ron Heckman, Lori Vargo Heffner, Bill McGee and Tara Zrinski are being joined by Patti Bruno, the campaign manager for District Attorney Terry Houck and others. They’re being opposed by Republicans John Brown, a former county executive, and newcomers John Goffredo, Annamarie Robertone, Nicole Romanishan and Kristin Lorah Soldridge. Republican incumbent Peg Ferraro is not seeking reelection.
Allentown City Council
Five candidates are competing for four spots on City Council. Incumbents Cynthia Mota and Daryl Hendricks are running as Democrats while incumbent Ed Zucal made the ballot as both a Republican and Democrat. Newcomer Natalie Santos, a Kutztown University student, shocked political observers after finishing third in the Democratic primary. Tom Houck, a retired police officer like Hendricks and Zucal, faces long odds — the city hasn’t elected anyone running strictly as a Republican to City Council since 2003.
Allentown referendum questions
Allentown residents will decide a pair of referendum questions. The first asks if heads of city departments should be allowed to live within 5 miles of the city within a year of their appointment. Under the city charter, those officials must live within Allentown’s borders within a year of their appointment. A yes vote would approve the change.
The second question would eliminate a provision in the Home Rule Charter that recognizes English as the city’s official language. However, City Council members, who approved putting the question on the ballot, have criticized the question as overly vague.
The question reads, “Shall paragraph B of Section 101 of the City of Allentown Home Rule Charter be removed from the Charter?” without spelling out what that portion of the charter does. A yes vote would amend the charter so the city does not have an official language. It would be largely a symbolic move — the charter does not prevent the city from engaging with non-English speakers. Advocates say it’s a gesture to show that Allentown has become more accepting of its non-English speaking population.
What to know about mail-in ballots
Via SpotlightPA:
It’s too late for a registered voter to request a mail ballot from a county election office, but you can go to your county election office, request a mail ballot there, fill it out, and return it on the spot.
In all 67 counties, a voter can return their own ballot to a local election office in person. Some counties have set up satellite offices and drop boxes. Lehigh County has five drop box locations. Northampton County has four locations.
This part is extra important: Ballots must be received by the county election office before 8 p.m. on Election Day.
What about voting in person?
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday.