Whitehall Republican mayoral candidate to remain on ballot after defeating challenge

Whitehall Township Treasurer Tina Koren defeated a challenge against her ballot petition for Whitehall mayor, securing her spot as a Republican candidate in the May primary.

Lehigh County Judge Michele A. Varricchio released her ruling Monday.

In a challenge filed last Tuesday, Republican voter Kade Marx alleged that Koren, who is also the township tax collector, filed a statement of financial interests with the Lehigh County Board of Elections, but didn’t do so with Whitehall Township.

In a written opinion, Varricchio said evidence shows Koren submitted a statement to Whitehall executive secretary Larissa Bruder on March 1, six days before the filing deadline.

Kade Marx also noted that Koren didn’t check the “candidate” box in her financial statement, Varricchio said, but the judge said he didn’t properly object to that concern in his challenge and that such an issue wouldn’t automatically bar her from remaining on the ballot.

Koren told The Morning Call she was “extremely happy” with the outcome and said the challenge shouldn’t have gone as far as it did. She added that having the ruling announced will allow her to take the next steps with her campaign with a Facebook page and website.

“I think tomorrow we’re going to have everything in place and we’re going to move forward,” she said.

Attorney Matthew Mobilio represented Koren in the case.

Kade Marx is the son of Whitehall commissioners President Joseph Marx, a Democratic mayoral candidate.

Joseph Marx previously said he and Kade discussed filing the challenge against Koren beforehand, but that he didn’t influence his son’s decision. Joseph Marx wasn’t available for comment Monday, and Kade Marx couldn’t immediately be reached.

In addition to Koren and Joseph Marx, Democrat Michael Cocca and Republican John Hersh are running for mayor in the May primary.

Whitehall Mayor Michael Harakal Jr., a Democrat, and Republican Ron Reaman withdrew from the primary.

Harakal, who faced harassment complaints from three female employees that led to a more than $100,000 settlement agreement with the township, withdrew March 10. Joseph Marx said Harakal indicated he pulled out of the race for personal reasons.

Whitehall’s mayor supervises the administration of all township agencies, represents the township before other governmental entities and presents the township’s budget.