The Intergovernmental and Appointments Committee of the Lehigh County commissioners board interviewed four candidates for the vacant county executive seat.

Matthew Croslis of Whitehall is an attorney. In addition to his work as an attorney, Croslis is also the owner of three businesses: Croslis Law Offices LLC, Legacy Title Insurance and Croslis Realty Referrals Inc.

He spent seven years with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, presiding over hundreds of liquor license renewal, nuisance bar and liquor license transfer application hearings. He also ran for county executive in 2001.

Croslis said he wants to be a positive force not shackled by political decisions.

"I hope to put the county in a position where it's focusing on the essential functions of county government and eliminate and examine the things the county is not required to do."

William Hansell, of Lower Macungie, is retired. Hansell devoted 50 years of his professional life to local government.

"If there's a need I can fill, I've done it frequently in my life, it would be an honor to serve the people of Lehigh County," he said.

Hansell most recently served the people of Allentown as a commissioner from 2010 to 2011, finishing out the term of Bill Leiner Jr.

"I think I could put in place by the end of 2013 a system of performance measurement that would help to benchmark for continuous improvement. Everybody talks about doing better, but the only way you do that is by having a benchmark."

John Ingram of Allentown is president of Ingram Real Estate Group. Ingram does not have any previous political experience, but he has worked with the city of Allentown. He previously served as a member of the Allentown City Planning Commission and he also ran for Allentown City Council last year.

"I would hope to be an advocate and initiator of cutting edge ideas on projects and programs that are working well and cost effectively in all counties all around the country, not just in Pennsylvania. I would search it out and have other people search it out for me."

Daniel McCarthy of Allentown is an attorney and the only current county commissioner seeking the county executive position.

He has served on the board since 2002 and said his 10 years on the board has helped him to learn a lot about Lehigh County.

"I know all the department heads, most of the bureau chiefs and have been to every facility," he said. "I would like to think my experience as an elected county official, I've had three district races and two county wide races too, has helped me to understand the concerns of people of Lehigh County, what their focus is, what their hopes are and the extent that I can help it make that happen for them, I think I can do that as county executive and I think I can do that in the time allotted by the resignation of Mr. Cunningham."