Coplay Borough Council will choose a replacement for former Councilman Marvin P. Mann II when it meets Sept. 11.

One councilman and a former councilwoman believe they already know who it will be.

"They'll appoint Charles Sodl," former Councilwoman Beverly Miller told The Press immediately after the Sept. 4 council workshop meeting ended.

She said Sodl contributed $400 toward Marvin Mann's unsuccessful 2011 campaign for a council seat. Mann's campaign finance report, dated Nov. 8, 2011, confirms this.

Mann ran as a Democrat in the primary and lost. He ran in the fall as a Republican and lost again. He was appointed to council to fill a vacant seat in February.

Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. also predicted council will choose Sodl and mentioned his campaign contribution to Mann.

"If [Councilman Michael] Mazur attends next Tuesday, they will select Mr. Charles Sodl to council," Leiner wrote. "The 'Old Boys Network' is in place."

Mazur did not attend the meeting.

Sodl is one of five people to apply for the seat, vacated in July when Mann resigned for personal reasons.

"I feel that over 40 years of business experience, along with my long commitment to Coplay by working with Coplay Sports, Community Days and the planning commission gives me a well-rounded grasp of what our community needs and already has," Sodl wrote in his letter of interest, dated Aug. 29.

The other candidates include Miller, Karl Korsak, Jocelyn Wedge and Sophie Kesselring.

"I believe that if we all work together, great things can happen in Coplay," wrote Miller, who served as a council member for 14 years until 2009. "I know the concerns and challenges that our community and council is faced with. I am able to work within budgets and know the importance of doing so. I understand and have helped to negotiate several types of contracts and I have experience in how the budget process works."

In her letter dated Aug. 28, Miller also listed her involvement with the Democratic club, Coplay Town Watch and Coplay Athletic Club.

Korsak, whose letter is dated Aug. 30, wrote that he is a lifelong resident of Coplay who works as a salesman for Frito-Lay. His letter details his community activities, such as 15 years as a volunteer firefighter and experience as a volleyball and basketball coach. He is also on the police civil service commission, he wrote.

Wedge has served as manager of the municipal pool for the past two years and serves on the park and recreation committee.

"I am interested in being more involved with the community and to do what is best for the community for a growing future," wrote Wedge, who also mentioned she holds a notary commission. Her letter is dated Aug. 25.

Kesselring, a teacher at KidsPeace, introduced herself in her Aug. 24 letter as the mother of an honor student at Whitehall High School.

"I've been involved in Coplay community events since we moved to our residence in 2006. The town reminds me of my upbringing in a small coal region community called Lansford. I am a daughter of a hard-working coal miner father and a dedicated mother who sent their five girls to college," she wrote. "Having a good education was imperative to my parents and fortunately so, since I stress the same values I was taught to my daughter."

Kesselring serves as a eucharistic minister at St. Peter's church and volunteers at the church homecoming picnic in August. She has also volunteered for Coplay Community Days and started an annual coat drive with her daughter, according to her letter.

No one on council indicated any preference for any particular candidate.

Sodl and Miller attended the workshop but neither spoke about the open position on council.

Council President Lou Bodish allowed Sodl to speak during the secretary's report, even though he previously admonished resident Joan Jacoby for attempting to ask a question outside the public comment period.

Sodl mentioned a proposed town center, suggesting a committee form "and start putting it together."

Mazur has mentioned such a project at previous meetings. However, no details have been presented to the public.

Miller spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, addressing an earlier discussion on possible changes to the borough's sidewalk ordinance.

While she spoke, several people in the back of the room, including Sodl, interrupted. Council did not attempt to control the noise.

"It's my time to speak and you're letting them speak," Miller said.