Anthony "Tony" Pristash, president of the Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce, is Northampton Borough's newest councilman.

He was chosen Thursday by a majority vote of the eight-member borough council to fill the vacant seat created by the resignation in August of Sherry Maikits, who moved out of the borough.

The other four candidates seeking the appointment as one of two council members from the second ward were Richard Ackerman; former councilman and chairman of the borough's Civil Service Commission; Robert "Whitey" Lindenmoyer, retired borough police detective; Debra Brobst, manager of the Northampton Memorial Community Center; and Andrew O'Boyle, firefighter with the Northampton Fire Department. All are Democrats. In order to qualify for appointment, candidates had to be a Democrat because that was Maikits' party.

Council President John Yurish said all the candidates seeking the council seat are well qualified, but unfortunately only one person can be appointed.

The appointment runs through the end of 2013. Pristash will have to continue to reside in the second ward and seek the nomination of his party in the 2013 primary election.

Councilman Ed Pany made the motion to nominate all the candidates seeking the vacated council seat.

Councilmen Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., Anthony Lopsonzski Jr. and Robert McHale cast votes for Pristash.

Voting for Ackerman were Pany and Councilman Robert Coleman.

Yurish cast his ballot for Brobst and Councilman Keith Piescienski selected O'Boyle.

None of the candidates achieved a majority vote, said borough Solicitor William McCarthy and borough Manager Gene Zarayko. As a result, council members had to vote again, choosing between Pristash and Ackerman.

Pany and Coleman remained committed to Ackerman. Pristash received five votes, from McHale, Yurish, Lopsonzski Sr., Lopsonzski Jr. and Piescienski.

Mayor Thomas Reenock will administer the oath of office to Pristash, owner of All Things Framed on Main Street, next Thursday when he takes his seat on council. Pristash is employed by Queenship of Mary Church in a financial capacity.

"It shows people will step up to the challenge," Lopsonzski Sr. said of the five candidates vying for the council appointment.

"All make a good fit," said Yurish.