Coplay Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. is looking for bigger fish to fry.

Last week, Leiner announced his intention to run for Lehigh County Commissioner.

"Because it's District I, I'll have the capability to stay very plugged into Coplay," he said. In fact, he said, he plans to regularly attend Coplay council meetings, even if he wins the commissioners seat.

District I includes both Whitehall Township and Coplay Borough. It also includes Slatington Borough and the townships of North Whitehall, Lynn, Heidelberg and Lowhill.

At this time Leiner has no opponent in the May primary. He will face incumbent Tom Creighton in November.

Leiner served as Coplay mayor from 1998 until 2007. He then won an at-large seat as a Lehigh County Commissioner, serving from 2008 until 2010, when his employment took him out of state. He returned to the area to win a seat on Coplay Borough Council.

Since returning to the area, Leiner has frequently expressed interest in becoming mayor again. When former Mayor John Milander resigned, Leiner sought appointment. He withdrew his application just before council was to make its decision at a special meeting Jan. 25, 2012. Council then appointed Joseph Bundra.

Leiner had said earlier this year, he would run for mayor in 2013.

He said he changed his mind and opted to seek a spot as commissioner because a number of people have expressed interest in running for office in Coplay. So far, no one has formally announced candidacy, however.

"I know of a solid potential candidate, interested in mayor, who will serve the community very well," he said. He did not name the person because the person has not formally announced his candidacy.

Bundra said he was not surprised Leiner is recruiting candidates.

"He's always done that in the past," Bundra said, acknowledging it was Leiner who initially got him interested in politics.

Leiner had strong criticism for his Coplay colleagues.

"In Coplay Borough Council's case, there clearly needs to be change," Leiner said.

Last fall, council members admitted to holding committee meetings behind closed doors, despite a potential violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Leiner spoke out against the practice.

Solicitor James Preston defended council's right to hold "information gathering" sessions without deliberation behind closed doors. However, council reduced the number of committees from 15 to five. In addition, public meetings now include some discussion and sometimes last longer than an hour. Meetings had averaged about 20 minutes previously.

In 2013, several seats on council will be up for grabs. The terms of council President Lou Bodish and councilmen Joseph Groller, Michael Mazur and Charles Sodl all expire at the end of the year.

"I plan to work for change in Coplay by supporting change candidates," Leiner said.

Bodish, Groller, Mazur and Coplay Councilmen Matt Recker and David Royer did not return phone calls Tuesday asking for comment.

"I wish him good luck," said Sodl.