Norma Cusick, of Salisbury Township, has announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to the Board of Lehigh County Commissioners in District 5.

"I accept the proposition that the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners has a duty and a responsibility to the residents of Lehigh County to be vigilant with their tax dollars," Cusick said. "However, it is my firm position that this responsibility is inextricably linked to the maintenance and whenever possible, the enhancement of the quality of life for the residents of Lehigh County. Another way of saying this is that this governing body should not diminish or compromise the quality of life in Lehigh County."

Cusick was elected twice to the Salisbury Township School Board, served on the Salisbury Township Planning Commission and served as an elected Salisbury Township Commissioner.

As a commissioner in Salisbury, Cusick never voted for a tax increase and voted for a balanced budget every year.

While on the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners she worked with and supported the policies of the Environmental Advisory Council.

"In 2002 Lehigh County citizens voted by a 2-1 margin for establishing a Green Futures Fund, the objective of this policy was clear. It was to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Lehigh County. The vote of the people expressed unambiguously and clearly what they wanted."

Cusick is currently a Republican committee person in Salisbury Township 3rd Ward.

Cusick is currently on the board of directors of the Allentown Public Library and the Lehigh County Authority. She has participated with and served on the board of several community organizations, including the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the Child Advocacy Center and Lehigh Valley Hospital Associates. She was president of the Lehigh County Sports Fields.

Over the past two decades, Cusick has volunteered for many nonprofit organizations in the Lehigh Valley and she understands the value of Community Development Block Grants and Quality of Life Grants.

After attending several meetings of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, Cusick said she was very disappointed and very dissatisfied with the performance of the Commissioner from District 5. She believes that a commissioner needs to listen to, speak for and act in support of the municipalities within the district represented.

"It has become apparent to me that within his brief tenure of appointment he has not demonstrated the level of support that I feel is necessary. The currently appointed, interim commissioner is not acting in the best interests of the people in the district," Cusick said.

When it became evident the appointed commissioner had not gained the trust and confidence of the residents in the municipalities that he was supposed to represent, Cusick decided to seek election for the District 5 seat at the urging and request of friends and constituents. In addition to controlling spending and managing the cost of county government, Cusick wants to improve county infrastructure and cultivate a business/job friendly environment in Lehigh County. Budget reductions should be targeted and specific not vague or indiscriminate. Cusick will be an independent common sense conservative voice not a rigid ideologue.

She advocates regional land-use planning with emphasis on preserving farmland and improving parks and recreation.

Cusick will bring her experience as a locally elected official and her extensive community involvement, along with her enthusiasm and energy, to earn the trust and support and better represent the people of District 5 as commissioner of Lehigh County.

Cusick completed her undergraduate degree at DeSales University, her master's degree at Kutztown University and she holds a paralegal certificate from LCCC. She is married to Dr. Richard J. Cusick and they have nine children.

District 5 includes Allentown (Ward 12, Ward 13 Districts 3 and 4), Coopersburg, Emmaus, Lower Milford, Macungie, Salisbury, Upper Milford and Upper Saucon.