Five candidates have filed nominating petitions declaring their candidacy for Whitehall Township commissioner.

The candidates are Linda Snyder, Paul Geissinger, Thomas Slonaker, Jerry Palagonia and Barry Walakovits, according to the Lehigh County Board of Elections.

The five candidates are each running for three open seats that involve a four-year term. In addition, Snyder, Geissinger and Slonaker are on the ballot for one open seat for a two-year term. Whoever is elected will join the seven-member board.

All are Democrats.

Four of the candidates – Snyder, Geissinger, Slonaker and Palagonia – are incumbents and Walakovits is a former appointed township commissioner.

The two-year slot seat is available because of the death of Bruce Brinker, who died shortly after taking office. After Brinker's death, the Board of Commissioners selected Thomas Slonaker to fill the two-year seat. Slonaker is a former township commissioner, township treasurer and Lehigh County controller.

Township Treasurer Diane Hunsicker is unopposed in her reelection bid for a four-year term. Because of a change in state law, the office is listed as "tax collector" on the ballot, although the duties of the office have not changed.