Linda Snyder has announced her candidacy for reelection to the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners on the Democratic ticket in the primary election.

Snyder, in her sixth term, is currently board president.

"I am a lifelong resident of Whitehall Township and I have been active in the community for the past 30 years," she said. "I became a Commissioner to serve the people; and I am very pleased that, as president, I was able to create an 'open government' approach to our board meetings."

Saying the most trustworthy and reliable organizations function in an open environment, she quoted U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."

"As a public figure, I believe it is necessary to embrace criticism and suggestions from the residents and business owners. If reelected, I vow to work diligently in my next term to make Whitehall Township a better place for the residents and business owners," Snyder said.

Vacant buildings are among the items on her priority list, she said. Many of these buildings are falling into disrepair due to laws for new construction that cannot be made applicable to buildings nearly a century old.

The lack of flexibility provides no incentive to prospective new business owners, and turns these properties into an eyesore for the residents.

"It is the township's responsibility to work with the people and to provide solutions to these problems, not to refuse the development and ignore the issues," she said.