Susan Ellis Wild, a partner with the law firm Gross McGinley, has entered the race for Lehigh County commissioner of District 2.

The district is comprised of South Whitehall, Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie townships, and Alburtis.

"I'm running because the people of Lehigh County's 2nd District deserve a commissioner who will address the issues and problems they face on a daily basis; a commissioner who will advocate and negotiate tirelessly on their behalf, so we will continue to grow and prosper and address the challenges that come our way," Wild said. "Advocacy and negotiation is what I've done for my clients for 30 years, and I am committed to bringing the same persistence and hard work to the board of commissioners."

A long-time South Whitehall resident, Wild graduated with honors from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC., in 1982, and has been a lawyer in the Lehigh Valley since

She is a board-certified civil trial advocate, and was elected by her peers as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

She is a past president of the Bar Association of Lehigh County and a past president of Women Lawyers of the Lehigh Valley.

For many years, she was active in parent-teacher organizations in the Parkland School District.

She is also a member of the Board of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

"Given the challenges we face from budgeting to smart growth to how best to tackle the water-sewer issue it is clear that we cannot let unbridled ideology overtake common sense," she said. "We must work diligently to view, analyze and act on issues facing the county through the prism of what's best for each and every one of our residents."

Wild says to make a difference in the lives of its citizenry, county government must be efficiently managed and transparent in its actions.

She says she is committed to putting her stellar management and negotiation skills to good use serving the residents of District 2.

The mother of two, Clay, 20, and Addie, 17, Wild has co-authored or edited several books on legal topics of interest to the lay public, including Webster's New World Law Dictionary (Wiley Publishing 2006), and U.S. Constitution for Dummies, (Wiley Publishing 2009).

Wild is a self-described "military brat" who lived in many places around the United States and overseas with her parents and sister while growing up.

"Lehigh County is where my children were born and raised, and where I have established my professional and personal life," Wild said. "I have lived here longer than I have ever lived anywhere, and this will always be my home.

"I fully believe we must continue to provide a good education for future generations, that we must support smart growth that minimizes sprawl and that we must invest smartly in our crumbling infrastructure.

"As commissioner of District 2, I will be committed to making our community an even better place to live than it is now."