North Catasauqua Borough Councilman John Yanek says he is running for re-election because he feels it is the job of a citizen to keep his mouth open.

"When citizens, unfortunately, close their mouths and stop speaking out, mediocrity and complacency can abound," he says."I am really a very ordinary person, but democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people."

Yanek says he does not consider himself to be a politician, but a statesman.

"The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks of the next election, whereas a statesmen thinks of the next generation," he says. "That is what I am thinking about, the next generation and how to help continue to add to their quality of life in the borough. We must continue to make progress and take risks because progress always involves risks."

Some of these risks include implementing a recycling program, improving the borough sewer system and roads and attracting new businesses to the borough.

"You cannot steal second base and keep your foot on first base," he says. "I helped initiate the voluntary recycling program that has been a great success, and am attempting to secure a curbside recycling program through the garbage contract, at little to no cost to the taxpayers. I have begun the Junior Councilman Program that offers two North Catasauqua high school students the opportunity to be an active member of the borough council."

Yanek is a lifetime citizen of the Borough of North Catasauqua. He is married to Jackie (Jandres) and has a 13-year-old daughter, Jada. He has been a member of the borough recreation committee since 1989, serving as president for many of those years. He is an English, reading and learning-support teacher at Catasauqua High School.

"I have been a borough councilman for one term, but years do not come to be counted; they come to count," he says. "I will do everything in my power to make the upcoming years count, not in number only."

"When one door closes, another door opens; but sometimes some of us are often looking so long and so regretfully on the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. This door that I have opened by becoming elected in 2009, and hopefully being re-elected in 2013 can lead to many future successes."

"As we begin to lead this fine borough of ours into the second decade of the 21st century, let us remember that we all must work together or we will all fall together," he says. "Please give me the opportunity to continue the work I have started."