Democratic voters have the opportunity to vote for one of two candidates to receive the party's nomination for mayor of Coplay for a four-year term.

No one is running on the Republican ticket. Unless someone wages a write-in campaign, the election will be decided in the primary.

Joseph Bundra

Incumbent Joseph Bundra was appointed mayor in February 2012 to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor John Milander.

A lifelong Coplay resident, Bundra is a Navy veteran and an active member of the American Legion. He retired from PPL as a lineman leader after 35 years and is an active member of the facilities committee at St. Peter's.

Bundra has been involved with the Ironton Rail-Trail since its creation and has served as an IRT Oversight Comissioner. He has also served 10 years on council and said this experience in elected office will help him to become a more effective mayor.

"The mayor doesn't have much power," he said, adding the mayor's job is to communicate with the people about the issues and bring constituent feedback to council. Because Coplay is small, it's easier to communicate with people one on one, which is what he said he enjoys.

"As your current mayor, I have developed very good working relationships with civic leaders of all adjacent communities and municipalities," he said. "I have been recognized by Coplay organizations, adjacent communities and Coplay council for my community work and leadership over the past 17 years."

Frank Reichl

Challenger Frank Reichl was born in Coplay in 1952. He has lived in the Lehigh Valley all his life and returned to Coplay in 2000.

He recently retired from his job as a senior construction estimator, where he negotiated contracts in excess of $14 million. He said he is "skilled with numbers, procedures, contracts, budgets, codes and negotiation."

A graduate of Catasauqua High School, he serves as treasurer of Coplay Democratic Club and is a volunteer with the Brain Injury Prevention Fair. He is a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and the Lehigh Valley Legends Classic Car Club. He is former vice president of the Whitehall Jaycees and a member of the Coplay Town Watch.

Reichl said he wants to facilitate open government "in which we recognize potential problems before they become real problems, in which we get to facts in a nonconfrontational way and in which we remember that we are all stakeholders in this community. Mutual respect is needed as we move toward solutions."

He believes a needs assessment survey would be "a good first step" toward establishing the borough's priorities.

His goals include supporting Coplay's two town watch groups, making sure police, fire and public works departments are "second to none," taking care of the needy and senior citizens and making sure youth have enough positive things to do.