Editor's note: This is the first of three parts examining politics in Coplay. This article covers the tactics used in the 2013 primary election campaign. Next week's installment will look at politics regarding recent issues in Coplay. The final part will focus on the goals of Coplay's political factions.

It's time for the circus to get out of town, say three Coplay Borough councilmen.

To accomplish this, Charles Sodl, Lou Bodish and Steve Burker are calling for an end to the kind of politics that dominated the 2013 primary campaign.

In the May 21 primary, incumbents Sodl, Bodish and Burker, along with newcomer Carl Luckenbach, won the Democratic nomination for four open seats on council. They defeated challengers Beverly Miller, Sophie Kesselring and Jocelyn Wedge.

Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. had supported Miller, Wedge and Kesselring in hopes of ousting Sodl and Bodish. Burker received support from both sides.

During the recent campaign, numerous political flyers circulated, including one that addressed the issue of gender.

"For nearly the last five years, Coplay council has been run by all men," reads the flyer, advocating votes for Miller, Wedge and Kesselring. "In an era when the number of women elected to office has grown throughout the nation, Coplay has no women [on council]. We feel Coplay council needs some diversity, clearer thinking and better decision making."

Burker said gender should not have been made into an issue.

"I think that created a circus atmosphere," he said. "I want to be one of the people known for stopping the circus."

Burker said these kinds of political actions make it look like the people of Coplay can't get along.

"It's not fair to Coplay," he said.

"It doesn't matter if you're male or female," said Sodl.

Miller said she had some misgivings about the flyer.

"I wasn't really happy with it," she said, adding she let it go because the other information in it was correct.

Miller said Leiner wrote and distributed the flyer.

"To me [Leiner] is a true politician," she said. "He loves it. He sleeps it. He drinks politics."

Leiner would neither confirm nor deny he was behind the flyer.

"The election is over," he said. "The information in that flyer ... is accurate."

Bodish said that flyer included only "half the facts," however.

For example, the fourth point on the flyer addresses losses at the borough swimming pool.

"The councilmen have offered no plan to address this matter beyond installing vending machines," the flyer says.

Sodl brought up options for the pool concession stand at the May 7 council workshop. The options included both vending machines and outsourcing. Milander's Market has since signed a lease and began running the pool concession stand as an outside contractor.

The flyer also criticized council for losing $160,000 on a contract with Municipal Energy Managers Inc. The firm's principals were arrested in January on theft and related charges in connection with their alleged failure to complete the contracted street lighting work in Coplay.

Sodl and Bodish pointed out Whitehall Township also signed a contract with M.E.M. and the firm did the work as promised.

Bethlehem Township later pursued criminal charges against the firm when it did not complete the work there. Coplay was the second municipality to do so.

The theft is not a reflection on Coplay but rather on those arrested, Sodl and Bodish said.

Numerous other flyers also were circulated. Among them wa one created by the three incumbent councilmen, Luckenbach and incumbent Mayor Joseph Bundra.

"We came out with the facts, the whole facts," Bodish said.

"There are three members of borough council running in the race and all have demonstrated courage and leadership by tackling the tough issues," the flyer states. It goes on to give a one- or two-sentence synopsis of each candidate's accomplishments and qualifications.

"Their commitment to Coplay is unquestioned," says the flyer, which encourages everyone to vote. It says nothing, either positive or negative, about the challengers.

When you work as a group, Bodish said, everyone sits down, discusses what they want to say and makes sure it's right.

The Democrats have made their choice," Leiner said. "I have always respected the voters decision."

"You can't take politics out of elections. That's not going to work," said Miller. "Can it be nice politics instead of mean politics? Absolutely."