Lehigh County Commissioners' District 2 includes the Borough of Alburtis and the Townships of Lower Macungie, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie.

Republican Percy H. Dougherty and Democrat Susan Ellis Wild are each seeking election to the four-year term on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners for District 2.

For the pre-election stories, The Press asked the candidates in the Municipal Election the following question: Why should voters choose you in the Nov. 5 election?

Percy H. Dougherty

Voters should choose me because of my:

1) Experience: I am a retired professor (Ph.D., geology and geography). Environment and planning expertise. Past member of the County Charter Commission, LMT Planning Commission and state investigation groups; current member of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and many community organizations.

2) Leadership: I was commissioner chair six times, past chair of Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, past president of County Commissioners of Pennsylvania.

3) Results: I have a proven track record in cutting spending, preserving farmland/open space, and instituting computer mapping that saved millions.

Rather than raising taxes, I encourage economic development to increase our tax base and increase employment.

Susan Ellis Wild

In recent months, our county government has been paralyzed, much as Congress has, by partisan politics.

It is time to change that. I am an independent thinker who is not beholden to any person, group or ideology.

I am a strong negotiator and advocate by virtue of my profession. I would work to be a leader among the commissioners, and would work hard to build consensus that would enable the board to get things done and solve problems.

Our county government needs to work collectively and cooperatively to serve the citizens of Lehigh County, and that would be my aim.