Running for a four-year open seat on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners in District I are Democrat Bill Leiner Jr. and Republican Thomas C. Creighton III.

District 1 includes the Boroughs of Coplay and Slatington, and the Townships of Heidelberg, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, Washington, Weisenberg and Whitehall.

The candidates were asked by The Press to respond to the question "Why should voters choose you?"

Their responses are as follows:

Thomas Creighton

As a Lynn Township supervisor, I was able to cut the real-estate tax by 23 percent.

Last year, as a Lehigh County commissioner, we were able to cut $3.5 million out of the county budget and lowered the county tax rate by 2.75 percent.

As Lehigh County commissioner, I will continue to work to reduce the size of government.

Thomas Jefferson said it best: 'The best government is the government that governs the least.'

Bill Leiner Jr.

My opponent four years ago promised he had a plan to balance the county's budget. He pledged not to raise taxes, raid the county' s rainy day fund, and not accept a raise while in office. His record is: he voted to raise taxes twice within four years; raided the county's rainy day fund; there was no plan to balance the county's budget and in 2012 he secretly contacted the board chair to take a pay raise. Promises made; promises broken.

"We have a clear choice between honesty and less honesty. I respectfully ask voters to elect me because of my proven record of frugality with taxes. I never voted to raise taxes in my 16 years as an elected official.

The only Coplay mayor to tie break a vote to defeat a tax hike, and the only Coplay mayor to veto a council budget that contained a tax hike.

A strong advocate for business development, and safety in Lehigh County, I also am a strong advocate for open, honest government. Promises made; promises kept.