Lifelong Whitehall Township resident Ann Matsko-Freyman has announced her candidacy for Whitehall Township commissioner.

Freyman is a 1996 graduate of Whitehall High School. She later attended Lehigh Carbon Community College. Since graduating from LCCC, she has been employed by Fellowship Community for the last 19 years as a certified occupational therapy assistant.

She has been active in the Whitehall community for many years. She previously volunteered on the Whitehall Historical Preservation Society as secretary.

She currently serves as the deputy emergency management coordinator and has served on the Whitehall Township Planning Commission the past six years.

Freyman has also been actively involved with the Laurel Fire Company, serving as representative for the Cement Belt Fair.

She said she is running for commissioner because of her sense of civic duty. She said she believes it is time for a youthful voice to represent the community.

She attends nearly every workshop and regular meeting, resulting in a solid, working knowledge of township issues, she said.

Freyman sat through numerous budget meetings over the years. She believes the board needs to concentrate on moving the township forward.

She also believes there is a strong need for an emergency medical facility in the township and would like to see Whitehall invest more time and money into public safety.