Ed Kutz has announced his candidacy for a seat on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners.

A graduate of Catasauqua High School and Fork Union Military Academy, he received an associate's degree in applied science from Lehigh Carbon Community College, where he majored in business management. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa national honor fraternity.

Kutz retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation after 35 years of service. He had also been an assistant highway maintenance manager and district traffic control pavement marking manager. He received the Star of Excellence Award and the Serious Commitment Team Award from Quality Valley USA.

If elected, Kutz said he will support road maintenance in general and resurfacing residential roads in particular; economic growth and revitalization of distressed areas; senior citizen housing and over-55 communities; public safety and police and fire departments; recreations, including the township's parks, playgrounds and rails to trails; and open space, stressing that he will not support rezoning any land to benefit developers.

"I will keep taxes as low as possible without jeopardizing the excellent services Whitehall provides," Kutz said.

He and his wife, Maria, have lived in Whitehall for 29 years. Their children are graduates of Whitehall High School.

His community involvement includes acting as head coach for the Whitehall High School wrestling program; starting junior high school and midget wrestling teams, with the help of the athletic director; serving as head coach for the Hokendauqua Athletic Association's midget wrestling team; and running fishing derbies for children at the Hokendauqua Playground.

"It would be my privilege to serve Whitehall Township residents," Kutz said. "I have the experience and knowledge in government to serve the best interest of our citizens."