Kenneth P. Stephens Jr. has announced his candidacy for the upcoming magisterial district judge race in the 31-1-07 Judicial District, which encompasses Whitehall Township and the Borough of Coplay.

Stephens was born in Allentown in 1964. He graduated from William Allen High School in 1982 and Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in 1986.

He has lived in Whitehall since 1990 with his wife, Donna, and their three children, Zachary, Dylan and Taylor.

He has served with Whitehall Township Police Department for 29 years. In his time with the police department, he has served as a team leader for the emergency response teams for both Whitehall and Lehigh County.

In addition, he has also served as a motor carrier safety officer, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) officer and school resource officer for Whitehall-Coplay School District.

He has received two medal of honor commendations for action above and beyond the call of duty.

Just recently, he has become a field training officer for new officers and joined the newly installed Blue Guardian program in Lehigh County, a program where a police officer and an addiction recovery specialist will make a house call to a person who recently suffered an overdose.

In the community, he has served as the president of and a baseball coach for Schadt Avenue Park, Playground, Athletic and Recreation Association, a softball coach for Coplay Sports and a football coach for the Whitehall-Coplay Middle School team.

Stephens has been committed to service for 29 years with Whitehall Township Police Department and wishes to continue his service to the Whitehall-Coplay community by serving as magisterial district justice.