Editor’s note: All local candidates were invited to respond to specific questions.

STATEWIDE

Judge - Supreme Court

Vote for one

10-year term

D – Maria McLaughlin

R – Kevin Brobson

Judge - Superior Court

Vote for one

10-year-term

D – Timika Lane

R – Megan Sullivan

Judge - Commonwealth Court

Vote for two

10-year term

D – Lori A. Dumas

D – David Lee Spurgeon

R – Stacy Marie Wallace

R – Drew Crompton

Retention - State courts

Shall John T Bender be retained for an additional term as Judge of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

Shall Mary Jane Bowes be retained for an additional term as Judge of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

Shall Anne Covey be retained for an additional term as Judge of the Commonwealth Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

Shall Renee Cohn Jubelirer be retained for an additional term as Judge of the Commonwealth Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

LEHIGH COUNTY

County executive

Q: Should Lehigh County have a health bureau to handle the next pandemic?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Phillips M. Armstrong: Public health and safety are critical concerns for me. I have worked with the county’s Emergency Management Agency to perform services between the commonwealth and local citizens. Although the pandemic has roared through our county, efforts have been consistent with Pennsylvania Department of Health best practices.

For the future, I am working with county commissioners to evaluate a long-term strategy for a county public health bureau. We have a cross-functional team dedicated to review needs, expenses and benefits of a local health bureau. Results of our study will be available later this year.

Public safety and security remain my largest foundational concerns going forward.

R – Glenn Eckhart: If the hospitals in Lehigh County are willing to pay for it and run it, the answer is yes. Hospitals are nonprofits, not paying property taxes and range profits between $40,000,000 and $100,000,000. They are in the business of saving lives, it’s their job.

If county taxpayers are going to pay for it, the answer is no. Lehigh County does not have the experience nor the millions of dollars to finance it.

Cedarbrook nursing homes had the second highest death toll of COVID-19 patients in Pennsylvania. This is not a good record to start with and in believing we could run a health bureau.

County commissioners

Vote for one in each district

4-year term

District 3

D – Zachary Cole Borghi

R – Jacqueline Rivera

Judge Court of Common Pleas

Q: What methods would you employ to keep your personal biases out of your decisions?

Vote for three

10-year term

D - Zachary Cohen: To leave bias aside, it’s essential that a judge remain open-minded, listen, not rush and strive to learn from others. What helps me leave personal bias aside are the perspectives I’ve gained from volunteering to help those in need, and fortunately, having a robust and diverse group of friends, colleagues, and peers in Lehigh County who come from all walks of life. They’ve taught me over and over that being judgmental gets you nowhere fast, and if you want to make good decisions that positively impact others, you need to be fair to everyone, which is what I pledge to do.

D - Rashid Santiago: As a Magisterial District Judge for the past eight years, I have been trained and conditioned to detach personal biases and emotions from the legal rulings that I make and apply the law to the facts of each case. I truly believe that this is a skill that is developed over time and I am eager to bring my experience to the Court of Common Pleas. Additionally, I vow to continue to undergo implicit bias training and continuing education opportunities to help eliminate personal biases and thus contribute to maintaining the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.

D - Maraleen Shields: In my years of experience working with organizations and practitioners focused on combating unconscious bias, I have learned it is vital to recognize that each and every person has personal biases. Those unwilling to recognize their personal biases cannot possibly address them. It is important to remain humble enough to listen to all participants with an open mind and make considered decisions based on the law and facts of the case at hand. These are intentional acts that require a constant willingness to monitor one’s own behavior and decision-making. I am and have been committed to this work.

R - Tom Caffrey: Every person, regardless of background, brings certain predispositions to whatever they choose to do in life. However, a judge is required to administer equal justice under the law, and therefore, cannot allow his or her predispositions to affect judicial decision-making. I do not believe that this is an issue that lends itself to a particular methodology. Instead, I think it is a matter of making a daily commitment to the principle that cases must be decided based on nothing more than the facts and law, and the principle that everyone needs to be treated respectfully and impartially.

R -Tom Capehart: After more than 30 years of working in a vast array of the law, I have a very simple rule I would apply: follow the law and legal precedent.

The fact is following this rule will ensure that any bias – be it mine or anyone else’s – will not enter decision-making. This is because the Court of Common Pleas is not where new law is made; it is where settled law is applied.

Beyond that, I would, of course, follow judicial guidelines for recusing myself from any case in which my impartiality could be reasonably questioned or a conflict-of-interest exists.

R - David Ritter: To keep my personal biases out of courtroom decisions, I will rely upon my experiences of going into the Lehigh County Jail more than 1,000 times during my career to represent individuals. I will always remember dealing with people at the lowest point in their life: the point where they had lost their freedom. I will use those encounters as my guide for treating all people with dignity and respect. I will then humbly do my best to apply the law as written to all people who come before me, regardless of their condition, race or creed.

Magisterial District Judge

Q: How will you keep your personal biases out of your decisions?

31-1-06

Vote for one

6-year term

D – Amy Zanelli

R – Van Scott Sr.: Preventing personal bias is to, first, admit it exists and to be determined everyone, regardless of race; religion; socio-economic status; age; gender; gender identity; and sexual orientation, is deserving of the same “independent, fair, impartial, and competent” treatment outlined in judiciary standards of conduct. My job is to apply Commonwealth laws and treat everyone with the dignity. Being raised by a single mom and of Hispanic descent, I know what it feels like to have people make assumptions and to think you’re not going to get a fair shake. My early experiences influenced me in my law enforcement career. As a school resource officer, I worked with the court to create teachable moments for students like supervising students who littered as they cleaned up the neighborhood on Saturday mornings. New to politics, unlike others, I am beholding only to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, those I serve, and my conscience.

FOUNTAIN HILL

Mayor

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Michael Johnson

INA – Carolee Gifford

Borough council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for four

4-year term

D – Erica Graham

D – Will Rufe

D/R – Norman E. Blatt Jr

R – Philip Trabel

Tax collector

4-year term

D – Thomas J. Redding Jr.

NORTHAMPTON

COUNTY

County executive

Q: How well do you think the county has handled the pandemic?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Lamont G. McClure: There isn’t a day that goes that I don’t think of the people who died or lost their due to the federal government’s failures early in the crisis, but Northampton County has been fighting to crush the pandemic. We immediately secured as much personal protective equipment and testing kits for Gracedale and the prison as we could and shared it with our municipalities. When there wasn’t enough testing capacity, we formed a collaborative with the former Easton Hospital, and later with Coordinated Health/LVHN to continue testing. We knew COVID-19 was causing economic damage, so we partnered with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to throw a lifeline to small businesses. We created an innovative small business grant program that has helped well over 1,000 Northampton County small businesses with $25 million of pandemic relief. We helped our small businesses survive, so that they might thrive on the other side.

R – Steve Lynch

County council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the county?

Vote for five

4-year term

D – Tara Zrinski

D – Lori Vargo Heffner: I believe the greatest challenge facing the county is how to move beyond the pandemic. While we have worked diligently to protect the most vulnerable of our citizens, provide access to vaccines and testing, provide economic support to small businesses, and maintain a strong fiscal balance, we still need to support the mental health and resilience of our citizens. Many are hyper focused on divisions and not solutions. The county is the core for many services, and we need to ensure that our residents have access to them. While federal and state funds are available now, they are not guaranteed in the future. We need to collaborate with our state legislators to make sure support is available for the young, the elderly, veterans, mentally ill, drug addicted, and abused. We need to take a leadership role in the access and delivery of these services and collaborate creatively with healthcare and community leaders to identify gaps in any area. A healthy Northampton is vital to future growth.

D- Patti Bruno

D – Ronald R. Heckman: I believe the biggest challenge facing our county is its changing nature. The proliferation of mega-warehouses throughout the county has made us a hub for distribution and trucking operations. The volume of large truck traffic and loss of open space is a challenge we have and must continue to confront. This warehouse proliferation contributes to water runoff problems, sinkhole problems and roadway deterioration. As a safeguard against these issues, the county is actively purchasing land in the form of protected farmland and passive green fields. We must keep Northampton County an inviting place to live and work.

D – William McGee

R – John Brown

R – JohnP. Goffredo: I believe the biggest challenge the county faces is Gracedale. Between the understaffing and the debt it is incurring, turning Gracedale around and supporting the staff will be a major focus if I am elected.

R – Kristin Lorah Soldridge

R – Nicole Romanishan

R – Annmarie T. Robertone

Magisterial District Judge

Q: How will you keep your personal biases out of your decisions?

03-2-01

6-year term

D/R – Roy A. Manwaring

03-2-03

Vote for one

6-year term

D – Sandra L. McClore

R – Andrew Tupone

03-2-10

6-year term

D/R – Jordan Knisley

CITY OF BETHLEHEM

Mayor

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – J. Williams Reynolds: We must continue to focus on Bethlehem’s recovery from the pandemic. The past year has upended our community in many ways. We can and will emerge as a stronger and more vibrant city. Since Bethlehem Steel closed over two decades ago, we have rebuilt our city and we will continue the economic revitalization that has come to define Bethlehem. We also will increase investment in our downtown commercial areas, our neighborhoods, and our community organizations that define who we are. Prioritizing affordable housing, expanding economic opportunities for all of our residents, and improving our already high quality of life are also vital if we want to emerge from the pandemic an even stronger city.

R – John Kachmar: It is never one issue, but city finances and future tax increases are a very important challenge. City leadership has been less than open concerning financial issues. The city has raised property taxes three out of the four last years, and is estimating a 7.1 percent tax increase for 2022 [as of the Sept. 28 council meeting). The city raised property taxes 5 percent this year, created a $3 million new stormwater fee [that affects all residents] and raised water rates 8 percent, all during a pandemic. I have a track record of submitting 28 local government budgets for cities and counties in four states; Twenty-two of those budgets had no tax increases, five budgets lowered tax rates, and only one of the budgets had a tax increase. I believe I can help my hometown weather uncertain financial times without reducing services, especially public safety, engaging in layoffs or increasing taxes.

City council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for four

2-year term

D – Grace Crampsie Smith

D – Kiera Wilhelm

D – Hillary G. Kwiatek

D – Rachel Leon

City controller

4-year term

D – George Yasso

BETHLEHEM

TOWNSHIP

Commissioner

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your township?

Second ward

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Jan Beatty

R – Steven Greco

Fourth ward

4-year term

R – John Merhottein

Constable at large

Vote for two

6-year term

D – Anthony Ortwein

D – Richard Seeds

R – John F. Gallagher

R – Shawn E. Fariello

FREEMANSBURG

Mayor

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

4-year term

D – Gerald Yob

Council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for three

4-year term

D – Margaret Reichard

D – Charles W. Derr

D – Rudolph Gallich

Tax collector

4-year term

D – Davina K. Gallich

Constable

6-year term

D – Jose D. Garcia?

HANOVER TOWNSHIP

Supervisor

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your township?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Jean E. Versteeg

R – Mike Prendeville

Auditor

6-year term

D – Kevin R. Happ

Tax collector

Q: Why are you running for tax collector?

Vote for one

4-year term

D – Joan Steinberg

R – John Finnigan: It has been my privilege to serve the residents of the township [as tax collector] for the past 16 years. I pledge to continue the outsourcing of our real estate collection to a professional organization that provides first class collections, documentation, and financial reviews on an annual basis. I pride myself on being honest, ethical, and hardworking. Leadership rises to the top. I currently serve as the Chairman of the Northampton Tax Collection Committee; elected by my peers. I’m the president of a youth hockey organization with 6,000 + players participating; elected by the membership. I serve on the board of directors of USA Hockey and the Atlantic District of USA Hockey; elected by membership. I respectfully ask the residents of Hanover to consider my candidacy when they vote Nov. 2.

HELLERTOWN

Mayor

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

4-year term

D/R – David J. Heintzelman

Council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for four

4-year term

D/R – Matt Marcincin

D/R – Thomas J. Rieger

D – Gil Stauffer: From my perspective, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the community of Hellertown is “Traffic!” However, we have made great strides in making Main Street (Route 412) more manageable for residents and visitors alike with the on-going installation of Pedestrian friendly and strategically placed crosswalks with appropriate flashing signals. The impact of increased traffic is seriously considered as a part of every new project presented to not only Borough Council, but also Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board.

D – Theresa Fadem: The biggest challenge facing Hellertown Borough is protecting our public health and keeping our town a safe and prosperous community for raising families. Our residents deserve balanced budgets with little or no tax increases, transparency, and sound fiscal management. There should be inclusive and affordable housing without sacrificing our special small-town feel. We cannot support new construction and land development with the sole purpose of increasing tax revenue when it could be potentially detrimental to the community in the long run. The thing we need to be focusing on is listening to what the entire community wants with regard to housing. Do we want increased single-family housing on what little land there is left, or an oversupply of generic multi-family homes? Our focus must be creating new places by building vibrant, enduring housing in a community that people don’t want to leave: Our “Forever Homes.

R – Andrew Hughes: The biggest challenge facing Hellertown Borough is one that most people are not yet aware of – borough employee’s healthcare costs. [These costs] have increased an average of 8 percent annually over the previous three years and we are bracing for an even more substantial increase this budget cycle. We are also expecting those costs to consume between 20 and 25 percent of the overall 2022 operating budget. Matters are compounded by revenue limitations as Hellertown’s millage rate is already the second highest in Northampton County, coupled with a currently unfunded long-term contractual retiree healthcare obligations in excess of $4 million or nearly 100 percent of the annual budget. While this is a national problem and needs a national solution, in the near-term council needs to navigate these financial waters to provide adequate coverage for employees without crushing property tax increases on our citizens.

R – James W. Hill

Council

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the city/borough?

Vote for one

2-year term

D – Joseph V. Pampanin Jr.

R – Andrew Hughes

BETHLEHEM SCHOOL DISTRICT

School director at large

Q: Should COVID vaccination be required for students and staff when the vaccines are formally approved by the FDA?

Vote for three

4-year term

D/R – Michael E. Faccinetto

D – Silagh White

D /R – Shannon L. Patrick

R – Manuel F. Pangaio

School director region 1

4-year term

D – Winston C. Alozie

SAUCON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

School director at large

Q: Should COVID vaccination be required for students and staff when the vaccines are formally approved by the FDA?

Vote for four

4-year term

D – Vivan A. Demko: As the COVID vaccinations are receiving FDA approval, it is not surprising this question has come to light. The vaccinations required for students are not determined by the School Board, thus this requirement would need to be made by the PA School Code.

PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) has indicated 85 - 90% of teachers have already been vaccinated. This group also encourages teachers who are able, get vaccinated. I would be in support of working with the groups representing our school employees to implement an effective plan for mandating vaccines for our school employees. It’s vital to keep our students and staff as safe as possible.

D/R – Tracy Magnotta: I do not believe school boards should be able to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students. This is a decision that parents should be making in conjunction with advice from their physician based upon their individual circumstances. The vaccinations are new and not without risk to children and local school boards should not be stepping into the role of parent or doctor in this situation.

D – Raquel Barbera

D - Robert Phillips: Vaccinations for employees should be negotiated and not demanded. I’m confident school directors will be able to reach agreement with faculty and staff for either vaccination (many already are) or routine testing. (This approach is in line with emerging national norms balancing public health with personal choice.) Student vaccine requirements are determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. I support following Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines for student vaccination requirements.

R – Shamin Pakzad: No statement. (Simply did not wish to address it)

R – John A. Conte

R – Cedric Dettmar: No statement. (Dettmar called the question “too hypothetical”)