There are five candidates seeking seats on North Catasauqua Borough Council: Democrats John Joseph Yanek and Joseph T. Keglovits and Republicans Peter Paone III, Daniel R. Snyder and Michael Macsisak. Voters will choose four in the Nov. 2 election.

The candidates were asked to respond to the following question in 100 words or less:

What do you see as the most important issue for voters in this election?

JOSEPH T. KEGLOVITS

While COVID-19 is always on everyone’s mind, I believe that locally, in North Catasauqua, the economy is the important issue. With the cost of living and inflation rising, I believe the residents of North Catasauqua need to be assured that their local taxes remain low and do not increase. At the borough level, we need to watch every penny so that taxes do not have to be raised while we ensure that our residents receive the level of service they expect from the borough, whether it be from our police department, our fire department, our garbage collection or public works. While keeping taxes low or having no increase is only one aspect of everyone’s economic picture, every penny saved is currently a big deal and helps to stretch the household budget, especially with our borough senior citizens, and helps our borough businesses to thrive.

PETER PAONE III

The biggest issues I hear from residents focus on quality-of-life issues and our borough roads and the impact of large trucks. As a mostly residential community, it is important we maintain our park facilities and programs and expand recreation opportunities, such as the D&L trail. We’re completing improvements at the trailhead and on the trail itself. We hear complaints about heavy truck traffic coming from the FedEx facility, and we have tried to participate in a regional truck task force. We are currently in the midst of the River Central regional municipal planning process, and we hope this helps alleviate these issues moving forward.

I believe our borough has made significant improvements in a number of areas over the past several years, and I would ask for continued support to lead the borough through the work needed for further improvements over the next four years.

Yanek, Snyder and Macsisak did not respond.