2019 general election: Races in East Penn, Franklin highlight Lehighton area balloting

Of the six municipalities making up the Lehighton Area School District region, only two townships will have contested municipal races to be decided in the general election that will be held on Nov. 5.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in each of the 51 election precincts in the county.

The contested races will be in East Penn and Franklin townships, where two people each are seeking to win one position on each board of supervisors in those townships. Otherwise, there are no challenged races in Mahoning Township, nor Lehighton, Parryville or Weissport boroughs.

East Penn Township

Democrat Dennis L. Pearson and Republican Gary P. Kuehner are running for the six-year term on the East Penn Township Board of Supervisors that is up for grabs.

There is also a four-year term on the board to be filled by the electorate, although there are no candidates for the position. That’s the same situation with two auditors’ positions — for six-year and four-year terms — where there are no candidates.

Franklin Township

In Franklin, Democrat Jody Neifert and Republican Robin D. Cressley are running against each other for the six-year term of supervisor that is to be decided by the voters.

The only other office to be filled by the electorate in Franklin is a six-year term on the board of auditors, for which there are no candidates.

Mahoning Township

There is a shortage of candidates in Mahoning Township this time around. Two supervisors are slated to be selected by township voters, but the only candidate is Republican Robert Slaw.

There is also a two-year term on the supervisors’ board to be filled, with Democrat Nevin M. Frey being the only candidate.

There are no candidates in the township for a six-year term on the board of auditors that is to be decided.

Lehighton Borough

In Lehighton, four people are running for four four-year terms on the borough council.

They include Grant Hunsicker, whose name appears on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, Democrat William Rodweller and Republicans Darryl W. Arner and Lisa Perry.

Parryville Borough

There is only one candidate on the Parryville Borough ballot this year. Democrat Jason T. Smith is running for one of two four-year terms of office on the borough council that are to be filled.

Weissport Borough

Two Democrats are the lone candidates for two four-year terms on the Weissport Borough Council that are to be decided by the voters.

They are Linda Schoenberger and Arland F. Moyer Sr.