2019 primary election: Supervisors, auditors to be elected on Carbon townships

Supervisor and auditor positions in the 11 townships in Carbon County will be filled by the electorate in 2019.

Some townships will have contested races in both the primary and general elections, whereas in some townships there will be no races this year.

Here’s a look at what positions are available and who is running for them, according to the filing of petitions in the Carbon County Elections Bureau.

Banks Township

There six-year terms on the board of supervisors and the board of auditors that are up for grabs.

In the supervisors’ race, one candidate on each party is unopposed in the primary, and they will meet head-to-head on Nov. 5. They include Democrat William J. Nice, Tresckow, and Republican Richard P. Hornick Sr., Tresckow.

The lone auditor candidate is Democrat Mary Beth Pelley, Tresckow.

East Penn Township

Positions to be decided this year include a six-year term and a four-year term on the board of supervisors and three auditors’ positions, for terms of two, four and six years.

There will not be any primary election challenges, as the only candidates to file in the township will be unopposed in May. They include Democrat Dennis L. Pearson, Lehighton, and Republican Gary P. Kuehner, Lehighton. They will meet each other in the general election on Nov. 5 while the other positions will be without candidates.

Franklin Township

Township voters are slated to elect one person to a six-year term on the board of supervisors and one person to fill a six-year term on the board of auditors.

There will be a contest in the Republican primary balloting as two candidates are seeking the nomination for the supervisors’ post. They are Robin D. Cressley, Lehighton, and Aldo Boni, Lehighton. The winner of that race will go up against Democrat Jody Neifert, Lehighton.

There are no candidates for the auditor’s position.

Kidder Township

In Kidder, the voters will fill a six-year term and a four-year term on the board of supervisors, as well as a six-year post on the board of auditors.

There will be one primary election race in the balloting for the four-year term on the board of supervisors. That is on the GOP ballot where the candidates are Thomas Bing LaFond, Lake Harmony, and Stephen D. Lilick, Albrightsville.

LaFond is also a GOP candidate for the six-year term on the board and is unopposed.

There are no candidates for the auditor’s position, nor are there any Democratic candidates on the Kidder ballot.

Lausanne Township

One supervisor’s position and one auditor’s post, both for six-year terms, will be filled this year by the electorate in the township.

There is only one candidate on the ballot, that being Democrat Edward Klynowsky, Weatherly, who is seeking the six-year term as supervisor.

Lehigh Township

Lehigh Township’s situation is similar to that of Lausanne’s, as there is only one candidate on the ballot. He is Wayne Wagner, Weatherly, who is seeking the Republican nomination for a six-year term on the board of supervisors.

The voters are also scheduled to fill two positions on the board of auditors, for terms of two and six years, however, there are no candidates for the positions.

Lower Towamensing Township

A primary election race between two Democrats running for one six-year term on the board of supervisors is the only race in Lower Towamensing.

Seeking that nomination are Ronald A. Walbert, Palmerton, and Connie D. Brown, Palmerton.

There are no candidates for the six-year term on the board of auditors that is also up for grabs this year.

Mahoning Township

Voters in Mahoning Township are supposed to elect two people to serve six-year terms on the township’s board of supervisors and one person to take the six-year term on the board of auditors.

There is only one candidate in the entire township, that being Republican Robert Slaw, Lehighton, who is seeking the nomination for one of the two supervisors’ posts.

Packer Township

All three positions on the township’s board of supervisors are to be determined by balloting this year. They are for terms of two, four and six years. Voters are also slated to elect someone to serve a six-year term on the board of auditors.

In the supervisors’ races, two people are running for the six-year term and are unopposed within their respective parties. They are Democrat Paul W. Bray, Weatherly, and Republican Robert B. Selert, Weatherly. The two will square off on Nov. 5 to decide that position.

There is only one other candidate in Packer. He is Republican Terry Davis, Weatherly, who is seeking his party’s nomination for the four-year term on the board of supervisors.

Penn Forest Township

Two Democrats and two Republicans are running for two six-year terms on the township’s board of supervisors.

They will be unopposed in May but the four will go head-to-head for the two seats on Nov. 5. They are Democrats Sherry Knappenberger, Jim Thorpe, and Roger L. Meckes, Jim Thorpe, and Republicans Christian Bartulovich, Jim Thorpe, and Scott Lignore, Jim Thorpe.

Township voters are also scheduled to elect two people to serve on the board of auditors, for terms of two and six years, however, there are no candidates.

Towamensing Township

The only two candidates on the Towamensing ballots appear to be unopposed. Voters are slated to fill two positions on the board of supervisors, for terms of two and six years, as well as a six-year term on the board of auditors.

The only candidates are Democrats Michael S. George, Lehighton, who is seeking the nomination for the six-year term, and William Acierno, Lehighton, who is aspiring to the nomination for the two-year term.