Nine candidates apply for one open spot

A Carbon Career and Technical Institute health and medical assistant has added her name to the list of petitioners seeking the final slot on a deadlocked Lehighton Area School District board of directors.

Autumn Frey, who filed her petition with Carbon County court on Jan. 10, became the ninth person to throw her name in the ring for the vacancy.

The opening was created Dec. 4 when Gail Maholick chose a four-year term on the board over a two-year term after winning two seats in the 2017 general election.

President Judge Roger Nanovic has set a hearing for Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. to hear from the individuals interested in the board seat.

Others who have submitted petitions to the court are Richard Beltz Sr., Francis Flickinger, Gloria J. Bowman, Duane Eidem, David Krause, Rita L. Spinelli, Timothy M. Wagner and Nathan Foeller.

Lehighton’s remaining eight board members had 30 days to try filling the vacancy on their own before the court accepted petitions.

Of the applicants, Beltz, Flickinger, Bowman, Eidem and Krause ran, but fell short, in the 2017 election.

Remaining board members deadlocked 4-4 on the appointment of Beltz Sr. Directors Larry Stern, Wayne Wentz, Andrew Yenser and Steve Holland opposed the appointment, while Maholick, Joy Beers, David Bradley Sr. and Richard Beltz Jr. were in favor.

A motion to appoint Eidem never got to an official vote as Lehighton twice recessed its annual reorganization meeting in December.