Former councilman, mayor appointed as newest member of Lehighton council

A former borough councilman who also served as mayor has been pegged to fill an open seat on Lehighton Borough Council.

On a 4-2 vote on Monday, borough council agreed to appoint Donnie Rehrig to the vacancy after six candidates were interviewed.

Other candidates who vied for the opening were Mark Hoffman, Scott Rehrig, Bill Rodweller, Rebecca Worthy and John Bird.

Of those, Hoffman, Donnie Rehrig and Scott Rehrig — in that order — gained nominations for the vacant seat.

A roll-call vote to appoint Hoffman failed 4-2, with council members Autumn Abelovsky, Joe Flickinger, Darryl Arner and council President Grant Hunsicker opposed, and council members Ryan Saunders and Lisa Perry in favor.

Afterward, a roll-call vote to appoint Donnie Rehrig passed after Abelovsky, Flickinger, Saunders and Perry voted in favor, with Arner and Hunsicker opposed.

Since Donnie Rehrig was appointed by a majority vote, a roll-call vote was never taken for Scott Rehrig.

Donnie Rehrig, who was sworn in by Mayor Clark Ritter and then took his seat on council, expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for your vote of confidence,” he said.

Beforehand, each of the candidates were asked to answer the same three questions: How each individual has been involved in the borough; what project they would choose to spend money on if the borough had unlimited funds; and why they believed they would be a good representative for the residents and employees of the borough.

Donnie Rehrig previously served 16 years as a borough councilman and eight years as mayor.

He replaces former Councilman Jared McEvoy, who resigned last month because he planned to relocate.

Council on Monday accepted McEvoy’s resignation.

McEvoy had served on council since January 2016.