2019 primary election Northampton, Lehigh races

Seven candidates are going after one open judicial seat in Lehigh County, while in neighboring Northampton County two veteran attorneys are seeking the district attorney’s office being vacated after seven terms by John Morganelli.

These are the two key races that highlight an otherwise mostly lackluster lineup for the May 21 primaries in the Times News area’s two most populous counties.

There are few contests in either county; in fact, in some cases, there are not even enough candidates running to fill the number of seats that will be vacant.

In Pennsylvania’s closed primaries, only Republicans and Democrats can vote for their respective party’s candidates. Those registered as nonpartisan, independent or with minor parties cannot vote for candidates now, although they will be able to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 general election.

Judicial and school board candidates can cross-file, so each of the seven candidates for the Lehigh Court of Common Pleas seat will appear on both primary ballots.

They are: William A. Ehrlich of Lower Macungie Township; Rashid O. Santiago of Allentown; Tom Capehart of Upper Milford Township; Jared J. Hanna of Lower Macungie Township; Anna-Kristie Morffi Marks of South Whitehall Township; Eric K. Dowdle of Coopersburg and Zachary J. Cohen of Upper Macungie Township.

The winners of each primary will square off in the general election, unless, of course, the same person wins both nominations. The new judge serves a 10-year term and will earn $183,184 annually.

In Northampton County, First Deputy District Attorney Terry Houck of Forks Township is hoping to step into his boss’ shoes and succeed the long-serving Morganelli, who has opted to run for an open judicial seat after seven terms as D.A. Morganelli is unopposed and will likely become the county’s newest jurist after being sworn in early in 2020.

Houck is being opposed in the Democratic primary by Nuria DiLuzio of Bethlehem Township, Northampton’s chief public defender and wife of Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio.

The DiLuzio relationship has become a campaign issue, but Ms. DiLuzio said she has checked with the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Ethics Committee, which says it is not a deal-breaker, but if she were elected, she could not be the prosecutor on cases brought by her husband.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face off in the fall against Republican Tom Carroll of Bethlehem, a former Montgomery County assistant district attorney who is unopposed.

There are no primary contests in Lehigh for county commissioner, controller, district attorney, sheriff, clerk of judicial records or coroner.

There are no contested primary races in Slatington or Heidelberg, Lynn, Washington or Weisenberg townships.

In Northampton County, there are no contests for county council or controller.

The only other area municipal race is in Lehigh Township, where three Republicans will seek the nomination. They are: incumbent chair Darryl Snover, David L. Hess and Gerald L. Pritchard. The winner goes up against unopposed Democrat Michael P. McGonigle in the fall.

There are no contests in Walnutport.

There is just one local school board contest. In Northampton Area Region One, which includes Lehigh and Allen townships, incumbents John E. Becker and Robert K. Mentzell are being challenged by Barbara J. Knoll for the two available seats. All three cross-filed.

There are no contests for the five open seats on the Northern Lehigh Board of Education, and there are only four candidates for five seats on the Northwestern Lehigh School Board.