Republicans tap candidates for November ballot

Members of the Carbon County Republican Committee Executive Board met recently in accordance with their bylaws to vote on and nominate candidates for the Nov. 5 ballot to replace people who either died in office before their terms expired or have since petitioned to have their name placed on the ballot for the primary election.

The executive board voted to nominate David Pollock to the ballot for the two-year township supervisor term in Mahoning Township to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Frank Ruch. Pollock is a 63-year-old lifelong township resident with previous experience as a township supervisor and fire chief, and he was appointed by the sitting board to replace Ruch until the November election.

The executive board voted to nominate Richard Beltz to the November ballot for a four-year term as school director for the Lehighton Area School District to replace Frank Ruch, who died after petitioning the Carbon County Election Bureau and winning the primary election. Beltz, a 48-year-old resident of Franklin Township, is presently a member of the Lehighton Area School District Board, but failed to win a place on the November ballot during the primary.

The executive board voted to nominate Louis Esa to the ballot for a two-year term as mayor of East Side Borough to fill the seat left vacant by Colleen Donlin, who died before her term expired. Esa has lived in the borough of East Side for 40 years and is a transportation broker.

The executive board voted to nominate Jay Mullikin to the ballot for the two-year term of supervisor in Lower Towamensing Township to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Jesse Mendez. Mullikin has resided in the township for 16 years, presently works as an estimator/project manager for a large Pennsylvania-based construction company, and has been appointed by the present board to fill the seat left vacant by Mendez until the November election. He also is the vice chairman of the Lower Towamensing Township Planning Commission.