2023 CANDIDATES: November 7 PA Municipal General Election

Be A Voter! Elect Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. Vote Local. #VoteLocalPA

Note: You must be registered in PA as of October 23 to be eligible to vote in the November 7 General Election. You can check your registration and polling place online. Note that voting districts and polling places in Bethlehem Township were reconfigured in 2017, and several other polling places change each year. Updates for 2023: Bethlehem Twp 3-1 moved and Upper Nazareth Western returns to Gracedale lobby; some Washington Twp switched between Upper and Lower (but all still vote within the Farm Show building); continuing from the primary: Bethlehem 14-3, Hellertown 3, Portland moved; Lower Saucon 1 changed to different (school admin) building. 2019-2022 Changes: Bethlehem 3, Bethlehem 9-1, Easton 3-3, Easton 8 E&W, Easton 11, Hanover 1 returned, Palmer Western 2, Upper Mt. Bethel North Bangor, Upper Nazareth Eastern, Washington Lower, Wind Gap.

All candidates are listed below in ballot order, determined by the Democratic primary results.

Non-Partisan ballot questions (end of ballot: bottom/right side/or back)

  • Judicial Retentions (yes vote is to keep on bench for another 10-year term)
    • Retain Superior Court Judge Jack Panella [D]: YES
    • (other two judges for retention are Republicans; we do not offer a recommendation)
  • Northampton County proposed Home Rule Charter amendments

    • These would each set term limits for a Northampton County office:

    • County Council (no more than three consecutive terms, plus preceding time appointed, starting with elected in 2023)
    • County Executive (no more than two consecutive terms starting with elected in 2025)
    • County Controller (no more than two consecutive terms starting with elected in 2023)

    If passed, these would take away our choice as voters to re-elect popular local officials. Party members have not voted on taking a stance, but many Democrats oppose the idea of term limits particularly at the local level since they would take away our Democratic choice to keep experienced public officials who are doing their job well, at the point when they have the most experience.

  • Lower Saucon proposed Optional Plan amendment (only Lower Saucon Township voters)

    • This would set term limits for Lower Saucon Township Council members; see the note above about potential effects on our choices as voters.

Quick reference: contested School Board races, often with opposing extremists

Verify the Democrats (or other preferable choices) if you vote in any of these areas!

Bangor Area School Director (Bangor; East Bangor; most of Lower Mt. Bethel; Portland; Roseto; Upper Mt. Bethel; Washington)
Bethlehem Area School Director, At Large (Bethlehem; Bethlehem Twp; Hanover; Freemansburg; Lehigh County: Fountain Hill), Region III (part of Bethlehem; Bethlehem Twp)
Nazareth Area School Director, Region I (Bushkill; Tatamy; small part of Palmer U-W), Region II (Lower Nazareth; Upper Nazareth – Eastern)
Northampton Area School Director, Region I (Allen; Lehigh); preferable non-Dem choices in Region II (East Allen; Northampton), Region III (Bath; Chapman; Moore)
Northern Lehigh School Director (Walnutport; part of Lehigh County): write-in candidate
Pen Argyl Area School Director, Region I (Pen Argyl), Region II (Plainfield)
Saucon Valley School Director (Hellertown; Lower Saucon)

highlighting key
alert (two places, Walnutport – school board – and Lower Mt. Bethel – supervisor, where we support registered Democrats who are running only as Republican nominees due to technicality; in all other cases, there is no harm in voting for the Democratic nominees, meaning those in the Democratic column or with Democratic listed with their name)
There are technically no cross-filed races after the primary, and although some Republicans won Democratic nominations in a few places, most are uncontested and irrelevant except in the two places listed.

Offices to be elected in 2023
Statewide (judicial: appellate court judge vacancies)
County (includes county court of common pleas judge vacancy, county council by district, District Attorney, County Controller)
Magisterial District Judges (in limited areas)
School District Board of Directors
Municipal

Pennsylvania statewide election

Justice of the Supreme Court

  • Daniel McCaffery – Superior Court Judge, PA Bar rated Highly Recommended

Judge of the Superior Court (Vote for 2)

  • Timika Lane – PA Bar rated Highly Recommended
  • Jill Beck – PA Bar rated Highly Recommended

Judge of the Commonwealth Court

  • Matt Wolf (Philadelphia County) – PA Bar rated Recommended

 

Northampton County

(Northampton County: PA Judicial District 3) Court of Common Pleas Judge

(other candidate running is Republican, does not share our values)

  • Brian Panella

Northampton County Council, District I

  • Ken Kraft

Northampton County Council, District II

  • Kelly Keegan

Northampton County Council, District III

  • Jeff Warren

Northampton County Council, District IV

[no Democratic candidate, could write in a Democrat]

District Attorney

  • Stephen G. Baratta

County Controller

  • Tara Zrinski

Jump to:

Magisterial District Judge races

School Districts

Cities

Townships and Boroughs

Magisterial Districts (all uncontested incumbents)

Magisterial District Judge

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-1-04

(Bethlehem Ward 14: north of Elizabeth Ave and Easton Ave; Hanover)

  • Vivian Zumas

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-2-04

(Hellertown; Lower Saucon)

[no Democrat running]

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-2-11

(Bethlehem Wards 5, 15, 16, 17: eastern South Side and North Side)

  • Nick Englesson

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-2-12

(Easton West Ward 7, 8; West Easton; Wilson)

  • Richard H. Yetter, III

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-3-02

(western Slate Belt to eastern Moore)

[no Democrat running]

Magisterial District Judge, District 03-3-03

(eastern Slate Belt)

[no Democrat running]

School Districts

Bangor Area School District

Bangor Area School Director (can vote for 5)

(Bangor; East Bangor; Portland; Roseto; Lower Mt Bethel, except Martins Creek area; Upper Mt Bethel; Washington)

(named candidate is the only registered Democrat; she is recommended by the local teachers of PSEA-PACE along with additional candidates who won both nominations)

  • Courtney Gilmour

Bethlehem Area School District

Bethlehem Area School Director, At Large (Vote for 3)

(Bethlehem; Freemansburg; Bethlehem Township; Hanover; Lehigh County: Bethlehem Wards 10, 11, 12, 13 – West Bethlehem, Fountain Hill)

  • Karen Beck Pooley
  • Emily Root Schenkel
  • M. Rayah Levy

Bethlehem Area School Director, Region II

(Bethlehem Wards 7, 8, 9 – Center City, Wards 14-1, 15-1; Hanover; Lehigh County: part of West Bethlehem)

  • Michael Recchiuti

Bethlehem Area School Director, Region III

(Bethlehem Wards 14-2 through 14-8, 15-2; Bethlehem Township

  • Kim Shively

Catasauqua Area School District

Catasauqua Area School Director (can vote for 5)

(North Catasauqua; Lehigh County: Catasauqua, Hanover)

  • Jillian Emert
  • Lauren Cieslak
  • Eric DeLabar
  • Jeremy Smale

Easton Area School District

Easton Area School Director, Region I (can vote for 2)

(Palmer)

(named candidate is the only registered Democrat, but not contested)

  • Jodi Hess

Easton Area School Director, Region II

(Easton Wards 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 – Downtown, West Ward, South Side)

  • Ghennifer Zando-Dennis

Easton Area School Director, Region III

(Easton Wards 3 – College Hill; Forks; Lower Mt Bethel Martins Creek area)

[no Democrat on ballot; not contested

Nazareth Area School District

Nazareth Area School Director, Region I (vote for 2)

(Bushkill; Tatamy; small section of Palmer Upper West)

  • Sariann L. Knerr
  • Jeff C. Greener

Nazareth Area School Director, Region II

(Lower Nazareth; Upper Nazareth District Eastern)

  • Jason M. Swails

Nazareth Area School Director, Region III

(Nazareth; Stockertown; Upper Nazareth District Western)

[no Democrat on ballot; not contested]

Northampton Area School District

Northampton Area School Director, Region I (can vote for 2)

(Allen; Lehigh)

(only one Democrat ran; but the other incumbent who won a Democratic nomination is preferable to extremist challengers)

  • John E. Becker
  • [R incumbent, moderate also won Democratic nomination for 2nd seat over both extremist challengers]

Northampton Area School Director, Region II (Vote for 2)

(Northampton; East Allen)

(no Democrat ran, but the incumbent who won a Democratic nomination is preferable to extremist challenger)

  • [R incumbent, moderate won Democratic nomination over extremist]

Northampton Area School Director, Region III (could vote for 2)

(Bath; Chapman; Moore)

(no Democrat ran, but the incumbent who won the top Democratic nomination is preferable to extremist challengers)

  • [R incumbent, moderate won top Democratic nomination over extremists]

Northern Lehigh Area School District

Northern Lehigh Area School Director (can vote for 5)

(Walnutport; Lehigh County: Slatington, Washington)

[the only Democrat running only won a Republican nomination – vote for her at bottom of the 2nd column]

  • Find below/to right:: Donna M. Kulp (Actually a Democrat but nominated in Republican primary for 5th seat)

Northern Lehigh Area School Director – 2 year (could vote for 2 Democrats)

(Walnutport; Lehigh County: Slatington, Washington)

  • Write-in: DONNA M. KULP

Pen Argyl Area School District

Pen Argyl Area School Director, Region I – 4 year

(Pen Argyl)

[no Democrat on ballot; not contested]

Pen Argyl Area School Director, Region I – 2 year

(Pen Argyl)

  • Thomas Knorr

Pen Argyl Area School Director, Region II (vote for 2)

(Plainfield)

(named candidate is the only actual Democrat running)

  • Nancy O’Keefe

Pen Argyl Area School Director, Region III

(Wind Gap)

(named candidate is the only registered Democrat, but not contested)

  • Jason Keenhold

Saucon Valley School District

Saucon Valley School Director (vote for 5)

(Hellertown; Lower Saucon)

^ indicates Democrats running as the Saucon Choices for Change slate

  • ^Vivian A. Demko
  • ^Jay Santos
  • ^Bill Broun
  • ^Donald L. Carpenter III
  • Laurel Erickson-Parsons

Wilson Area School District

Wilson Area School Director, Region I (vote for 2)

(Wilson Wards 1, 2)

  • Linda Ann Baskwell
  • Janis E. Krieger

Wilson Area School Director, Region II – 4 year

(Glendon; West Easton; Wilson Ward 3)

  • Jeffrey L. Breidinger, Sr.

Wilson Area School Director, Region II – 2 year (can vote for 2)

(Glendon; West Easton; Wilson Ward 3)

  • Jeffrey L. Breidinger, Sr.

Wilson Area School Director, Region III (vote for 2)

(Williams)

  • Judith A. Herbstreith
  • Johnathan Jones

City of Bethlehem

See also: Magisterial District 03-1-04 (Ward 14); Magisterial District 03-2-11 (Wards 5, 15, 16, 17)
See also: Bethlehem Area School District, At Large, Region II, Region III

Bethlehem City Council

  • Colleen Laird
  • Michael G. Colón
  • Bryan Callahan

Bethlehem City Treasurer

  • Kathy A. Fox

City of Easton

See also: Magisterial District 03-2-12 (Wards 7, 8 – West Ward)
See also: Easton Area School District, Regions II & III

Easton Mayor

  • Sal Panto

Easton City Council, At Large

  • Frank Pintabone
  • Ken Brown
  • Crystal Rose

Allen

See also: Northampton Area School District, Region I

Allen Township Supervisor – 4 year (vote for 2)

  • Gary Behler
  • Paul J. Link

Allen Township Supervisor – 2 year

  • Gary Behler

Bangor

See also: Bangor Area School District

Bangor Borough Council (could vote for 3)

(first two Republican nominees are no longer Democrats but are preferable to the third)

  • Marc Sperling

Bath

See also: Northampton Area School District, Region III

Bath Borough Council (could vote for 4)

  • Write-in: LAUREN BULLSNAKE

Bethlehem Township

See also: Bethlehem Area School District, At Large & Region III

Bethlehem Township Commissioner, At Large

  • Michael Hudak

Bethlehem Township Commissioner, Ward 1

  • DeAnn L. Lawrence

Bethlehem Township Commissioner, Ward 3

  • John K. Gallagher

Bushkill

See: Nazareth Area School District, Region I

Chapman

See: Northampton Area School District, Region III

East Allen

See also: Northampton Area School District, Region II

East Allen Township Supervisor (could vote for 2)

  • Write-in: DONALD HEINEY

East Bangor

See: Bangor Area School District

East Bangor Borough Council (can vote for 3, +1 2-year term)

(can write in registered Democrats)

Forks

Forks Township Supervisor

  • Dean Turner

Forks Township Auditor

  • Keith McCarthy

Freemansburg

See also: Bethlehem Area School District, At Large

Freemansburg Borough Council (vote for 4)

  • Colleen Gallagher
  • Homer G. Lorrah
  • Jim Smith
  • Justin “Peanuts” LaBar

Glendon

See also: Wilson Area School District, Region II

Glendon Borough Council (Vote for 3)

  • Donna Breidinger
  • Jeffrey M. Muschlitz
  • Michael Veres

Hanover

See also: Magisterial District 03-1-04
See also: Bethlehem Area School District, At Large & Region II

Hanover Township Supervisor – 6 year (vote for 2)

  • Susan A. Lawless
  • Jean E. Versteeg

Hanover Township Supervisor – 2 year

  • Stephen Gross

Hanover Township Auditor

  • Sarah Cepin

Hellertown

See also: Saucon Valley School District

Hellertown Borough Council – 4 year (Vote for 3)

  • Liz Thompson
  • Lynley Solt
  • Michael T. McKenna

Hellertown Borough Council – 2 year

  • Liz Thompson

Lehigh

See also: Northampton Area School District, Region I

Lehigh Township Supervisor – 6 year

[no Democrats running, but Democratic nominee is likely preferable among the choices]

Lower Mt. Bethel

See also: Bangor Area School District
Also partly: Easton Area School District, Region III (Martins Creek area) [no Democrat]

Lower Mt. Bethel Township Supervisor (Vote for 2)

(2nd Democrat actually won 2nd Republican write-in but could not be added as Democratic nominee due to technicality – vote for him also at bottom of 2nd column)

  • Sandra Newman
  • Find below/to right: Christopher M. Cook (Actually a Democrat but nominated in Republican primary for 2nd seat)

Lower Mt. Bethel Township Auditor

  • Joe Guest

Lower Nazareth

See also: Nazareth Area School District, Region II

Lower Nazareth Township Supervisor (Vote for 2)

  • Nancy Teague
  • Robert J. Hoyer

Lower Nazareth Township Auditor

  • James E. Bruski

Lower Saucon

See also: Saucon Valley School District

Lower Saucon Township Council (Vote for 3)

  • Priscilla deLeon
  • Victoria Opthof-Cordaro
  • Laura Ray

Lower Saucon Township Controller

  • Write-in: LYNN HILL

Moore

See: Northampton Area School District, Region III

Nazareth

See also: Nazareth Area School District, Region III

Nazareth Borough Council, Ward 1 (Vote for 2)

  • Kayla Green
  • Michael Kopach

Nazareth Borough Council, Ward 2 – 4 year (Vote for 2)

  • Laureen Pellegrino
  • Carl Fischl

Nazareth Borough Council, Ward 2 – 2 year

  • Jeffrey Corpora

Nazareth Borough Council, Ward 3

  • Daniel R. Chiavaroli

North Catasauqua

See also: Catasauqua Area School District (write-in opening)

North Catasauqua Borough Council (Vote for 3)

  • Michele Hazzard
  • Adam R. Landis
  • Jessica Cope

Northampton

See also: Northampton Area School District, Region II

Northampton Borough Council, Ward 1

  • Judith A. Haldeman

Palmer

See also: Easton Area School Director, Region I;
Also part: Nazareth Area School District, Region I (small section of Palmer U-W)

Palmer Township Supervisor

  • Charles Bellis

Palmer Township Auditor

  • Theodore J. Veresink

Pen Argyl

See also: Pen Argyl Area School District, Region I

Pen Argyl Borough Council, Ward 1

  • Tammy Kemp

Pen Argyl Borough Council, Ward 2

  • Janell Connolly

Pen Argyl Borough Council, Ward 3

  • John Apgar

Pen Argyl Borough Council, Ward 4

  • Joann Anderson

Plainfield

See also: Pen Argyl Area School District, Region II

Plainfield Township Supervisor – 4 year (could vote for 2)

(only one Democrat on ballot for two seats, but an independent is also running and could be voted for the 2nd seat)

  • Matt Glennon

Plainfield Township Supervisor – 2 year

  • Joseph Colosi

Plainfield Township Auditor

  • Marilyn Lieberman

Portland

See: Bangor Area School District

Roseto

See also: Bangor Area School District

Roseto Borough Council (could vote for 3)

  • Joseph C. Angelini
  • Carl Renna

Stockertown

Stockertown Mayor – 2 year

  • Rosemarie Wenzelberger

Stockertown Borough Council – 4 year (can vote for 4)

  • Cynthia M. Hower
  • Kathleen Zdonowski
  • Rosemarie Wenzelberger
  • (could also write in: KATIE SANTIAGO)

Stockertown Borough Council – 2 year

  • Katie Santiago

Tatamy

See also: Nazareth Area School District, Region I

Tatamy Borough Council (could vote for 3)

  • Pamela Pearson
  • Daniel Dewey

Upper Mt. Bethel

See also: Bangor Area School District

Upper Mt. Bethel Township Supervisor (can vote for 2)

(both candidates are unopposed on ballot; currently registered Democrat listed here)

  • Jason Albert

Upper Mt. Bethel Township Auditor

  • Rocky Ducheine

Upper Nazareth

See also: Nazareth Area School District, Regions II & III

Upper Nazareth Township Supervisor (could vote for 2)

(2nd candidate nominated by Democrats is not currently registered Democrat, but is preferable)

  • William Bartlett

Upper Nazareth Township Auditor

  • Mark R. Roth

Walnutport

See also: Northern Lehigh School District

Walnutport Borough Council (Vote for 3)

  • Michael Gaston
  • David Stankovic
  • Harold C. Greene

Washington

See also: Bangor Area School District

West Easton

See: Wilson Area School District, Region II

Williams

See also: Wilson Area School District, Region III

Williams Township Supervisor

(only candidate running was previously a Democrat but switched for political reasons)

Williams Township Auditor

  • GladysMarie Harris

Wilson

See also: Magisterial District 03-2-12
See also: Wilson Area School District, Region I & Region II

Wilson Borough Council, Ward 1 (could vote for 2)

  • Scott Palinkas
  • James McGowan (unfortunately deceased, after ballot was set)

Wilson Borough Council, Ward 2 – 4 year

  • Write-in: ROBIN DAVIS

Wilson Borough Council, Ward 2 – 2 year

  • Kimberlee Muzac

Wilson Borough Council, Ward 3 (vote for 2)

  • Russell J. Lipari
  • Write-in: BOB STOUDT

Wind Gap

See also: Pen Argyl Area School District, Region III

Wind Gap Borough Council (could vote for 3)

  • Jason Boulette
  • Write-in: MARK CROSSEN