Incumbent Donna R. Butler garnered 2000 total votes (1,105 Republican, 895 Democrat) in an uncontested race to retain her seat as magistrate in District 31-2-30, which serves Emmaus, Upper Milford and Macungie. Butler was appointed to fill a vacancy on the court in 1997 and later won her first election to keep the job. The district magistrate serves a six-year term.

Board President Charles Ballard and Director Samuel Rhodes III were virtually re-elected to the East Penn School Board Tuesday night, winning in both the Democratic and Republican primaries in unofficial returns. Incumbent Director Julian Stolz was nominated to the Republican ballot in the November election. Newcomer Kenneth Bacher also won a spot on the board, placing in the top five in both primaries.   Waldemar Vinovskis, 47, of Macungie and Brian Higgins, 38, won Democratic nominations for director; Lynn Donches and Stolz won the Republican nominations. Because all of the primary winners …

In the primary bid for Upper Milford Supervisor, there were four candidates for one open seat – two Republicans and two Democrats. Two candidates were eliminated in today’s primary vote, leaving two to go head-to-head in November. Patch’s numbers -- which are unofficial until certified by Lehigh County -- are as follows: Carl R. Stevenson, Republican - 385 votes John Zgura, Republican – 211 votes Steven Ackerman, Democrat --166 votes George DeVault, Democrat -- 219 votes That means that in the fall, Stevenson will again face DeVault in the general election on Nov. 8. They will vie for a …

With five candidates battling for four open seats, it was known going into Tuesday’s primary race that all five candidates for Emmaus Borough Council would be on the ballot in November -- provided the candidate got at least one vote this time around. Here are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary race for Emmaus Borough Council: Nathan Brown, Republican, Incumbent, 444 votes Giovanni Landi, Republican, 406 votes Lee Ann Gilbert, Republican, Incumbent, 338 votes Brian Holtzhafer, Democrat, Incumbent, 415 votes John Donches, Democrat, 406 votes Emmaus Borough Council members serve a …

On March 14, Patch began contacting all 12 candidates running for East Penn School Board. Each candidate was sent the same 10 questions and were given until March 27 to respond. Today, in a Patch exclusive, their answers are presented in full. The answers are limited to no more than 150 words. And those responses are unedited and appear here as they were sent to us. Ten of the 12 original candidates cross-filed as both Democrats and Republicans. That means they will appear on both ballots in the primary, May 17. One candidate, Fawn Strunk, recently withdrew from the race. To learn about each …

The East Penn School Board has five seats up for election this year and 12 candidates are running. From those candidates, three are incumbents; the rest have a wide range of experience. The school board will face some very tough decisions over the next few years, especially over budgets. Gov. Corbett is looking to cut subsidies for public education.  Last week, the ballots were drawn for the primary election on May 17, and Patch contacted the candidates and sent them each a questionnaire so voters can get to know them better. A copy of the exact questionnaire is attached. The candidates were …

The Lehigh County Election Board drew the ballot positions for the May primaries yesterday morning and the results were posted that same day. Ballot positions are drawn, rather than simply listing the candidates in alphabetical order, because it has been widely established that those candidates at the top of the list generally get more votes. Listed alphabetically, anyone with a last name starting with “Z” wouldn’t have much of a chance. Of course, if there are only a couple candidates, the “ballot effect” is weakened. In the race for local Magistrate, which covers Emmaus, Macungie and Upper …

Return to Candidate List Age: 58 Residence: Zionsville Do you have children in the district? I have 2 children who graduated from East Penn.  Politics: The state allows candidates to cross file because school board director should be seen as a non-partisan position, which is how I view it. What experience do you have?  East Penn School Board Director, 5 years; Lake-Lehman School Board Director, 4 years   1.    What motivates you to want to become a board member? Education is the most important service that our government offers.  It is more than a privilege.  It is more than a right.  It is …

Return to Candidate List Age:47 Residence:Emmaus Do you have children in the district? No Politics: Democrat Experience: former brandywine heights school board director 1993-1995.    1. What motivates you to want to become a board member? Want to make east penn school district have the most educational opportunties for our students. want to think creativity so our students get the skills they need to succeed. the most important thing to me is give our students the best educational opportunties to succeed without burdening our taxpayers. 2. What do you see as the board’s roles and …

Return to Candidate List Age: 44 Do you have children in district? One daughter in 7th grade Politics: tend toward republican Experience: My father was in the Navy so I attended several public schools throughout the country for my primary and secondary education.  For college, I attended the University of Southern California and graduated as Valedictorian of my class with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering.  I received a Masters and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1995.  Upon graduation, I moved to the Lehigh Valley where I was employed first as an …

Return to Candidate List Age: 56 Residence: Emmaus Do you have children in the district? No Politics: Republican Experience: My experience is in corporations and internships in school libraries. The experience I bring from my positions at Air Products and Rodale are in managing, working with teams, budgeting and license/contract negotiations.   1. What motivates you to want to become a board member? Change in education is needed and is already in progress. I would like to be instrumental in planning for the future of education and ensuring that every child has the opportunity for a first-rate…

Return to Candidate List Age: 23 Residence: Upper Milford Do you have children in the district? Not yet Politics: Conservative Republican Experience: Executive Director of Pennsylvanian's for Right to Work, East Penn School Board Member 2007-Present, Member of Lehigh County Republican Committee 2005-2007, former intern for State Senator Rob Wonderling.   1.    What motivates you to want to become a board member? I feel that the School Board needs to be more transparent with the public. I take issue with raising taxes year after year when the district has expressed an unwillingness to take …

Return to Candidate List Age:  47 Residence: Macungie Do you have children in the district?  My daughter is a 2010 graduate from Emmaus High School, I currently have a son at Emmaus High School (11th), a son at Eyer Middle School (7th), and a son at Macungie Elementary School (5th) Politics:  I am a registered Republican. Experience: Since 2003, I have been actively involved in the EPSD including the parent organizations at Eyer Middle School (Eyer Connection) and Emmaus High School (CORE), the Superintendent’s Parents’ Advisory Committee (PAC), the Coordinated School Health Committee, the …

Return to Candidates Age: 39 Residence: Lower Macungie Township (7 years) Do you have children in the district?: Yes Politics: I am a register Republican Experience: College Administrator (3 years)   1. What motivates you to want to become a board member? I am interested in serving the citizens of the East Penn School District because I feel I present a well rounded and balanced set of skills and abilities based on my education, work experience and life experience.  All three experiences have allowed me to foster strong communication, problem solving and decision making abilities.  I decided …

Return to Candidate List Age: 35 Residence: Lower Macungie Township Do you have children in the district?  Three children  (1 at Eyer, 2 at Shoemaker) Politics: I'm registered Republican to be able to vote in PA primaries, but I lean more toward libertarian (if I had to choose a party).  I've always preferred not to have affiliation with any party for various reasons. Experience:  I have a bachelor's degree in English/Secondary Education from Grove City College (in Grove City, PA).  As a stay-at-home mom, I have volunteered extensively in the schools for the past 7 years.  I am currently a co…

Return to Candidate List Age:  38 Residence: Lower Macungie Do you have children in the district? Three  (5th, 4th and 1st grades) Politicss:  I am a registered Democrat and a practicing Independant. Experience:  President - Lower Macungie Youth Association 2009-Present.   1. What motivates you to want to become a board member? As the parent of three children in the East Penn School District I think that is imperative that the goals of the East Penn School District be allowed to continue to evolve.  I a fearful of those who only value the amount of their tax bill versus the value of an East …

Return to Candidate List Age: 64 Residence: Upper Milford Township Do you have children in the district? My two children graduated from Emmaus High School. Politics:  I am a registered Republican What experience do you have?  I have 15 years experience on the Board.   1.    What motivates you to want to become a board member? I became a board member because I am strongly committed to public education as the key to having a working representative democracy.  When I saw challenges to public education from outside forces looking for cheap and easy solutions to complex problems, I had to act. 2…

NOTE: This article was updated March 13 to reflect the proper names of all 12 candidates. The East Penn School Board has five seats up for election this year and 12 candidates have filed petitions to run, according to the Lehigh County Election Board. Board President Charles Ballard is running for re-election, and so are members Samuel Rhodes and Julian Stolz. Members Elaine Gannon and Terry Richwine are not seeking re-election. Ten of the 12 candidates cross-filed as both Democrats and Republicans. That means they will appear on both ballots in the primary, May 17. The top five from each …