Politics & Government

Today is Primary Election Day

Seats on East Penn School Board, Emmaus Borough Council and Upper Milford Board of Supervisors are among those on the ballot.

Today, May 17, is Primary Election Day – the day to make your choice for local officials such as school board members who decide how your hard-earned tax dollars will be spent.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Pennsylvania, primary elections are “closed,” meaning you must be registered as a Republican to vote for Republican candidates, or as a Democrat to vote for Democratic candidates. Voters registered as Independent can only vote on ballot questions (such as Northampton County’s Gracedale nursing home question) in this election.

Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The much-talked-about race for East Penn School Board has 11 candidates running for five seats. Ten of the candidates cross-filed.

In the race for Emmaus Council, there are five candidates, three republicans and two democrats, for four seats. That means all the candidates on today’s ballot, as long as they get at least one vote, will continue to the November election. If that happens, one candidate will be eliminated in November.

Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There are three council incumbents running: Nathan Brown, Lee Ann Gilbert and Brian Holtzhafer.

In the bid for Upper Milford Supervisor, there are four candidates for one open seat. Two candidates will be eliminated in today’s vote, leaving two to go head-to-head in November. Steven Ackerman is running for re-election. The other candidates are George DeVault, Carl R. Stevenson and John Zgura.

In the contentious Republican primary for Lehigh County Commissioner, eight candidates are seeking four seats. 

The Republican candidates are , currently a South Whitehall Township commissioner; , an incumbent Lehigh County commissioner who resides in the South Whitehall; , a Salisbury Township Commissioner; and , an independent insurance agent who works in South Whitehall; and four candidates who are running as a slate, namely , a producer for a Web-based television network who resides in South Whitehall Township; , former Northampton County fiscal affairs director; , a business executive; and , a Lynn Township supervisor. 

Patch asked the Lehigh County Commissioner candidates questions on   and .

The four Democrats seeking their party's nod for the four Lehigh County commissioner positions are Geoffrey S. Brace, Dennis L. Pearson, Gloria Hamm, and Timothy S. Waitkus. They are virtually assured their party's nomination since there is no competition for their party's nod in the primary.

In the race for local Magistrate, which covers Emmaus, Macungie and Upper Milford, the current Magistrate, Donna R. Butler, is running uncontested.

If you encounter any problems at the polls (such as voting machines that malfunction), let us know so we can check into it. You call 610-390-6559 or email jennifer.marangos@patch.com.

Patch will report local election results as soon as they become available. Check back tonight for updates after the polls close.

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