It's Silly Season

With the passing of the Labor Day Holiday, it's time for political campaigns to go into full gear. LC Exec Don Cunningham calls it "silly season," when bombastic claims are made, only to be quickly forgotten the day after the election. It's my favorite time of the year.

Most local parties link to the campaigns of their candidates. But in yet another sign that it is falling apart, the Lehigh County GOP has failed to list a single candidate seeking election this Fall, with the sole exception of its candidate for Lehigh County Controller, Glenn Eckhart.

At my left sidebar, I have links to pages for races in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Lehigh County and Northampton County. I might add a few more pages for some other interesting races in West Easton, Bethlehem Township and Whitehall. Throughout the Silly Season, I will update with links to news articles and blog posts.

You are free to comment there, but because those pages will be up for months, they will be moderated. But here's how things look now.

Allentown City Council 

"The Mission of the Allentown City Council is to provide, in a democratic and transparent manner, efficient and effective services which will make the City of Allentown a better place in which to live, work and play." Three seats are open. Incumbent Michael Donovan is stepping down.

Democrats:

• Jeanette Eichenwald (incumbent)
• Peter Schweyer (incumbent)
• Frank Concannon

Republicans:

• Steve Ramos
• Bob Toth
• Eric Weiss

• Allentown Controller 

An independent office, the Controller is the City's financial watchdog.

• Mary Ellen Koval (Democrat)
• Lou Hershman (Republican)

✓ 'Longtime Allentown employee to run for controller’
✓ Lou "the watchdog" Hershman

Bethlehem City Council  

"City Council is the legislative body of Bethlehem city government. The council is composed of seven members, who are elected to four-year terms. All council seats are determined by citywide elections; there are no districted council positions." There are three seats up this year, including an open seat created by the retirement of Gordon B. Mowrer.

Democrats:
Bob Donchez (incumbent) (5,968 votes in '07 - top vote getter)

Mike Recchiuti (failed in '09 primary)
J. William Reynolds (i) (5,358 votes in '07)

• What Did Bethlehem City Council Do in 2010?
• Bethlehem City Council Prez Donchez to Seek Re-Election
• At Least Willie Reynolds Has a Hot Girlfriend
• Bethlehem Councilman J. William Reynolds announces re-election bid

Republicans:

Al Bernotas

Tom Carroll

Tony Simao

• Bethlehem City Council Ponders Super Majority for Zoners
• Tony Simao Wants Private Use of Bethlehem City Vehicles Banned

Easton Mayor

• Mike Krill (Republican) (blog)
• Sal Panto (Democrat) (incumbent) (webpage)

Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas (one open seat)

• Dan McCarthy (Democrat)
• Doug Reichley (Republican)

Lehigh County DA:

• Ed Koren (Democrat)
• Jim Martin (Republican) (incumbent)

Lehigh County Commissioners-at-Large (4 seats)

Democrats:

• Geoff Brace
• Gloria Hamm (incumbent)
• Dennis Pearson
• Tim Waitkus

Republicans:

• Vic Mazziotti
• Brad Osborne
• Scott Ott
• Lisa Scheller

Lehigh County Controller

• Glenn Eckhart (Republican)
• Tom Slonaker (Democrat) (incumbent)

Lehigh County Sheriff

• Andy Roman (Republican)
• Ron Rossi (Democrat)(incumbent)

Northampton County Council

District 1: (open)

• Ken Kraft (Democrat) (webpage) (Facebook)
• Seth Vaughn (Republican) (webpage)  

District 2:

• Mike Dowd (Republican) (incumbent) 
• Bob Werner (Democrat) (webpage) 

District 3:

• Lamont McClure (Democrat) (incumbent) 
• Matt Connolly (Republican) (webpage) 

District 4:

• Ron Angle (Republican) (incumbent)
• Scott Parsons (Democrat)

Northampton Cty Controller

• Steve Barron (Democrat) (incumbent) (webpage) (Facebook)
• Steve Salveson (Republican) (webpage)