2009 Election Candidate Information

The Morning Call reports that former Nazareth School Director Deborah Hunter will be one of five endorsed Democratic Party candidates for County Council (read the article here).

Want to run for local office?

The County Election Office web page leaves a lot to be desired. So here is a summary, but call the office if you have any questions (610-559-3055).

First thing you must do is know what positions are available (download a complete list here). In our area it is the following:

School Board (5 total seats out of 9 are up for election)

• Region 1 (1) - 4 year term (Bushkill, Tatamy, Palmer Upper West)
• Region 2 (2) - 4 year term (Lower, Upper Naz East)
• Region 3 (2) - 4 year term (Nazareth, Stockertown, Upper Naz West)

Bushkill:

• Supervisor (1) - 6 year term
• Tax Collector (1) - 4 year term
• Auditor (1) - 6 year term

Lower Nazareth:

• Supervisors (2) - 6 year term
• Tax Collector (1) - 4 year term
• Auditor (1) - 6 year term

Nazareth Borough:

• Mayor (1) - 4 year term
• Council, Ward 1 (1) - 4 year term
• Council, Ward 2 (1) - 4 year term
• Council, Ward 3 (2) - 4 year term
• Auditor (3) - 6 year, 4 year, and 2 year terms

Stockertown Borough

• Mayor (1) - 4 year term
• Tax Collector (1) - 4 year term
• Council (3) - 4 year term

Tatamy Borough:

• Mayor (1) - 4 year term
• Tax Collector (1) - 4 year term
• Council (1) - 4 year term

Upper Nazareth:

• Supervisor (1) - 6 year term
• Tax Collector (1) - 4 year term
• Auditor (3) - 6 year, 4 year, and 2 year terms

Then you must complete a petition (you can't download a form from the site, it appears you must visit the office to pick one up. As I recall there is a packet and basic instructions they give, which is why you can't download them).

Local candidates (borough, township, and school board) need ten signatures from registered voters of the party the individual candidate is registered with. So if you are a Democrat, you need ten democrats to sign your petition.

You can get street lists at voter registration for the districts in the office you are seeking to become a candidate in. These lists will tell you by street by number, who is registered to vote and what party they belong to. In this way you can find people needed to complete your form.

There is no filing fee for local petitions, but they do need to be notarized.

Finally, you must meet the filing deadline (included in the instructions included here). This year the deadline is March 10.

This year's primary election is May 19.