Candidates Meet at Women's Club Forum

There was no debate, though there was some contention as the Emmaus Women's Club hosted a meet and greet Oct. 24 to put some faces to the yard-sign names, and to let the community know their candidates' views.

County Commissioner-at-large candidates Gloria Hamm, Vic Mazzioti, Brad Osborne, Dennis Pearson, Lisa Scheller and Geoff Brace presented their backgrounds and their aspirations.

All but Hamm -- an incumbent who voted for it -- scorned last year's 16 percent tax hike. Hamm is in favor of instituting a bi-county health bureau while the others spoke more of budget analysis and belt-tightening.

Controller incumbent Tom Slonaker, a former Whitehall Township Supervisor, said he has encouraged more transparency in the county's financial affairs by instituting, among other things, the ability for residents to view the county checkbook on its website.

Emmaus Borough Council candidates Nathan Brown, John Donches, Brian Holtzhafer, Giovanni Landi, Jeff Shubzda introduced themselves before the floor was opened to questions. At that point the contentious barbs began to fly between Donches and Landi on one side and Brown, Holtzhafer on the other.

Budget questions, including the existence of a borough reserve fund, launched tension between the two factions before the Women's Club moderator intervened.

Brian Higgins, Ken Bacher, Lynn Donches and Waldemar R. Vinovskis spoke about ways to better deal with state mandates versus the discretionary portions of the budget.

Higgins suggested working with other school districts to ease financial woes and suggested the possibility of looking into alternate revenue sources, while Donches mentioned some kind of sales tax to raise money.

Vinovskis, Bacher and Donches suggested working with legislators to ease the pressure of mandates.

Judicial candidates Dan McCarthey, a Lehigh County Commissioner, and Rep. Doug Reichely R-Lehigh introduced themselves and both lawyers mentioned their years of varied service among their qualifications.