1 Contested Seat In Election For Council Rock School Board

NEWTOWN, PA — Six seats on the nine-member Council Rock Board of School Directors are up for election on Nov. 5. Just one of those races is contested.

In region four, which includes Northampton Township Districts 2, 6, 7, 12, Democrat Karl Fetzer is challenging incumbent Republican Joe Hidalgo.

Hidalgo was appointed by the school board in 2018 to fill a seat left vacant by the resignation of Wendi Thomas, who is now a state representative.

Hidalgo is a graduate of The University of Delaware and works as a financial advisor.

Fetzer earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from Villanova University and completed his undergraduate studies at Lehigh University. He is a research and development engineer at Siemens Corporation.

According to a questionnaire from the Bucks County League of Woman Voters, Fetzer has a long-standing interest in education. "Teaching has been a constant in my life, from my high school days as a tutor to the mentoring and volunteering I've done during my time in industry," Fetzer said.

He said he will work "to ensure that our students continue to get a quality education while we enhance the curriculum to prepare them for an increasingly competitive working world."

Hidalgo, in the same questionnaire, said now that has experienced what it's like to be on the board, he has a clear understanding of the issues. "I believe I bring a unique prospective that will contribute to creating reasonable and long lasting solutions," he said.

You can see both responses here.

Here is who is on the ballot for Council Rock School Board:

REGION 1

• Mariann McKee

REGION 2

• Edward F. Tate

REGION 4

• Karl Fetzer (D)
• Joe Hidalgo (R)

REGION 5

• Ed Salamon

REGION 7

• Michael J. Thorwart

REGION 9

• Kristen Marcell