To the Editor:

Five candidates desired a seat on the Lehigh County Democratic Committee in the May 2014 Primary election. I thank the voters for granting me the highest vote in that election. I want to particularly thank the Democratic voters from District 2; my home district.

In 1997 when I was first elected mayor, running against a popular four-term Republican, I lost District 1 by four votes. But, the voters in my home District 2 gave me a 27-vote margin. This granted me the mayor's office by a scant 23 votes. The Coplay voters reelected me as mayor by wide margins in 2001 and 2005. In 1996 and 2011, in races for Coplay Council, the voters blessed me with the highest vote in three of the four contested races.

The 2014 Primary is, in all likelihood, my final Coplay-only election. The voters have blessed me with success in all eight that I ran in Coplay. I hold a keen respect for the political process and our democracy. Our government is about service to people, not simply market business. Those who delude themselves into thinking that government is only a business provide a disservice to the people.

We need a large turnout in November. As the president of the Coplay Democratic Club I will work toward that end. I hope you do, no matter what party.

Some of the best times of my life have occurred as an elected official. It continues to be an honor to serve you. I believe a local government needs to be sensitive to residents' needs. I'd like to see more of that in Coplay.

I am not a candidate for Coplay Borough Council in 2015. My plans are to either ask the voters to select me in 2015 as a Lehigh County commissioner at-large, or to seek a seat on the "Coplay-Whitehall" School Board.

Despite its challenges, Coplay remains a great place to live, raise a family and retire. It has been my distinct pleasure to work with many others to improve our community.

Sincerely,

Bill Leiner Jr.

Coplay Councilman