In a room full of supporters at Randall’s on the Orchard Restaurant & Bar, Bob Elbich kicked off his campaign for a seat on Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, District 1.

Elbich says he spent his entire work life in the private sector. He founded two Lehigh County companies, Pure Fit Inc. and Exigo Manufacturing Inc., that remain in existence today.

A former manager of manufacturing methods at Air Products and operations manager of Acme Cryogenics, Elbich says he sees himself as “a problem solver.”

“I spent my career creating teams who developed successful businesses. These are good, family-sustaining jobs for people in the Lehigh Valley,” Elbich said.

Elbich has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University.

This is his first attempt at an elected office.

Elbich served on Weisenberg Township Planning Commission for 15 years. He was an active member of New Tripoli Fire Company a charter signature and donor to Weisenberg Township Fire Company and a former Red Cross volunteer.

If elected, Elbich says he wants to focus on economic growth and job-training initiatives.

He wants to support educational institutions that develop creative curriculum teaching job skills for the current, ever-changing work environment.

He said he holds interests in continuing the county’s work preserving farmland, park and trail development and maintaining and improving Cedarbrook.

Elbich said he wants to support interagency law enforcement cooperation to address the opiate and other substance abuse crises.

District 1 includes Coplay and Slatington boroughs and Whitehall, Lynn, Weisenberg, Heidelberg, Washington, North Whitehall and Lowhill townships. The primary election is May 16.

Elbich has resided with his wife, Rochelle, in the district since 1995.

Together they share five children and 11 grandchildren. They also have Max and Mika, their two Labrador retrievers.