PBS39 hosts Allentown mayor candidates

PBS39, 91.3 WLVR NPR and Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center are co-hosting a forum for LGBTQ voters to learn where candidates running for Allentown mayor stand on issues relevant to the LGBTQ community. The one hour event will be live-streamed at 7 p.m. April 1 on both PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR, as well as their respective Facebook pages.

The moderators are Adrian Shanker, executive director, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center; and Tyler Pratt, host/reporter, 91.3 WLVR. Community members are invited to submit questions via recorded videos for possible forum use.

All Democratic and Republican mayoral candidates have been invited to participate. This is the first time in Allentown history that a mayoral forum has centered around LGBTQ issues.

Carpenter seeks magistrate office

Twenty-year Northside Bethlehem resident Will R. Carpenter is seeking a nomination for the position of Magisterial District Judge for District 03-2-01, Northampton County.

He is a graduate of Cornell University from which he earned a degree in applied economics. His career is in real estate and development, negotiating contracts and working with people from all walks of life. He said he will ensure that fairness, equality and justice will be available to all of the North Bethlehem community. He believes that he will improve the district and meet needs with fairness, integrity, common sense and consistent, impartial reading of the law.

He and his wife are the parents of two daughters, both Liberty HS graduates.

Rieger runs for Hellertown Council

Hellertown Council President Thomas Rieger announced his re-election bid for a fourth term on Hellertown Borough Council. A council member for 11 years, he is the president for the past seven years. He earned a bachelor’s of science in business management from East Stroudsburg University. He is the director of materials management for HNL Lab Medicine.

He is a past chairmen and board member of the Hellertown Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, a member and secretary of New Temple Lodge #720 F. & A.M. of Pa., treasurer of the Northeastern Pa. Association of Healthcare Materials Management, member of the Valley of Allentown A.A.S.R.N.M.J, member of Rajah Shrine of Reading. He is a member of Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Allentown.

Rieger stated, “Remember we can accomplish anything if we work together with one common goal of making sure tomorrow is better than today.”

Soldridge seeks NORCO Council seat

Lehigh Township resident Kristin Lorah Soldridge is running for one of the at-large seats on Northampton County Council because she wants a more balanced government.

Soldridge has not been involved in politics before, and that, she says, will bring a young, fresh perspective to county government.

Her campaign will focus on government transparency, more citizen involvement in government, fighting government waste and overreach, and protecting taxpayers, she says.

Soldridge is a lifelong Northampton County resident, growing up on the Lorah family farm in Lehigh Township.

Vargo seeks re-election to NORCO Council

Northampton County Council President Lori Vargo Heffner will seek re-election to Northampton County Council as a member at large.

As a member of County Council, Vargo Heffner has served in a variety of leadership positions, including her current role as president and two years as vice president, chair of Human Services and Finance committees. Her accomplishments also include the creation of a Responsible Contracting Ordinance which ensured that Northampton residents earn a living wage from work done in Northampton County.

A Lower Saucon Township resident, Vargo Heffner is a psychotherapist employed by St. Luke’s University Network. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Moravian College, master’s degree in counseling from Kutztown University and master’s degree in adult and organizational development from Temple University. She serves on the Discover Lehigh Valley Board. She is a member of Assumption BVM Catholic Church where she is a lector and is on the Liturgy Board.