Democrat Michael Cocca has officially announced his candidacy for the office of mayor of Whitehall Township.

Having resided in Whitehall for more than 40 years, Cocca said he has a profound appreciation for the Whitehall he grew up in and the Whitehall he wants to see in the future.

“It would be my honor to serve the community of Whitehall Township as its mayor,” Cocca said. “For too long, Whitehall has been satisfied with the status quo, and I believe a reinvestment in the community is long overdue.”

Cocca is currently employed with ADP and specializes in sales and marketing to companies that represent employee populations above 1,000 employees. He has nearly two decades in sales and business on his resume.

After graduating from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration, Cocca moved back to Whitehall. He purchased his home in 2006 and currently resides there with his wife, Leann, and 3-year-old daughter, Ellison.

“I plan to invest in our parks and recreation programs for the good of the actual people of Whitehall to enjoy; to supplement the police force with the funding needed to keep public safety as paramount importance; to re-imagine our fire department to help reduce the burden on the majority of volunteers and help reinvigorate their belief in the department and the work they do; to utilize state and federal funding to help with the beautification and safety of MacArthur Road, which is a conduit to the premier shopping district of the Lehigh Valley,” Cocca said. “We need to reinvest in our community to accentuate the pride this community once fully had and, with the citizens of Whitehall behind me, will have again.”