In Lehigh County, there are four at-large seats open on the nine-member Board of Commissioners — a number that may not appear to represent a majority but is enough to shift control of the board back to Republicans.
That’s because three of the five majority Democrats on the board – Bob Elbich, Dave Harrington and Zakiya Smalls – are not running for re-election.
Only incumbent Democrat Dan Hartzell will run again in the May 16 primary election.
Six other Democrats are also running in the primary, including Sheila Alvarado, Michael Blichar Jr., Jon Irons, Victor VJ Martinez, April Riddick and Joe Setton.
With enough candidates in all four polling places – Jacqueline Rivera, Rita Sisselberger, Gary S. Fedorcha and Paul Moat – there will be no primary on the GOP ballot.
The Board of Commissioners is the legislative branch of county government whose powers include passing ordinances, adopting budgets, and levying taxes.
In the fall, the board unanimously adopted a 2023 budget of $522 million, keeping taxes at $3.78 million.
In October, the board voted unanimously give $3 million for the modernization of Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. This is in addition to the previously pledged $1.5 million. Major League Baseball stated that approximately $10 million in upgrades would be needed to keep the IronPigs in Allentown. The request sparked controversy throughout the Lehigh Valley, with Allentown rejecting it and Northampton County offering $200,000.
Last fall, a plaque raised salaries from four rows of elected officers and elected county manager.
The board recently unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance that would provide a volunteer tax credit of up to $150 for eligible members of volunteer fire departments. The second vote is expected on April 26.
Here’s a look at the Democratic candidates based on campaign websites, Facebook pages, Linkedin pages, news articles, Women’s League voter guides and board meeting minutes.
The Republican candidates will be presented in the fall.
Dan Hartzell – Incumbent
Hartzell, 72, of South Whitehall, is a former Road Warrior reporter and columnist for The Morning Call, who retired in 2014 after 38 years. Hartzell graduated from Whitehall High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Kutztown University in 1973. Hartzell was first elected in 2015, finishing second. He was re-elected in 2019, finishing first in an election in which Democrats took control of the board for the first time in decades. When he first ran, Hartzell was among a slate of candidates critical of the board’s decades-long delay in deciding the future of Cedarbrook, the county’s obsolete nursing home/rehabilitation facility. Hartzell served as chair of the Cedarbrook Board of Directors committee, overseeing a $67 million facility upgrade that includes the addition of a four-story, 240-bed facility and renovation of the D Wing. In January 2021, Hartzell joined Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, administrator and director of Cedarbrook Jason Cumello and Cedarbrook resident Jean Larison while receiving the first Covid-19 vaccines administered at Cedarbrook.
Sheila Alvarado
Alvarado, 37, of Allentown, is a legislative assistant to State Representative Peter G. Schweyer. He is a board member of LANTA and former neighborhood manager of the Community Action Development Corporation. She volunteered as an interpreter at the polls. Alvarado received her bachelor’s degree in office systems administration from the University of Puerto Rico in 2008. Facebook pagestated that she wants to protect services at Cedarbrook, promote fiscal responsibility to balance the budget, protect open spaces, and promote programs offered by community services. “I am a wife and mother of two wonderful children and a committed mother to the Allentown School District community,” Alvarado said. “Know that I am committed to my community and take great joy in helping people without being noticed.”
Michał Blichar Jr.
Blichar, 28, of Allentown, is the assistant director of student life and leadership development at Northampton Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2017 and a master’s degree in higher education administration in 2020 from Kutztown University. Bilchar is chairman of the Allentown Human Relations Commission and was a member of the Kutztown Planning Commission from 2018-2020. In 2018 and 2020, he unsuccessfully ran for state assembly in the 187th district. (*7*)On his Facebook page titled Blichar said he believes it is time to lead the next generation. He said he believed “positive change can come when the work is done at the local level.” He believes that investing in communities can improve the quality of life. “The commissioner should understand the unique challenges facing all residents of our county, regardless of zip code, and actively work with them to create positive solutions that impact the entire community. “From mental health to infrastructure, a tremendous amount of work has been done and I plan to support and continue to add to that work, particularly in the area of social services.” He said he would push for more transparency and access to local elected officials.
Jon Irons
Irons, 36, of Bethlehem, works as a data and evaluation manager for Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 2009 from Butler University in Indiana and a master’s degree in art and anthropology from the University of British Columbia in 2012. He previously worked as a manager at Whitehall Middle School and as the director of the teen center at the Boys & Club girls in Allentown. “I am running for Lehigh County Commissioner because I want to live in a sustainable Lehigh County that uplifts our most vulnerable residents and puts people first.” A social activist, he spoke at district commissioners’ meetings. In October, he questioned the transfer of money for renovations at Coca-Cola Park, claiming that money from the American Rescue Plan should be used for public assistance, according to WFMZ-TV. On his campaign websiteIrons says Lehigh County has a responsibility to keep residents secure and robust by addressing the root causes of poverty and pain. He said this includes working to provide affordable housing, food, health care, clothing, internet access and a living wage. Irons has a Twitter account where he comments on national and local issues. In one tweet he wrote: “Walmart had revenue of $611 billion this year. But they are laying off 35% of the workforce in Bethlehem. Everything industrial [development] is supposed to bring jobs to the Lehigh Valley, but corporate greed leads to predatory layoffs that impact our working families. Make it make sense.
Victor V.J. Martinez
Martinez is president and CEO of VP Broadcasting, which operates the Spanish-language station La Mega. He is also the program director and host of the morning show. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida Memorial University. He previously worked as a program director at CBS Radio and iHeartRadio and was a news reporter at WFMZ-TV. Martinez has been a supporter of Latino representation in the census-based redistricting process that took effect this year for up-to-date state legislative districts, according to the study Article in the spotlight. As a result of this process, Allentown gained a up-to-date seat for the House of Representatives (22nd). “As soon as the census was announced, Latino community leaders in Allentown and Reading began calling each other and talking online. [how] we need to make sure we are engaged in every conversation in the district,” Martinez was quoted as saying. Martinez, who has helped Latino candidates run for office, said LehighValleyNews.com that he wants to be the voice of Latinos on the Board of Commissioners. “I want to be able to make a statement,” he told the news outlet. “I want to go in there and say, ‘I have my base, I have my community.’”
April Riddick
Riddick, 55, of Allentown, is a project manager, event coordinator, photographer and marketing consultant at I Thrive. She is a volunteer and board member of the Allentown Athletic Association. He is a board member of Lehigh Valley Area Dress for Success Worldwide. She obtained a certificate in cosmetology from Star Beauty School and completed paralegal, business and accounting courses at Northampton Community College. He is involved in social activities. In May 2022, she was among seven people from Lehigh County elected to the Democratic State Committee. He is a founding member of the Latino Democratic Club of Pennsylvania.
Joe Setton
Setton, 71, is a broker and business owner Setton property in Orefield, which sells and rents commercial and residential properties, and also offers auction services. According to a report by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh and Northampton County, she holds a degree from the University of Leicester in England. 2021 Voter Guide. Setton was appointed to the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners in 2019 to fill a vacancy created by the election of Democrat Mark Pinsley as Lehigh County controller. Setton ran for a full four-year term in 2021, but lost against board chairwoman Christina “Tori” Morgan due to anti-development sentiment among voters. He told the League of Women Voters at the time that his experience as a tiny business owner and city commissioner gave him an understanding of the community’s needs and hopes. He recently told a story LehighValley News that he wants to find a solution to the problem of truck traffic caused by development and to improve and expand affordable housing.
