Election Preview

Today, May 17, is Primary Election Day – the day to make your choice for local officials such as commissioners and school board members who decide how your hard-earned tax dollars will be spent.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Pennsylvania, primary elections are “closed,” meaning you must be registered as a Republican to vote for Republican candidates, or as a Democrat to vote for Democratic candidates. Voters registered as Independent can only vote on ballot questions (such as Northampton County’s Gracedale nursing home question) in this election.

In Salisbury Township, there are two contested races: district judge for and the

The candidates for district judge, r and , would replace , who is retiring.

Three of five seats are open on the Salisbury Township board of commissioners, but only the race in the fifth ward is contested between incumbent commissioner Joanne C. Ackerman and newcomer Matthew Sickonic.  Commissioner Robert Martucci is running unopposed as the Democratic candidate in the first ward and newcomer Debra Brinton is running unopposed as the Republican candidate in the third ward.

There are four candidates for five seats on the Salisbury Township school board, incumbents , and Frank Frankenfield and newcomer . The four candidates are virtually assured a win in the primary. Unless there is a write-in candidate winning the fifth seat in the general election in the fall, the school board will then advertise for candidates for the fifth position.

Salisbury Commissioner is one of eight Republican candidates seeking four seats on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.  The other candidates are , currently a South Whitehall Township commissioner; , an incumbent Lehigh County commissioner who resides in the township and , an independent insurance agent who works in South Whitehall; and who are running as a slate, namely Scott Ott, a producer for a web-based television network who resides in the township; Vic Mazziotti, former Northampton County fiscal affairs director; Lisa Scheller, a business executive; and David C. Najarian, a Lynn Township supervisor.

Patch asked the Lehigh County Commissioner candidates questions on the budget, Cedarbrook and open space.

The four Democrats seeking their party's nod for the four Lehigh County commissioner positions are Geoffrey S. Brace, Dennis L. Pearson, Gloria Hamm, and Timothy S. Waitkus. They are virtually assured their party's nomination since there is no competition for their party's nod in the primary.

Salisbury resident Glenn Eckhart, a Lehigh County commissioner, is running unopposed as the Republican candidates for Lehigh County Controller.

If you encounter any problems at the polls (such as voting machines that malfunction), let us know so we can check into it.

Patch will report local election results as soon as they become available. Check back tonight for updates after the polls close

Polling places in Salisbury Township:

1st Ward:  Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 1701 Church Road.

2nd Ward:  Eastern Salisbury Fire Company, 1000 E. Emmaus Ave.

3rd Ward, 1st District:  Salisbury High School, 500 E. Montgomery St.

3rd Ward, 2nd District:  Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

4th Ward, 1st District: Salisbury Middle School, 3301 Devonshire Road.

4th Ward, 2nd District: Bible Fellowship Church, 1151 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.

5th Ward, 1st District: The Swain School, 1100 S. 24th St.

5th Ward, 2nd District: Hope United Church of Christ, 1031 Flexer Ave.