EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council President Kerry Myers has been booted off the May primary ballot after losing a challenge to his nominating petition.
- Northampton County Council President Kerry Myers has been removed from the primary election ballot after losing a challenge to his nominating petition
- Judge Edward Reibman upheld the challenge by Laurie Jackson and Edward Keegan, the husband of Myers' primary opponent, Kelly Keegan
- Reibman has yet to rule on a petition challenge to Republican William Rowe, who is running for the Bethlehem area District 1 seat on the council
This month, Myers turned in election paperwork for a second term, including a candidate petition with about 310 signatures. Laurie Jackson and Edward Keegan, the husband of Myers' primary opponent Kelly Keegan, challenged the validity of 110 of those signatures.
Myers was campaigning for council's District 2, which represents Easton, Glendon, Stockertown, Tatamy, West Easton, Wilson Borough and Forks and Palmer townships.
To qualify for the ballot, his petition needed 250 signatures of registered Democratic voters who live in those communities.
In a court order Thursday, Judge Edward Reibman upheld the challenge, ruling Myers' petition was fatally flawed.
Myers, the only Black person to serve on the council in the past decade, did not immediately respond to an interview request Friday. He previously served on the Easton Area School Board, including a stint as board president.
The ruling all but paves the way for Kelly Keegan, a Forks Township supervisor, to become a county commissioner in 2024. There is no Republican challenger, and the district has elected a Democrat to the office for the past 12 years.
The ruling all but paves the way for Kelly Keegan, a Forks Township supervisor, to become a county commissioner in 2024. There is no Republican challenger, and the district has elected a Democrat to office for the past 12 years.
No ruling on District 1 seat challenge
Reibman has yet to rule on a petition challenge to Republican William Rowe, who is running for the Bethlehem area District 1 seat on the council.
Challenger Steven Topp of Bethlehem has argued Rowe failed to turn in a statement of financial interests to the Northampton County Council office. While he did turn in the statement and another election document to the county elections office, state law mandates the form be filed in both offices.
Rowe was the only Republican to file for the District 1 race. Even if he survives the challenge, he faces long odds in the district.
The Bethlehem area hasn't elected a Republican to the county council in decades. Incumbent Kevin Lott is not seeking re-election, but his predecessor, Ken Kraft, is running unchallenged in the Democratic primary.
