EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was reported by Armchair Lehigh Valley and published here with permission. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein, both formerly of The Morning Call. For more information, or to subscribe: armchairlehighvalley.substack.com.
LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. - On Tuesday, Democrats won three seats on the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners, defeating two incumbents and turning the five-seat governing board blue.
Melissa Bosak, Stefanie Rafes and Wesley Barrett achieved something else.
The trio appear to have become the first Democrats to be elected as a commissioner, or supervisor as they were formally known, in more than a half century.
“My understanding is that a Democrat hasn’t been elected commissioner since 1964,” Bosak said in an email.
Ron W. Beitler, a Lehigh County commissioner who previously served on the township board, confirmed the year was 1964 but said, “We’ve been having trouble finding the name” of the official.
Barret, Bosak and Rafes defeated Republicans Brian Higgins, who had been seeking his fourth term on the board, Brian Shoemaker, who wanted a second term, and newcomer Matthew Guglielmello. Incumbent Republican Rich Ward chose not to seek reelection.
A total of 392 votes separated Bosak, who placed third, from Higgins, who finished fourth.
Hardly a Democratic stronghold
Lower Macungie has a +4.36% Republican edge in voter registration while Lehigh County is +7.9% Democratic, according to an analysis by The Morning Call.
Democratic candidates hadn’t been trying to make inroads in the township of about 32,462 residents. A review of past elections shows there hasn’t been a Democrat on the Lower Macungie ballot since 2011 when Robert Sharpe ran unsuccessfully.
“I just enjoy the history and what it shows about how our township has evolved over time."Commissioner-elect Wesley Barrett
Barrett said he discovered one Democrat was among five residents who were appointed by a Lehigh County judge to the board in 2008 to serve until December 2009. At the time, the township had transitioned from a second class to a first class township, going from three supervisors to five commissioners.
Appointee Deana Zosky, who was a Democrat at the time, ran for a full four-year term in 2009 but did not win. She is now a Republican, state voting data shows.
“I just enjoy the history and what it shows about how our township has evolved over time. Local government shouldn’t be political. We’re neighbors and volunteers working to improve our community. Fixing a sewer system or adding a stop sign isn’t partisan work,” Barrett said in an email.
Rafes said voters asked her why the board didn’t have any Democrats. “I never had a good answer other than nobody has attempted to run,” said Rafes, a physician assistant who ran unsuccessfully in the 187th House District race against Republican Gary Day last year.
'Knocking on doors all year'
For this election year, Lehigh County Democrats made an effort to field credentialed candidates against Republicans in places like Lower Macungie.
Rafes said their win “would not have happened without the amount of door knocking that the three of us did. We have been out knocking on doors all year.”
“It’s very clear folks were angry about completely unrelated national issues. These are two candidates that got caught up with the ebb and flow of national politics despite outstanding performance over the last four years.”Lehigh County Commissioner Ron W. Beitler, on incumbent losses in Lower Macungie
Beitler, who was unopposed in his bid for reelection to the county’s District 2 seat, said he was “super disappointed” by Higgins’ and Shoemaker’s losses even as he had supported Barrett, who is chair of the township planning commission.
“I knew they had to work to keep their seats because of the national temperature,” he said.
“It’s very clear folks were angry about completely unrelated national issues,” he said. “These are two candidates that got caught up with the ebb and flow of national politics despite outstanding performance over the last four years.”
As she reflects on her win, Bosak said she’s happy the board will have women representatives. The last time that happened was in 2008 when Zosky was joined by Julianna Timmcke on the appointed board. Timmcke, who is a Republican, did not seek a full-term on the board in 2009.
“Our township is diverse, and by electing three Democrats and two women, the board is now more representative of our community,” Bosak, a project engineer, said in an email.
Said Rafes, “I am just truly honored that the voters have put their faith in myself, Wesley and Melissa. I’ve gotten to know them pretty well this year, and I know all three of us are thoughtful, responsible, and will serve with integrity and care.”
Barrett said he is looking forward to finding ways to connect the township’s more than 1,000 acres of open space to surrounding neighborhoods with trails and paths.
“It will be another great step forward for the township,” Barrett said.
Katherine Reinhard is the publisher of Armchair Lehigh Valley