WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Public safety, the economy and recreation are hot topics for the seven people — five Democrats and two Republicans — running for four seats on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners.
- Seven candidates are running for the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners: two Republicans and five Democrats
- Hot topics include public safety, the economy and recreation
- Two are running for re-election. Another had a one-month stint on the board in 2020
They are Democrats Victor Nassar, Jeffrey J. Warren, Michael Dee, Randy Atiyah and Ken Snyder, and Republicans Elizabeth Fox and LoriAnn Fehnel.
Warren and Atiyah are incumbents; Dee had a one-month stint on the board in 2020.
That means, barring write-in campaigns, four of the five Democrats and both Republicans will advance to the November general election.
All of the seats up for election have four-year terms.
Here is a look at the candidates and their positions:
Jeffrey Warren
Warren, a geologist and geophysicist, has been with the same firm, Leidos, for 29 years.
He has three children: one in middle school, one finishing high school and one at Penn State University.
He's a member of the Rotary Club, involved with the Historical Society, and Environmental Advisory Council.
He's past president of Whitehall Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, and said that during his time on that board, he was was instrumental in getting funds from the state budget that he said led to a $1.5 million grant toward Whitehall's police station.
"The Township must be proactive in shaping the future of MacArthur Road so that it remains safe, economically viable and inviting to all so that we can attract quality businesses and address blight where it may exist."Jeffrey Warren
His said his platform includes promises of transparency, increased public safety and smarter spending.
"The Township must be proactive in shaping the future of MacArthur Road so that it remains safe, economically viable and inviting to all so that we can attract quality businesses and address blight where it may exist," he said in an email.
During his time on the board of commissioners, he said he initiated efforts to mandate an annual audit for the office of the treasurer.
"Taxpayers should know every dollar is collected for and spent wisely," he said.
Ken Snyder
Snyder has lived in Whitehall for 64 years and is president of Spectrum Real Estate.
He and his wife both attended Whitehall High School, and are observing their 49th wedding anniversary this month. His family includes eight grandchildren, all of which, he says, will go through Whitehall-Coplay school system.
"There was a time when Whitehall was the envy of all the other communities in the Lehigh Valley. If you travel throughout the Lehigh Valley you can see there are other communities that are surpassing us with regards to recreation, housing, shopping facilities, and community amenities. I am hopeful that as your Commissioner I can help to improve this situation."Ken Snyder
He is on the boards of Whitehall Library, Whitehall Ambulance Corp. and Chamber of Commerce, where he is a past president. He has been on the township Planning Commission and Comprehensive Recreation Committee.
"There was a time when Whitehall was the envy of all the other communities in the Lehigh Valley," reads a passage from his campaign website. (He did not respond to an interview request.)
"If you travel throughout the Lehigh Valley you can see there are other communities that are surpassing us with regards to recreation, housing, shopping facilities, and community amenities. I am hopeful that as your Commissioner I can help to improve this situation."
His said his platform is summed up with four categories: parks & recreation, public safety, personnel transition, and taxes.
Snyder said attention needs to be given to the township's two closed pools, as well as some parks in the area.
"I believe it is time to update our plan and ensure that our community is getting the best for our dollars being spent," he said.
He said he would like to address short staffing in emergency services.
"Whitehall has always had top, knowledgeable personnel working for our residents, many of whom have been loyal to Whitehall for 25+ years. As retirement age approaches, it is imperative that we have a plan for transition for their replacements."
Snyder says he wants to make sure taxes are being spent in a way that creates "maximum return."
More information is available on Snyder's campaign website.
Randy Atiyeh
Atiyeh is athletic director at William Allen High School, and fills in as dean of students and assistant principal.
"I know there is a lot of work to do, but I also hope to continue to encourage those in our community to also get involved, and help make Whitehall a fantastic place to grow, live, and raise a family."Randy Atiyeh
He's a graduate of Whitehall Coplay High School and East Stroudsburg University, and has a master's degree from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre. He's been in education for 13 years, with 11 of those at Allen.
"I am the son of two Syrian-Americans who came to this country and worked extremely hard to provide for my siblings and I," Atiyeh said.
"They encouraged and supported us to gain an education and do well for ourselves. Family and community is part of who I am, and why I truly love to serve those in our community."
He said that, if re-elected, he has a vision for people of all ages to be able to enjoy Whitehall.
"If elected, I will continue to try to make sure that all decisions and votes that I make have the best interest of our township in mind," he said.
"I hope to improve quality of life and make Whitehall a great place to live for our seniors, as well as for our youth and the parents raising them."
He also said he plans to bring a "renewed energy and focus" around parks and recreation, improving parks and increasing programming for young people, as well as entertainment for those who are older.
"I know there is a lot of work to do, but I also hope to continue to encourage those in our community to also get involved, and help make Whitehall a fantastic place to grow, live, and raise a family," Atiyeh said.
He also said he sees diversity as something to embrace in the township.
"We are a way more diverse township than we’ve ever been, and I think we need to continue to embrace the diversity of our township by coming together as one strong Whitehall Community."
More information is available on campaign Facebook page.
Victor Nassar
Nassar did not respond to a request for interview for this report.
According to his LinkedIn page, he is an account Executive for Dun & Bradhurst, where he specializes in negotiation. It also says he has a role as a National Account Manager with the company, where he has been employed since 2019.
Before that, he says he founded Greater Lehigh Valley Homes & Investment.
The National Association of Realtors confirms he is an active, licensed member.
On Nassar's LinkedIn profile, there is a section marked "causes," in which he lists arts & culture, children, civil rights and social action, disaster and humanitarian relief, economic empowerment, education, environment, health, human rights, politics and science and technology.
Michael Dee
Dee did not respond to a request for an interview for this report.
His LinkedIn page says he has been chief of staff for the state House of Representatives since 2018. Before that, he was the legislative assistant for government affairs in the same office.
He was a Whitehall Township commissioner for one month in 2020.
LoriAnn Fehnel
LoriAnn Fehnel said she works rotating shifts at a full-time job, so mostly campaigns on her Facebook page, where she is active and vocal. (Though, she says she likes to get out and meet voters face-to-face when she can).
She has been a phlebotomist, an EMT, 9/11 dispatcher, data entry technician and recently, a medical receptionist.
"You know, the, the public safety aspect is a really huge issue right now. We don't have a paid fire department. Volunteers are literally at the bare minimum right now. And that is very deeply troubling because if somebody's house is burning down, we don't have the proper manpower to get out the door."LoriAnn Fehnel
She is also a frequent commentator at board of commissioners meetings, using the courtesy of the floor section to voice concerns or ask questions.
These comments include concerns about pool permits, safety and reporting one incident where someone allegedly shot fireworks from a car that hit the side of her home.
She said that if elected, she hopes to improve public safety in Whitehall.
"You know, the public safety aspect is a really huge issue right now," Fehnel said. "We don't have a paid fire department. Volunteers are literally at the bare minimum right now.
"And that is very deeply troubling because if somebody's house is burning down, we don't have the proper manpower to get out the door."
She also said she would like to see properties cleaned up to increase value, with overall hopes to make the area a more pleasant place to live.
"The littering aspect in Whitehall Township is really disgusting," Fehnel said. "Especially in the commercial districts."
More information is available on Fehnel's Facebook page, where she operates her campaign.
Elizabeth Fox
Fox said she's up for the challenge of a seat on the board of commissioners.
"I know there's gonna be a learning curve," Fox said. "I'm willing to learn, and say 'no' if it needs to be said. I know if I get in — it's all in."
She's involved in the Friends of Tomcat, a volunteer military society, and has been on its board. She was president of Egypt Memorial Park, and a board member, as well as a lifetime member of the VFW, through her father, a Vietnam War veteran.
She's a graduate of Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey and is a senior admin/assistant account, as well as a notary, for Lehigh County.
She has lived in Whitehall for 18 years with her husband of 20 years.
"I know there's gonna be a learning curve. I'm willing to learn, and say 'no' if it needs to be said. I know if I get in — it's all in."Elizabeth Fox
She said one inspiration for her campaign is being frustrated by what she perceives as nepotism.
"It's been the good old boys," she said. "Because we need to get fresh new faces. We need to also get rid of the good old boys.
"That's one of my biggest things — is not hiring family within the township ... We need to break the good old boy network and really hold everyone accountable."
She lists her platform as public safety, transparency and property tax reduction.
Fox said she wants to explore programs to make things more appealing and supportive for emergency responders.
For example, she cited a program that her son, a volunteer firefighter, went through in college, with which he saved $1,000 a year and was given a room at a fire hall in exchange for volunteer emergency work.
"I know already what can be done," she said. "The programs that are out there, they're amazing."
She said she's especially concerned about taxes for seniors who may have limited income.
"No, we're not raising taxes," she said. "What about our senior citizens?Our school taxes are already high. The last four years they raised us 4.3 percent and never took into consideration of our seniors."
More information Fox's campaign can be found of her Facebook page.
