EASTON, Pa. — Former Nazareth Borough Councilman Jeffrey Corpora recalls following the news last week that a judge would appoint a new member to Northampton County Council after hours of at-times acrimonious debate and 12 failed votes.
“I was waiting to see like everyone else how this process would play out,” Copora said. “And then Friday afternoon, I got the phone call [asking] if I’m interested in filling the vacancy.”
“I know of Judge Dally; we don't have a personal relationship. We've crossed paths many times over the past 25 years. But I do have a body of work, I think, that maybe caught his eye.”New Northampton County Councilman Jeffrey Corpora
Corpora was officially appointed to Northampton County Council on Tuesday afternoon, filling the open seat left by Tara Zrinski’s resignation at the start of 2024.
Corpora was not among the more than two dozen applicants for the post when County Council first sought to fill it, and said he did not approach the court seeking the job, either.
In a “statement of reasons” accompanying his appointment, Dally did not explain how or why he settled on a candidate; he instead emphasizes that the Northampton County Home Rule Charter lets him choose almost anyone.
Corpora said he does not exactly know why he was chosen.
Dally did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
“I know of Judge Dally; we don't have a personal relationship," Corpora said. "We've crossed paths many times over the past 25 years.
“But I do have a body of work, I think, that maybe caught his eye.”
Hopes to help council move on
That work, Corpora said, includes more than 30 years teaching in Easton Area School District, where he most recently specialized in teaching Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics.
After retiring from teaching in 2019, he now works as an adjunct professor at Moravian University and as compliance director for Metro Beauty Academy in Allentown.
“Because one side didn't get their selected candidate over the other, I think that's a pretty fresh start for both. And now maybe we can just bridge together and do what's best for the county.”New Northampton County Councilman Jeffrey Corpora
Corpora first served on Nazareth Borough Council from 1998-2001. He again was appointed to the board in 2023 following the death of Larry Stoudt.
Corpora, running as a Democrat, won a two-year term on the borough council in November’s municipal election.
Now that he’s a member of the county council, he said, he hopes his appointment will let the body move on from the rancorous fight over the once-open seat.
“Because one side didn't get their selected candidate over the other, I think that's a pretty fresh start for both,” Corpora said.
“And now maybe we can just bridge together and do what's best for the county.”
