Mayor Candidate Says He'll Give Back Salary If Elected

At least one contender in the race for mayor of Emmaus has started to make some pretty straightforward campaign promises.

John F. Belin, Jr., who will be listed on the Democratic ballot in the May 21 primary, says that if elected, he will not accept his salary as mayor.

"I would like to annouce if elected to Mayor of Emmaus I will give back my salary to the Borough for the six year term," Belin wrote in an email statement to Emmaus Patch.

Belin is running against incumbent Winfield Iobst in the Democratic primary. East Penn School Board member Julian Stolz is running on the Republican side.

Stolz is also running for borough council. He would have to relinquish his school board seat if he wins and wants to serve as mayor or councilman. Stolz is embroiled in a controversy over Twitter messages that has some residents calling for him to resign from school board.

"I hope my opponents Winnie Iobst and Julian Stolz can make the same pledge (about not accepting a salary)," Belin writes.

In a follow-up telephone interview with Emmaus Patch, Belin said that Stolz has made reference to giving back his salary as mayor on Facebook, but that Belin doesn't consider those statements to be serious.

According to a guide produced by the League of Women Voters in 2012, the mayor of Emmaus earns $2,820 per year and the term of office is four years. Based on those figures, Belin's potential give-back to the borough would total $11,280.