Township Commissioner Candidates Spend Money On Mailers, Signs

Spending among the six Republican candidates for South Whitehall Commissioner has so far ranged from $2,800 to under $250, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Lehigh County voter registration office.

Glenn Block, the only candidate to set up an election committee, raised $3,750 and spent $2,800 from March 7 to May 2, according to his report. Expenses included campaign signs, advertising and campaign literature.

Block, a certified public accountant and vice chair of the township zoning board, said he also went door-to-door over five weeks, meeting with hundreds of township residents. He said many did not know that the township spent more than it brought in, and he said he would use his financial skills to look more closely at spending.

, a divisional vice president for transportation for a department store chain and an emergency medical technician for local ambulance corps, spent $1,900, mostly on yard signs, flyers and ads. He did not set up a committee to raise money, and he financed his campaign.

Bond said he was consistent in his message as he spoke to residents about his campaign, that he would use his experiences to best serve the township.

, a member of the South Whitehall planning commission and a tractor-trailer mechanic, spent $2,089, mostly on campaign signs, cards and promotional materials. He also financed his campaign.

He said he has been going door-to-door to introduce himself to residents, focusing on those likely to vote on Tuesday. He said he asks too what they consider important township issues.

R.A. (Rene) Rodriguez, a retired engineer and former South Whitehall commissioner, signed a waiver that he would spend less than $250 on the campaign, according to the voter registration bureau. He has campaign signs up in the township and has been running print ads.

Incumbent also filed a waiver that he would spend less than $250 on the campaign, according to the voter registration bureau.

, a project management professional, did not spend or raise any money as of May 2, according to her campaign finance statement.

The six Republicans are running for three township commissioner seats. No Democrats are on the ballot, but several candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination as write-ins. 

Candidates responded to questions on the , their and .