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MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2017
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Two East Allen residents to Run for supervisor By JUSTIN SWEITZER Two weeks after East Allen Township supervisors appointed Robert Mills to fill a vacancy left on the board following Christopher Colitas’ resignation, two township residents announced their intention to run for one of the two spots that will be up for reelection at the end of this year. Township residents Eric Yocum and Brian Budraitis announced their intention to run for seats currently occupied by Mills and Supervisor Madelyn Kemp at the township’s March 23 Board of Supervisors meeting. Budraitis, a Northampton County sheriff’s deputy for the criminal warrants division, said he did not apply for the opening following Colitas’ resignation due to not meeting residency requirements. He is a new resident
to the township, but a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley. ---------------------------------
We’re lucky if we get two to pick from, this year we had eight. Roger Unangst ---------------------------------
One of six Republicans running for the board, Budraitis is excited at the prospect of getting involved within East Allen Township as a supervisor. “I’m looking forward to getting involved in local government,” Budraitis said. Yocum, the only Democrat running for the East Allen Board of Supervisors, is a retired environmental engineer who formerly worked for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Also a former member of the East Allen Water Authority Board, Yocum said his interest in local government increased following the township’s approval of the Toll Brothers age-restricted community and upcoming warehouse development in Franks Corner. Board of Supervisors Chairman Roger Unangst once again voiced his pleasure over the large interest in township participation, noting that the increased level of interest is beneficial to the township. “We’re lucky if we get two to pick from, this year we had eight,” Unangst said, referring to the candidates who ran for Colitas’ seat following his resignation. “Interest is really increasing and that is nothing but a good thing.”
TRACY POLOVICK Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/ Northampton), who also serves as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in the Pennsylvania National Guard, recently introduced legislation to extend the Military Family Relief Program check-off box on state tax forms for another four years. “As a member of the military, I know firsthand the many sacrifices families endure when a loved one is deployed,” said Mako. “This program helps meet immediate needs for food, shelter, clothing and medical care for those stateside. The last thing a deployed serviceman or servicewoman needs is to be concerned about whether basic needs are being met for family members at home.” House Bill 984 would extend the tax check-off until Jan. 1, 2022. The Military Family Relief Program provides financial assistance to armed forces personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserves. Assistance available under the program is offered during active duty status. The program is funded by the tax check-off and was first initiated in 2005. It has been extended three times since then. Currently, the program is set to expire on Jan. 1, 2018. The 183rd District includes South Whitehall (part), Washington and Whitehall (part) townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
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