Eichfeld Wins School Board Seat, Township EIT Referendum Approved

A race for five open Saucon Valley School Board seats that involved four incumbents and two challengers was decided Tuesday, .

Eichfeld ran on a platform promising fiscal conservatism, while Reilly emphasized the perspective she would bring to the board as a parent of students in the district.

According to unofficial returns posted on the Northampton County Board of Elections website, with all 11 district precincts reporting their vote totals--and out of more than 8,500 votes cast--Eichfeld had 1,172 votes to Reilly's 873.

Incumbents Charles Bartolet, Susan Baxter, Michael Karabin and  easily retained their seats on the board.

The top vote-getter in the race was Bartolet, with 1,693 votes, followed by Baxter with 1,623 votes, Karabin with 1,610 votes and Stack with 1,561 votes, according to the unofficial county results.

Also decided Tuesday was a referendum on whether Lower Saucon Township residents should continue to pay an extra .25 percent earned income tax (EIT) in order to fund open space preservation in the township.

Residents approved a five-year continuation of the EIT Open Space Fund by a margin of 56.74 percent to 43.26 percent, with a total of 1,209 votes cast, according to the county's unofficial results.

Before Tuesday's vote, . 

In Hellertown, where a non-competitive race for a vacancy on the seven-member Borough Council took place, Democratic newcomer Joseph Pampanin won a seat on council, where he will replace Stephanie Kovacs. Also re-elected to council were incumbents Richard Staffieri and vice president John Bate.

In Lower Saucon Township, where a non-competitive race for a vacant seat on the five-member Township Council was held, Democratic newcomer David Willard won a seat to replace Sandra Yerger. Re-elected to council were incumbents Priscilla deLeon and vice president Tom Maxfield.

All vote counts are unofficial until certified by Northampton County.