Campaign for Whitehall Township mayoral election heating up

• There are two candidates running for Whitehall Township mayor
• One is a Democrat, the other a Republican
• Candidates said main issues include funding of emergency services, retail and real estate

WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Discourse between the candidates for Whitehall Township mayor is heating up as Election Day nears.

Democrat Joseph Marx, president of the township Board of Commissioners, faces Republican Tina Koren, the township's elected treasurer and tax collector, in the Nov. 7 election.

Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. did not seek re-election.

Both candidates said they're not particularly married to their party lines. Marx described himself as a moderate, while Koren said she makes her decisions based on what is best for the community.

Marx said he refuses to debate Koren.

“We’ve never debated, and I won’t debate the woman because I don’t respect the woman,” Marx said. “And I say that with a clear conscience. Tina tends to bend the truth a lot.”

At an event at the Islamic Center in Whitehall in September, Koren described Marx’s speaking style as weak, and implied that he can't think for himself.

“They asked us questions, and of course for some reason I had to go first,” Koren said. She also said other people spoke at the event, including the district attorney, so it was not explicitly a campaign event.

Regardless, Koren said she recapped her platform on the microphone, followed by Marx, “and he kind of like backed away from everything."

“He goes, ‘Mrs. Koren, you go first,’ so I’d give the answer, and he says, ‘Yeah, I agree with that,’” Koren said.

‘No one stands behind me and pulls my strings’

Asked about Koren's characterization of the event, Marx laughed out loud, then strongly disagreed.

“I'm certainly a free thinker,” Marx said. “I think for myself, I’m a United States Marine — I mean, for her to allege that I can't think for myself, that other people are thinking for me, I believe, is ludicrous.

“She’s seen me in action, publicly, time and time again, I’m the board president, I run the meetings.

"I was the former vice president, I served 14 years on the Coplay/Whitehall Sewer Authority, I’m the senior member and community affairs spokesperson, four years on the planning commission, Whitehall Township Veteran’s Memorial Committee.

"You name it, I’ve been there and done that. No one stands behind me and pulls my strings.”

Joseph Marx

Marx said being a Marines veteran has influenced much of his philosophies on hard work and community service.

Marx owns and operates a property management company.

He was born in Northampton — “across the river,” as he describes it — but with his family has lived in Whitehall since 2001.

“I am the only candidate with the knowledge and experience needed to move Whitehall township forward,” Marx said, when asked why people should vote for him.

“I have been there for us for the last seven and a half years as a commissioner, I know how the process works, and I know how to get things done with my business and military background.”
Joseph Marx said if elected, he plans to prioritize public safety, economic growth, infrastructure, and collaboration within the township.

Marx said on his campaign website that his campaign "is built on the belief that by working together, we can create a township that is stronger, safer and more prosperous for everyone.”

Marx said he hopes to strengthen emergency response systems, attract new businesses, create jobs, and invest in parks, pools, roads and facilities.

“My number one talking point is leadership,” Marx said, in an interview before the October election. “I believe every organization needs a strong leader.

"There are many issues and challenges in Whitehall Township. I cannot pinpoint a specific issue, but there are many. There's been a lot. There have been a lot of distractions in the last four years.

"And I believe I've been very successful putting them behind us. Now it's time to move forward.”

While Koren has made it a goal to increase funding for firefighters, Marx said he views the issue differently.

“Despite what my opponent has said publicly, our fire department is fully funded," he said. "The issue that needs to be addressed is fire department leadership and volunteerism, not funding.”

Tina Koren

Koren has resided in Whitehall for more than 45 years, and spent 41 of those years working for the State Police as a management administrator. She once was chosen as civilian employee of the year.

She served 19 years on Whitehall-Coplay School Board, with terms as president and vice president. Her two children went through the Whitehall school system.

Koren said her political style is influenced by her time as a treasurer and tax collector. It has given her a “direct view into the township’s inner workings,” she told LehighValleyNews.com in May during the primaries.

Koren also owns Subway franchise locations in Whitehall.

Koren on her website says ensuring the fire department is appropriately funded and operating 24 hours a day.

“My number one priority or goal will be looking at the fire department to ensure that we are able to possibly implement a fire tax like the other municipalities have — that would not increase taxpayers’ tax.

"I was looking at eliminating a per capita tax. So to ensure the safety of Whitehall residents, I think we need to switch gears and get like South Whitehall has, I think just about every municipality here has, its fire attack. So we can hire a few full-time firefighters that would respond 24 hours a day.”

Asked why people should vote for her, Koren responded: “I have a proven history in this township. I grew up in this township. I was a small business owner in this township, I own Subway franchises, I've lived here for over 40 years.

"I’ve proven myself on the school board; I voted for what was best for the taxpayers for 19 years. And I'm the tax collector and there's so much we need to change in this township to make people get their money's worth of taxes.”