- Lower Saucon Township Council appears to have a Democrat majority coming its way
- Republicans currently have the majority of 4-1, but results show it could move to 3-2 in favor of Democrats
- This could affect a number of future votes surrounding hot township issues, such as expanding the Bethlehem Landfill and renewing an official agreement with Hellertown Area Library
LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Making for her 10th run at a council seat in Lower Saucon Township, Democrat incumbent Priscilla deLeon seems to be at the top of the general election results with 2,335 votes, according to unofficial numbers from Northampton County.
She’s followed by her fellow Saucon Valley Together running mates, Democrats Laura Ray (2,264) and Victoria Opthof-Cordaro (2,244).
The three opposing Republicans included newcomer Susan Blair (1,473), incumbent Sandra Yerger (1,472) and incumbent and Council Vice President Mark Inglis (1,451).
The six candidates were gunning for three open seats and four-year terms on a five-member panel.
Before this election, Republicans held a 4-1 council majority. If the current election results hold as shown, it'll flip the majority in favor of the Democrats, 3-2, and result in some possible change in future voting direction.
A ballot question surrounding term limits looks to have majority township support, with a vote of 2,721-to-809. Effective Jan. 5, 2026, the ruling would limit future council members from serving any more than two consecutive four-year terms or eight years total.
A 3-1 vote back in July sent the matter to the general election ballot. Before the referendum vote, the township had no succession limits, so long as candidates continued to be voted into their positions.
Democrat and incumbent deLeon was the lone “no” vote, saying the ballot box already has control over term limits. Republican Sandra Yerger was absent that day.
All election results are unofficial until certified. Provisional ballots from Northampton County are expected to be counted on Thursday.
'David versus Goliath'
DeLeon said her recent run for a council seat was one of her most challenging to date. But she couldn’t have done it without a “tremendous” outpouring of community support, she said.
“In my opinion, it was a David versus Goliath,” deLeon said. “And we won — big time.”
She said she looks forward to “a better, more responsive government,” with intentions of mending both the relationships with township residents and neighboring Hellertown Borough regarding its library and more.
Opthof-Cordaro said a love of community across the township brought voters out in full force to make a much-needed change.
“We will work to bring our communities together, to restore respectful leadership, to honor our open space and conservation easements, to protect and fully fund our Hellertown Area Library, and to bring a brighter future we can all be proud of to Saucon Valley,” Opthof-Cordaro said.
The Democratic slate has stood in staunch opposition to a potential expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill.
“We will work to bring our communities together, to restore respectful leadership, to honor our open space and conservation easements, to protect and fully fund our Hellertown Area Library, and to bring a brighter future we can all be proud of to Saucon Valley."Democratic candidate Victoria Opthof-Cordaro
The council back in August voted 3-2 to rezone over 275 acres of farmland near the landfill to pave the way for a possible expansion. Yerger and deLeon voted against the proposal.
Township residents have come out in droves to past meetings with mostly negative comments toward the broadening of the dump.
Fellow Democrat Laura Ray said the grassroots support for their campaign grew strong quickly.
"I look forward to help mend the issues that have pulled our community apart," Ray said. "Residents deserve to have their voices heard instead of ignored."
Republican candidate and current Council Vice President Mark Inglis declined to comment. He stepped into his role on the panel back in 2022 to finish an unexpired term after Jennifer Zavacky left the position.
Blair and Yerger didn’t respond immediately to comment.
The campaign of Blair, Inglis, and Yerger centered around fiscal responsibility, longevity, and safety for the township.
Current council Republicans Jason Banonis and Thomas Carocci will be up for reelection in 2025.
