- Six candidates are running for four four-year seats on Emmaus Borough Council
- Candidates noted fiscal responsibility and managing the plan to fix PFAS contamination in the water as priorities
- Election day is Nov. 7
EMMAUS, Pa. — With three borough council members stepping down, Emmaus is looking at a shake-up in its local government as four four-year seats come up for grabs.
Council members John Hart, Teri Sorg-McManamon and Chris DeFrain are not seeking re-election, leaving three seats guaranteed for newcomers.
There are six candidates seeking the open seats.
They are Democrats Chris Hoenscheid and Katherine Watt, and Republicans incumbent Chad Balliet and newcomers Nathan Brown, Trevor Schneck and John F. Belin Jr.
Some important issues are at play in the borough, getting the attention of both the public and the candidates running.
They include concerns with PFAS contamination of the borough's water and plans to fix that, and continued planning for the borough.
The outgoing council members said they will continue to be part of the community, even when not on the board.
Hart has voiced his intention to lead the newly formed Emmaus Community Foundation, while Sorg-McManamon has been involved in the presentation of the Emmaus Vision 2030 plan as chair of the Community Relations, Planning and Development committee, and is a board member of the Emmaus Historical Society.
DeFrain is a co-chairman of this year's borough Halloween parade.
Municipal elections take place Nov. 7.
Borough Council members adopt the annual budget, pass resolutions and ordinances, approve contracts and bids and establish other policies in the borough government.
Here's a look at the candidates:
Chris Hoenscheid
An 18-year resident of the borough, Hoenscheid said he, his wife and son have "loved it since the day we moved in."
He said he appreciated that Emmaus is not a polarized environment and wants to work with the council and be a part of it to keep the borough on what he feels is the right track.
Hooenscheid is a Northampton Area School District elementary school teacher who also noted business experience in sales.
"I think having a wide variety of experiences working with people from all different walks of life, whether as a teacher or as a purchasing agent," he said.
"Or even just another part-time job trying to make ends meet in the interim, I think that kind of has always helped me to just kind of be able to relate to people on a personal level."
He said he was not sure how he would have voted on the decision this year to address PFAS contamination but admires the town's decision to keep the water under its own control in the future.
"I want to keep Emmaus as the beautiful little place that it is for families, people who are living there, for visitors who are coming in to attend the different events and things that we have going on," Hoenscheid said.
"Just kind of stepping up and doing what I can to help keep us on the right track."
Katherine Watt
After graduating from Cornell University and working in accounting in Texas, Watt said she moved back home to Pennsylvania and has been an Emmaus resident for nine years.
Her first engagement with the community came as treasurer for Jefferson Elementary's PTC when her daughter attended the school.
She said she now works in data analysis and political advertising.
She said she wants to keep Emmaus a great place to live. In a meeting with voters, she noted concerns from residents including efficient spending and investment in the borough's roads.
She said that as a member of the council, she would look forward to improving infrastructure systems and making the right choices for the municipality's long-term future.
Watt said she was satisfied with the plan regarding PFAS contamination, and now it is a matter of following through and providing oversight.
Watt also said increasing pedestrian safety for kids in the borough and around the schools is a large priority.
"I'd like to get kids to walk into school, I'd like there to be fewer cars in the drop off-line in the borough because we're also close, but people feel like they can't let their kids walk to school because there aren't enough crossing guards," Watt said.
"There's not appropriate signage, and so I would like to work with PennDOT and the school board and the borough to just see what we can do to improve our streets for our kids."
Chad Balliet
In recent years, Chad Balliet has become both a part of Emmaus' downtown and its local government.
He's running for a second term on council.
He moved to the community in 2004 and now lives and works there with his wife and young son.
Balliet owns and operates South Mountain Cycle and Café in downtown Emmaus.
According to his bio, he understands "very well the give and take needed to run a successful business."
As part of local government, he is chairman of the Health, Sanitation & Codes committee and is a member of the Parks and Recreation and Public Works committees.
Nathan Brown
Former Lehigh County Commissioner Nathan Brown said he wants to get back to serving others.
Brown moved to the borough 26 years ago and resides there with his wife and children.
Brown previously served 10 years on the borough council before his stint as Lehigh County Commissioner.
He said he resigned as county commissioner in 2020 because of work opportunities and obligations, but since then has gotten into a stable position as a project manager.
He said "hot topics" for him getting back into public office include the water system shifts because of PFAS contamination, and seeing that issue to completion.
"It's going to cost a boatload of money," Brown said. "When I started that council, the budget was $10 million...now we're 15 years removed, and now that budget's $19 million.
"I mean, that's a lot of money in my opinion, so we've got to be good stewards with that."
Infrastructure as a whole, including water and prioritizing road repair, will be major priorities for him, Brown said.
As for the future of the borough, Brown says he wants to see the studies and plans the borough has done in recent years get "off the shelf" and be tangible for residents to increase their quality of life.
Trevor Schneck
Emmaus Youth Wrestling coach and Program Director Trevor Schneck said Emmaus is a beautiful place to live.
Schneck is co-owner and photographer of local media production company Bar None Photography & Cinematography, alongside Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler.
Schneck ran unsuccessfully for council in 2021 and didn't respond to attempts to reach him for this report.
"I love Emmaus and don't really want things to change," Schneck said on a campaign Facebook page. "My biggest problem is our spending."
In 2021, Schneck stated he wished to balance the budget and lower property tax millage if possible.
John Belin Jr.
John Belin said he is running to be a fresh voice for a town in which he really loves living and sees as one of the better communities of the Lehigh Valley.
A 22-year resident of the borough, Belin served as a school board member for Brandywine Heights School Board in Berks County and ran unsuccessfully for Emmaus Borough Council and mayor.
He said he is a strong supporter of law enforcement and protecting the municipality's seniors and small businesses. He also said he wishes to keep a closer eye on borough finances.
"I'll try to keep our community safe, keep it as nice as it is with a growing [area] population," Belin said.
On the issue of PFAS contamination, he said he drinks the borough's water and that it seems safe but supports regular testing.
He said in his professional life, he works as a quality assurance analyst and has worked for printing and pharmaceutical companies.
