Hellertown Council candidates look to move borough forward

• Four of seven Hellertown Council seats are up for grabs on Election Day
• Three are for four-year terms and one is for a two-year term
• Issues include development, financial transparency, storm water and development

HELLERTOWN, Pa. — Four of the seven Hellertown Borough Council seats are up for election this fall. Of those seats, three are four-year terms and one is a 2-year term.

The candidates on the ballot or the Nov. 7 election are Republican Andrew Hughes, an incumbent, and Democrats Michael McKenna and Liz Thompson, both incumbents, and Lynley Solt.

Andrew Hughes

Hughes, who was appointed to his council position in 2018 and elected in 2021, formed the borough’s financial committee. He's seeking a four-year term.

“I view service in local government on the same footing as other community service commitments and one’s obligation to serve our communities,” he said.

“In addition, I believe financial transparency helps improve the efficiency of local government and allows Borough Council to make the best decisions on behalf of our citizens.”

If re-elected, he said, he hopes to continue to improve financial transparency, find ways to materially reduce borough staff health care costs and improve the borough’s revenue without raising what he calls “already very high property taxes.”

Also, make certain that borough services are providing the expected value to citizens, and continue to work toward ensuring Hellertown is a pedestrian-safe community.

Hughes recently retired as a corporate vice president from the Cyber Security profession of a major financial services organization.

He is a former board member and treasurer of Hellertown Area Library, where he still is an active member. He's also treasurer of Hellertown Lions Club.

He's been married 38 years and is a father of three. He and his family moved to Hellertown seven years ago, but have lived in the Lehigh Valley for more than 30 years.

Michael McKenna

Michael McKenna is seeking a four-year term.

McKenna said he is working to keep the community strong.

“The borough’s recovery since the pandemic has been steady and remains strong," he said. "My focus for the next few years will be to ensure a strong fiscal policy, including long-term budgeting and management of our infrastructure and capital assets.”

McKenna said he also would continue to focus on the storm water infrastructure, making certain of Hellertown’s compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for its municipal separate storm sewer systems.

He said he also would seek funding for storm water infrastructure improvements to ensure that Hellertown can withstand weather events.

He also said he would like to continue rebuilding the relationship with Lower Saucon Township, renewing partnerships with the borough.

McKenna grew up outside of Philadelphia and in 1994 moved with his wife to Hellertown, where they’ve lived for 29 years.

Liz Thompson

Democrat Liz Thompson was appointed to council in October 2022 after the passing of a former member. Thomas is running for both a two-year term and a four-year term. She will get to choose one if she wins both.

“The original issue that really got me involved was the issue of large development in town,” she said.

“Just seeing an opportunity for a developer who didn't have our community's best interests at heart and [I] really wanted to be able to maintain a community that I call home and an understanding that we do have to take a measured approach to growth in the community.”

Thompson, an Iraq War veteran, said her focus is on development in the community and how it affects all residents.

She said she also would like to take a closer look at the relationship between Hellertown and Lower Saucon and how that is affecting Hellertown residents and Lower Saucon residents — "and really wanting to work to find solutions to that."

“If a resident comes to me and as it has a complaint, or a concern, you know, I then take it to either our borough staff or do some investigation on my own with our ordinances, or talk at council meetings."

Thompson said she has "enjoyed being a problem-solver for folks who have raised issues or concerns with me,” she said.

Several years ago, Thompson joined the borough Planning Commission, then became interested in borough council.

She was in the Marine Corps and served in Iraq in 2004-05. She's now a project manager for a global company, Material Holdings.

Thomas is a Boston native who moved to Hellertown about 10 years ago after meeting her husband.

Lynley Solt

Lynley Solt is running for a four-year term.

She said she is running in hopes of bringing another perspective to the table.

“I am driven by a belief in the importance of diversity and representation in our local government,” Solt said. “We have more women on council today than we have in the past and I am wholeheartedly supportive of this progress.

"However, I believe we can do even better. I am dedicated to being a voice that represents the perspectives and concerns of all residents.”

Solt said she endorses the current council’s dedicated efforts to foster community engagement and uphold transparency in all their decisions. She said its openness and inclusivity ensures Hellertown residents are heard and actively incorporated into the decision-making process.

She said she is an advocate for economic development that enhances the community’s well-being while simultaneously enriching the borough’s growth and prosperity in a positive and sustainable manner.

Professionally, Solt is the director of operations for FMC GlobalSat, an international telecommunications company. She also is a member of the Friends of Hellertown Area Library.

Solt moved to Hellertown in 2016 with her husband and daughter.

“After several years of exploration and careful consideration, we finally found our ideal home in the heart of the borough," she said. "Hellertown has truly become our cherished community, and I am proud to call it home."