There are major races to be decided on the municipal level in the one borough and two townships that comprise the Jim Thorpe Area School District. Balloting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when Carbon County holds its General Election. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in each of the county's 51 election districts.

The contests to be decided are in Jim Thorpe Borough, where challenges exist for the mayor's position and seats on borough council, and in Penn Forest and Kidder townships. In Penn Forest, there is a race for the tax collector's seat, as well as for supervisor, whereas in Kidder Township voters will decide on two candidates for supervisors' seats.Jim Thorpe BoroughTwo candidates are running for the four-year term as mayor of Jim Thorpe and the right to succeed retiring mayor Ronald Confer. They are Democrat Jeremy Melber and Republican Michael J. Sofranko.Meanwhile, in the council race, seven candidates are running for four four-year terms of office. Kyle J. Sheckler, a Democrat, won both nominations in May and will appear on both ballots. He will be joined on the Democratic ballot by incumbent councilmen Gregory Strubinger and Justin Yaich, as well as Donald A. Reese. On the GOP side, besides Sheckler, will be Dan J. Rimsky, Ammon D. Hontz and Joanne Klitsch.Tax Collector Terry M. McElmoyle, a Democrat, is running for re-election to a four-year term of office and is unopposed, as is Democrat Paul F. Gavornik, the incumbent constable in the borough who is running for re-election to a six-year term.There are judges of elections and inspectors of elections positions up for grabs as well. In District 14, Democrat Denise Green is the lone candidate for judge of elections while the inspector of elections race is between Democrat Margaret A. Sterner and Republican Adell J. Rosick.Christine Kibler, a Democrat, is unopposed for judge of elections in District 15, as is Democrat Diane L. Donlin, who is running for inspector of elections in the same district.In District 16, there are no judge of elections candidates. Democrat Sara E. Solt is running for inspector of elections. In District 17, no one is running for judge of elections while the inspector of elections post is being sought by Democrat Doren Perdie and Republican Steven Perdie.Edith Crossin, a Democrat, is running for judge of elections in District 18 while Democrat Mary Strohl is the lone candidate for inspector of elections.Penn Forest TownshipThere are two key races in Penn Forest Township. Longtime Tax Collector Barbara A. Ahner, a Democrat, faces opposition in her pursuit of another four-year term. She is challenged by Republican Marie Katz.For two six-year terms on the board of supervisors, there are five candidates. They include incumbents Warren Butch Reiner, a Democrat, and Republican Judith M. Knappenberger, a Republican. Reiner is joined on the Democratic ticket by Floyd Day while Jeff Kalage is Knappenberger's colleague on the GOP side. Independent Raymond R. Royer is also running for a supervisor's post.Anton Leppler is seeking the six-year term as constable. He appears on both ballots. And Christine Fazio, a Democrat, is running unopposed for the two-year term as auditor, as well as the six-year term as auditor.There are candidates for judges of elections and inspector of elections in the township as well. In District 51-01, Southwest, Democrat Margaret M. Rubarsky is unopposed for judge of elections and party member Barbara Spitzer is unchallenged for inspector of elections.In District 51-02, Northwest, Helen E. Torok is running for judge of elections and appears on both ballots. Republican Alfred M. Feusestein is running unopposed for inspector of elections.In District 51-03, Middle, the lone candidate for judge of elections is Robert F. Steiger. Julia A. Steiger, also a Democrat, is seeking the inspector of elections post and is unopposed.John Danchak, a Democrat, is running for judge of elections in District 51-04 (Northeast), while there is a race for inspector of elections between Democrat Donna Danchak and Republican Dolores C. Cosgrove.In District 51-05, East, the judge of elections candidates are Democrat Donna Briglio and Republican Robert M. Savino, whereas for the inspector of elections position, the candidates are Democrat Glenn S. Bachman and Republican Barbara A. Savino.Kidder TownshipThere is one major race in Kidder Township, where four persons are running for two six-year terms as supervisors. They include incumbents Larry Polansky and Kevin Nally, Republicans, and Democratic challengers Richard A. Kennedy and Bob Lengle.Tax Collector Kim M. Ginopolas is seeking re-election to a four-year term and is unopposed, having won both nominations in May.There are three auditor positions up for grabs in the township, for two-, four- and six-year terms. No one is running for the spots, nor is anyone seeking the six-year term as constable.In District 20, North, Democrat Kathleen Spolowich is running unopposed for judge of elections, while there is a race for inspector of elections between Democrat Georgia McCluskey and Republican Sharon F. Roegge.In District 21, South, Republican Elizabeth Lennon is the lone candidate for judge of elections. Running for inspector of elections are Democrat Mary A. Farnschlader and Republican Ronald Keppler.Jim Thorpe School BoardVoters in Jim Thorpe Borough, Penn Forest Township and Kidder Township South will participate in the balloting for positions on the Jim Thorpe Area School District Board of Education, where four four-year terms and one two-year term are to be decided.In fact, for the four four-year terms, the outcome is already established, as four persons won both nominations in May. They include incumbents Randall Randy Smith, Thomas P. Henry and Dennis J. McGinley Jr., as well as newcomer Bob Kovac.For the two-year term, the race is between Democrat Clement C. McGinley and Republican Henry.Weatherly Area School BoardVoters in Kidder Township North will participate in balloting for Weatherly Area School District Board of Education seats, although that race is apparently settled. There are four four-year terms up for grabs.On the Democratic side are Corey Gerhard, Joanne N. Dougherty and John Toft Jr. The trio appears on the GOP ballot as well, and are joined by Bonita Barbush.