Byron Arner

Arner has lived in, and paid school taxes, the Lehighton school district all my adult life.He doesn't believe there is a better place to live, grow up and go to school than Lehighton.Wayne WentzA Lehighton graduate, Navy veteran and retired railroad worker, Wentz also serves the American Legion, Franklin Township Fire Company and Franklin Township Athletic Association. Wentz has been awarded the Franklin Township Lions' Citizen of the Year award and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Babe Ruth and Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame.Andrew YenserAn accomplished student-athlete at both Lehighton High School and Wilkes University, Yenser grew up on his family's tree farm and earned a degree in environmental science. Yenser is a government sales manager at Kovatch, and is an active member of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company, where he is Firefighter I-Certified.Marianne DwyerDwyer is a member of the Mahoning Valley Lions and an associate of the Lehighton Lioness. She is a director on the Carbon County Fair board. She was a director for the amazing grace spay and neuter program.Why do you feel you're qualified for the school board?Wentz: Over my past two terms, I have served as chairman of the athletic and building and grounds committees, and as district representative for the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit No. 21. I have the experience and working knowledge of the issues to develop policies that provide students with resources and opportunities that equal or exceed those of other districts in terms of class size and quality education programs while avoiding significant tax increases that residents simply can't afford.Yenser: As board treasurer for six years, I believe that I am uniquely knowledgeable and experienced where financial issues and tax impacts are concerned. But my interest in continuing to serve as your representative on the school board transcends mere politics. I grew up here, and my wife and I chose to raise our own children here, so they could enjoy the same balance of educational opportunities and quality of life that our district offers.Dwyer: With all the community programs I have been involved with for eight years, I will be bringing my experience and knowledge with me when I would serve on the board. I am dedicated to community service. I have been giving back to our town because I care about the people of Lehighton and their well being. This is what the school board is about, the people not individual interests.What is your primary concern for the district and how do you hope to address it?Arner: Looking ahead, I would like to see the good education that our children have been receiving continue, along with responsible school spending and taxation that have homeowners, business owners and renters concerned.Wentz: By consolidating four elementary schools into one centralized, state-of-the-art educational facility, this plan will save taxpayers over $1 million per year, while providing enhanced programs, flexibility, cutting-edge technologies and expanded community opportunities. By contrast, competing proposals to implement major renovations to bring the four separate aging and increasingly obsolete existing elementary schools up to current standards, residents of the district will incur a substantial tax increase for debt service, just to maintain the status quo.Yenser: As always, I continue to support a sensible and fiscally responsible education policy that provides students with resources and opportunities that equal or exceed those of other districts in terms of class size and quality education programs. My focus is student-centered, with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility to maintain a sustainable educational system. I support efforts to improve academics, extracurricular activities and a healthy and productive environment for both students and staff.Dwyer: Obviously what is best for the children but if the taxpayers cannot afford it, everybody loses. Therefore we have to have fiscal responsibility. I will always have the taxpayers' best interest at heart when making decisions that involves their livelihood. We have to listen to what they people are saying and strive to represent their needs at all costs. We have to weigh how choices are made and how they will affect all of the people.Candidates Richard Beltz and Frank Tamburri were not available for comment.