Kathy Henderson is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination in the May 18 primary for the position of tax collector in East Penn Township.

Born and raised in East Penn, Henderson graduated from Lehighton High School and attended Northampton Community College and LCCC, majoring in graphic art and accounting and finance.

Henderson is the director of economic development for Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. This position enables her to work on projects that bring jobs to the county and help entrepreneurs to start or expand their business.

She is certified by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority in Economic Development Finance and underwrites and administrates loans for CCEDC and the Carbon County Industrial Development Authority.

Henderson serves on various boards of directors, including Northeast PA Alliance, Penn’s Northeast, Carbon Training Center, and the Wildlands Conservancy. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, the Public Policy Committees at PEDA and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and vice chair of the NEPA Multimodal Transportation Organization.

Henderson volunteers as the representative for East Penn Township on the Lehigh Canal and Recreation Commission, the Lehighton Main Street Steering Committee, and the audit committee at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton.

In the past she served as Cubmaster for Cub Pack 82 and Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 82, obtained her real estate licenses in the states of Florida and Pennsylvania and was an EMT for East Penn Township Fire Company, Andreas Fire Company and Mahoning Valley Ambulance.

Henderson said, “I would like to thank Tom Beck for his 32 years of service to our township and congratulate him on his retirement. Having been born and raised in East Penn, I have seen the township grow through the years. I believe in giving back to my community and I humbly ask for your vote and the opportunity to serve the community that I am proud to call home.”

Henderson is the daughter of the late Harvey and Grace Fogel and resides in East Penn with her husband, Jim, and their dog. They have a son, daughter-in-law and stepgrandson.