Wayne Nothstein, serving in his 24th year as a Carbon County Commissioner, has announced his candidacy for re-election on the Republican ticket, seeking his seventh term in office.

Currently chairman of the board of commissioners, Nothstein is a 1967 graduate of Lehighton Area High School and a 1980 graduate of Northampton Community College with an associate degree in applied science.

Locally, Nothstein spearheaded efforts leading to the construction of a new Emergency Operations Training Center in Carbon County. He also played a key role in the formation of the Carbon County Council of Governments and a “Business Development Group,” which assists existing businesses and develops strategies to encourage businesses to come to Carbon County.

Gov. Ed Rendell appointed Nothstein to serve on the state’s Emergency Management Agency 911 advisory board in 2004. He was reappointed five years later by Gov. Tom Corbett.

He has also served on various County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania committees including a comprehensive Behavioral Health Task Force, Policy Structure Task Force.

Nothstein was previously employed by BOC gases in Bethlehem for 23 years, belonging to Teamsters union 773, serving as shop steward for several years.

While serving the United States Air Force for four years during the Vietnam War era, he earned the rank of staff sergeant.

Nothstein is now a member of the American Legion Post 314, the Vietnam Last Man’s Club in Lehighton, and various other local groups.

Nothstein is still an active volunteer firefighter with the Lehighton Fire Department for over five decades, having served as fire chief for seven and a half years before resigning to become the emergency management coordinator for Carbon County. He also served as an EMT with Lehighton Ambulance. He is a former scoutmaster of Troop 48 in Lehighton, reaching the rank of Eagle Scout.

Nothstein is the son of the late Helen and Sherwood Nothstein. He is married to Donna Marie Nothstein. Together they have four children including son Scott and his wife, Amy; daughter Melissa, wife of Richard Arieta; stepson Richard Mertz and wife Janet; stepdaughter Melissa, wife of Mark Smith; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.