Local legislators honored 23 residents Friday morning at the Carbon County 50-Year Voter Hall of Fame breakfast for their consistent voting in every election over the past half-century.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley, who co-sponsored the event with state Sen. Dave Argall, emphasized the impact of local elections on daily life.

“So many times, local elections have more impact on your life than national elections,” Heffley said. “And we’ve seen a township race or even the county commissioners come down to one or two votes a lot. Every vote counts, and it’s important we keep honoring these men and women who come out to the polls year after year to participate in this process.”

This year’s breakfast was held at the American Legion Post 314 in Lehighton. Honorees included Robert Crampsie, Georgiann Davis, Vicki DeMarco, Ann Eckhart, Dennis Frantz, Linda Guy, Jeffrey Harris, Robyn Harris, Peter Maholick, Kathleen McArdle, Kenneth McArdle Jr., Maurice McFarland, Jean Newton, William Newton, Rose Reese, Mark Reitz, Paul Rokita, Adell Rosick, James Sauka, Martha Francine Shemansik, Craig Strohl, Mary Ann Szczecina and Glenn Wagner.

“I vote every year because I like to have a choice in who represents me both locally, statewide, and nationally,” William Newton said.

His wife, Jean Newton, echoed his sentiment when explaining her approach to each election:

“I make it a point to get out and vote every year,” she said. “I research what the candidates stand for and balance that with how it meets my needs and my family’s needs. If that matches up, that is the person I vote for.”

Jean said that while every election is important, she puts an emphasis on the local races.

“I like the local elections because I feel the voters have more control there,” she said. “Those elections, such as school boards, townships and the county commissioners, I know those positions have a lot of say. We have local influence, and I like to know what they are going to do for me.”

Many in the room Friday said they have lived through dramatic shifts in the political landscape.

One such story came from Argall, who shared a personal anecdote about his own family’s voting history. Argall’s grandfather, a staunch Democrat, did not allow his grandmother to vote for 20 years because he feared she would cancel out his vote.

“Finally, when Eisenhower came around, that was one Republican that my Democratic grandfather could identify with, so he allowed her to vote,” Argall said with a smile.

Argall reflected on the overlooked impact of local officials, a theme that resonated with many of the honorees.

“None of my political science professors really nailed this one,” he said. “We talked about presidents and governors, but we never really talked about the tremendous impact county and local officials have.

“I have seen good people really move communities ahead. That’s why voting is so important, so those voices are heard.”

The event also offered a moment of levity, courtesy of Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, who is serving what he expects to be his last term in office. With a playful smile, he addressed the room, saying, “I want to thank everyone who has voted for me over the last 50 years, but don’t ever do it again.”

In addition to the reflections and stories, the breakfast provided a glimpse into the future of voting in Carbon County. Jennifer Ketchledge, Carbon County’s director of elections, noted that while many things have changed over the past five decades, voter participation remains strong, especially in presidential years.

“Mail-in ballots are wildly popular right now,” Ketchledge said. “We are getting a lot of people who want them. We are seeing a lot of voters this year. It’s going to be a very big election.”