Clark Ritter has announced his candidacy for the office of mayor of Lehighton.

A graduate of Lehighton High School and the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, he also attended Lehigh County Community College, majoring in criminal justice administration. He is a lifelong resident of Lehighton and is married to the former Carol Kimmel.They have two sons, a daughter and grandchildren.Upon graduation from the State Police Academy, he was assigned to Troop K, Philadelphia, being stationed at the then-Schwenksville barracks in Montgomery County before being transferred to the Media Barracks in Delaware County. After transferring to Troop N, Hazleton, he was stationed at the Lehighton Barracks until retirement. His time with the state police initially involved working in the Patrol Section before his appointment to the Criminal Investigation Unit as a criminal investigator. Over his law enforcement career, he was trained in patrol techniques and certified in the operation of radar, VASCAR, as an aerial observer, being a certified weigh master and receiving training as an alternate fire marshal. He is an experienced code enforcement officer and has experience working with various federal, state and local agencies.A member of Zion UCC in Lehighton, he has served the church as a deacon and is the past chairman of the church's property and building committees, is past chairman of the Lehighton 150th Anniversary Steering Committee, is currently the chairman of the Lehighton Parks and Recreation Board and president of the Lehighton Zoning Hearing Board. He also served on the committee that spearheaded the renaming of the Borough Annex to the PFC Clyde R. Houser Jr. Building in honor of a classmate who was killed in action in Vietnam.He is a member of the American Legion (social), Lehighton Lodge No. 621, F. & A.M., Rajah Shrine, a Charter member of the Carbon County Shrine Club, O'Rourke Memorial Lodge

F.O.P., Retired State Police Association, NRA and Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club."I've pretty much dedicated my life to serving others. I enjoy doing that and feel that I have the qualifications and expertise to now serve the citizens of my hometown of Lehighton."