Since being appointed to Hellertown Borough Council in July, I am running to retain my seat to continue to advocate for a strong quality of life not only for the borough’s residents, but also for its small businesses and community organizations.
Herb Payung Jr. is a candidate for election to Hellertown Borough Council. He will appear on the Democratic ballot in the Tuesday, May 19 primary election.
As a 2007 graduate of Saucon Valley High School and a life-long resident of Hellertown, I have had the unique opportunity of getting to know many great people and groups within the borough. I have come to know that they are the fabric which makes Hellertown such a desirable place in which to live.
Hellertown is in the unique position in that it already has a high quality park system, numerous public facilities such as the rail trail and public library, and many successful, locally-owned businesses. The question for growth then becomes: How can all factions of the community work together to create an identity for the town that will allow it to prosper more than it already has? On April 25, close to 150 community members joined together to clean up the rail trail, mulch along Main Street and landscape (around) Borough Hall. This program shows the willingness of the Hellertown community to work together to take our town to the next level. As a member of Council I will dedicate myself to continually facilitating programs that bring the community together for the greater good.
Maintaining Hellertown as that desirable small town community is easier said than done. We are constantly met with the challenges presented by 21st century problems that make it difficult to preserve the small town qualities of any location. Doing so takes a dedication to protect residents and business owners from hefty tax increases by keeping a close watch on the long-term budget and planning proactively for future large purchases. In addition, council must be committed to promoting and maintaining the small-town qualities that are the essence of Hellertown.
In closing, Hellertown needs its council to be impartial. In my short time on council, I have dedicated myself to remaining agenda-free. I hear each presentation made to council and consider them based on their own merits. When individuals on council prioritize their own special interests and pet projects, it rarely keeps the best interest of the overall community in mind. I have maintained and will continue to maintain that philosophy if elected to a full term. Hellertown will be my sole agenda.
Note: Payung will appear on the Democratic ballot in the Tuesday, May 19 primary election. Saucon Source requested information from the other three candidates seeking seats on Hellertown Borough Council for a primary election guide. We did not receive responses from Richard Staffieri (I), Phil Weber and Earl Hill. Weber provided a response to the Northampton County League of Women Voters, which can be found here.