Payung, Hill, Weber Winners in Borough Council Race

Editor’s Note: This story was revised on May 20 with updated information posted on the Northampton County elections website and comments from Hellertown Borough Council president Tom Rieger.

A 2014 appointee to Hellertown Borough Council and a former Republican borough council president are among the winners of three four-year seats in the Democratic primary election, according to unofficial results from both Channel 69 News and The Morning Call.

According to those results–with all three borough precincts reporting their unofficial vote totals–Herb Payung Jr. is the top vote-getter in a four-man race for three seats on council.

According to updated unofficial election results posted on the Northampton County website, Payung received 209 votes, Hill received 202 votes and Weber received 181 votes.

The odd man out in the race is longtime borough councilman Richard Staffieri, who received 151 votes according to the county’s unofficial results.

Payung was appointed to fill an unexpired term on council in July 2014, and he also appeared on the primary ballot in a two-way race for a two-year term in which Hill was the other candidate.

According to the county’s unofficial results, Hill was the top vote-getter in that race, receiving 171 votes to Payung’s 154 votes. Thus, Hill was a winner in two separate races.

Council president Tom Rieger said the borough will likely need to consult with county election officials about the possibility of a special election. In all likelihood, however, Hill will remain on the ballot for both the four- and two-year terms in the general election, he said.

“He then would accept one of the offices, and then in January we would have to declare the seat vacant,” Rieger said.

There were no Republican candidates in the primary, so the winners of the Democratic primary are ostensibly assured victory in the general election in November.