The Palmerton Area Democratic Club will hold the first of two "Meet the Candidates Nights" for the May 17 Municipal Primary Election at their monthly meeting tonight at 7 p.m., at Fireline Hotel, Bowmanstown. At this meeting the featured guest speakers will be primary candidates who are registered Democrats for the offices of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Judge and Palmerton Borough Council.

For Judge, the candidates presenting will include Attorney James Lavelle and Attorney Joe Matika, both currently serving in the Carbon County District Attorney's Office.For the Magisterial District Judge, the candidates include Brad Doll, current Mayor of Palmerton, Randolph Smith, Chief of Police in Palmerton, and Attorney Angela M. Stehle, currently in practice with the firm of Strubinger & Gazo, P.C.Palmerton Borough Council candidates include Chris Olivia, Randy Gursky, and Jeremy Barbosa."This is a great opportunity to get to know the candidates better as well as their positions on issues that affect those of us in the Palmerton Area," said Club Vice President, Sandi Peters. "Our Club's Executive Board has formulated a few questions for each race and we will entertain questions from the floor as well."The Club's April 12 "Meet the Candidates Night" will offer an opportunity to meet the Carbon County Team of incumbent row office holders including Commissioners: William O'Gurek and Charles Getz, Controller: Robert Crampsie, District Attorney: Gary Dobias, Sheriff: Dwight Nothstein, Recorder of Deeds: Emmett McCall, Prothonotary: Joann Behrens, and Coroner: Bruce Nalesnik.At each meeting the Club will continue to collect canned goods for the Food Pantry run by CACPAC, the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches.PADC's monthly meetings are held at the Fireline Hotel, Bowmanstown, 7 p.m., the second Tuesday of the month, September through May. The area covered by the Club includes Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Towamensing Township and Lower Towamensing Township. Newcomers are welcome.To learn more about the Palmerton Area Democratic Club, contact President Sarina Berlow at (610) 597-0106 or

sarinaberlow@gmail.com