Democratic and Republican nominations for Carbon County Commissioner and the Democratic nomination for Carbon County Coroner are at stake in the 2011 Primary Election which will be held on Tuesday, May 17.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the county's 23 municipalities and/or 51 election districts.Commissioners' raceThe three current commissioners, William J. O'Gurek and Charles Getz, both Democrats, and Wayne E. Nothstein, a Republican, are all seeking re-election to four-year terms. Three others Democrats are challenging the majority commissioners and three other Republicans are on that ballot with the minority commissioner, making it a total of nine persons running for the nominations.O'Gurek has been the board chairman for the past seven years. His running mate, Getz, is the vice chairman and is also the dean of the board, currently serving his 16th year in office.Challenging them are Franklin Ruch and James Holland, both of Lehighton, who are running as a team, and Gerald Strubinger of Jim Thorpe.Ruch is a Mahoning Township supervisor. He joined Nothstein as the Republican candidates in the 2007 General Election, but has since switched parties to become a Democrat. Holland is a former Lehighton Area School Board member.Strubinger is a current member of the Jim Thorpe Area School Board.Nothstein is serving his third term on the board. He is running as a team with Tom J. Gerhard of Packer Township, a current township supervisor. The other GOP candidates are Gene Duffy and Robert Dages, both of Jim Thorpe, who have joined efforts to run together as Constitutionalists.Meanwhile, Democratic voters have a choice tomorrow in the coroner's race. Incumbent Bruce A. Nalesnik of Nesquehoning is running for his fifth four-year term and faces opposition from David J. Stianche of Jim Thorpe. The lone GOP candidate is Rene Shoop of Jim Thorpe.Five other Democratic row officeholders' terms are also expiring with the incumbents seeking re-election. Only two of the five offices will have a General Election race, those being for sheriff for recorder of deeds.Sheriff Dwight L. Nothstein of Lehighton is unopposed for his party's nomination. He is seeking his fifth four-year term and will face Republican Steven Armbruster of Lehighton in the fall. The latter is the Pennsylvania Chapter president of the Oath Keeper organization.Recorder of Deeds Emmett P. McCall of Lansford is also unopposed this time around as he pursues his fourth four-year term. He will face Republican Todd D. Koller of Mahoning Township in November.Running unopposed, and without GOP opposition also, are Democrats Robert M. Crampsie, controller; Joann M. Behrens, prothonotary; and Gary F. Dobias, district attorney.Crampsie, of Summit Hill, is running for his sixth four-year term; Behrens is seeking her third four-year term; and Dobias is seeking return to office for a sixth four-year term.