Christopher D. Olivia, 1036 Circle Drive, Palmerton, has announced his candidacy for election to a four-year term of office as the Mayor of Palmerton Borough. He is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination in the May 21 Primary Election.

Olivia, 65, has been serving as mayor since Oct. 11, 2012, having been unanimously appointed to the position upon the resignation of Brad Doll. Previously, he served 11 years as a borough councilman, having been appointed to an unexpired term in 2002 and then being elected to four-year terms in 2003, 2007 and 2011.He was the council's vice president and chair of its Law and Order Committee. He was a member of the Palmerton Shade Tree Commission.A lifelong resident of the community, he is a son of the late John and Sophie (Yasson) Olivia and graduated in 1966 from the Palmerton High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation and served for two years, including 13 months in Vietnam.He returned to Palmerton after his honorable discharge and began a career in the community as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked for 33 years before retiring.Olivia is a member of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, Palmerton, where he served on the church committee and oversees maintenance of the church cemetery.The candidate also belongs to American Legion Post 314, Lehighton, the Palmerton Democratic Club and the Carbon County Democratic Executive Committee.He is a former member (30 years) of the Blue Ridge Country Club, Palmerton, where he served on the board for about 20 years. He had also previously been involved in youth and midget football and basketball in Palmerton.He is married to the former Susan A. Rehrig of Bowmanstown, a retired Palmerton Area School District teacher. They will observe their 45th wedding anniversary in July. The couple has a daughter Kristin, who is a guidance counselor in the Philadelphia School District and the wife of Derek Fromal, of Warrington, Pa.; and two grandsons, Aaron, 10, and Luke, 7.Olivia hopes to continue to serve the citizens of Palmerton, to aid in the construction of the new fire station, and be a positive influence in the completion of the new industrial park at the former site of the west plant of the New Jersey Zinc Company.