The petition-signing and filing process for to the 2017 municipal election got underway last week with people aspiring to public offices securing the signatures of members of their respective parties to get their names placed on the ballot for the May 16 primary election.

The filing period began Feb. 14 and runs through Tuesday.Those filing petitions in the Carbon County Elections Office include (partial list):DemocratsBurdell C. Steigerwalt, 521 White St., Bowmanstown, council; Thomas Highland, 405 Center Ave., Jim Thorpe, council; Marie Ondrus, 36 Coal St., Lansford, council; Joe Flickinger, 154 S. Fifth St., Lehighton, council; Scott Rehrig, 425 S. Eighth St., Lehighton, council; Kris W. Hoffner, 456 Edgemont Ave., Palmerton, council; William H. Chapman, 204 W. Ludlow St., Summit Hill, council; John J. O'Gurek, 220 E. Lehigh St., Summit Hill, council.Edith Crossin, 544 South Ave., Jim Thorpe, judge of elections, District 18; Marie A. Klotz, 1377 Packerton Dam Road, Lehighton, judge of elections, Mahoning Township District 38; Joyce Gaumer, 1733 Route 903, Jim Thorpe, judge of elections, Penn Forest Township District 51-2; Robert F. Steiger, 321 Kilmer Trail, Albrightsville, judge of elections, Penn Forest Township District 51-3; George J. Hollingsworth, P.O. Box 1027, Albrightsville, judge of elections, Penn Forest Township District 51-4; Faith Masayda, 135 E. Lehigh St., Summit Hill, judge of elections, District 54.Mary Farnschlader, 440 N. Lake Drive, Lake Harmony, inspector of elections, Kidder Township District 21; Kathleen L. Haldeman, 717 N. First St., Lehighton, inspector of elections, Mahoning Township District 38; Julia Steiger, 321 Kilmer Trail, Albrightsville, inspector of elections, Penn Forest Township District 51-3; Brenda Chasarik, 310 S. Pine St., Summit Hill, inspector of elections, District 54.James Romankow, 602 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, mayor; Christopher D. Olivia, 1036 Circle Drive, Palmerton, mayor; Paul R. McArdle, 311 E. Hazard St., Summit Hill, mayor; Audrey Redline, 15 Second Ave., Lehighton, inspector of elections, District 28; Lorraine Wertman, 828 Princeton Ave., Palmerton, inspector of elections, District 49; Lester Greenzweig, 203 Main St., Parryville, inspector of elections.Matthew C. Schutter, 116 Stony Creek Road, Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe school director; Glenn F. Confer, 436 South Ave., Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe school director; Dennis J. McGinley, 179 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe school director.Kathy Lendvay-Fallow, 365 Edgemont Ave., Palmerton, Palmerton school director; Earl Paules, 1145 Little Gap Road, Palmerton, Palmerton school director; Maria E. Smith, 524 Spring St., Bowmanstown, tax collector; Sara J. Keiser, 844 Overlook Drive, Lehighton, Franklin Township tax collector; Pauline F. Homm, 471 Stewart's Creek Road, Lehighton, Mahoning Township tax collector; and Kathleen R. Crampsie, 324 W. White St., Summit Hill, tax collector.RepublicansWilliam Ravert, 747 Lincoln Ave., Bowmanstown, mayor; Rod E. Green, 45 Knoll Drive, Lehighton, Franklin Township supervisor; Joanne Klitsch, 606 Main St., Jim Thorpe, council; Irma J. Leibensperger, 164 W. Ridge St., Lansford, council; Thomas Mase, 223 N. Eighth St., Lehighton, mayor.Mary Strohl, 171 S. Fourth St., Lehighton, tax collector; Lee Becker, 207 Sunrise Terrace Lane, Lehighton, East Penn Township auditor; Denise Murphy, 114 Carbon St., Lehighton, council; Wallace Putkowski, 531 Seneca Road, Lehighton, Mahoning Township auditor; Michael J. Ballard, 464 Franklin Ave., Palmerton, council; Deborah A. Kohler, 794 North St., Weatherly, tax collector.Matthew C. Schutter, 116 Stony Creek Road, Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe school director; Glenn F. Confer, 436 South Ave., Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe school director; Kathy Lendvay-Fallow, 365 Edgemont Ave., Palmerton, Palmerton school director; Earl Paules, 1145 Little Gap Road, Palmerton, Palmerton school director.Kay Becker, 207 Sunrise Terrace Lane, Lehighton, judge of elections, East Penn Township District 8; Karen Lauth, 111 W. 13th St., Jim Thorpe, judge of elections, District 16.Frances Barno, 611 E. Ridge St., Lansford, inspector of elections, District 23; Marie E. Frable, 1100 Bridge St., Lehighton, inspector of elections, District 28; Sandra Putkowski, 431 Seneca Road, Lehighton, judge of elections, Mahoning Township District 35; Irene Freyman, 111 Beaver St., Lehighton, inspector of elections, Mahoning Township District 38; Jo-Ann Hawk, 1934 Mahoning Drive East, Lehighton, inspector of elections, Mahoning Township District 35; and Beverly K. Waibel, 1670 Deer Lane, Lehighton, inspector of elections, Towamensing Township District 56.