An open seat on Lehighton Borough Council has been filled despite a shortage of candidates for the post.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council on Monday appointed Dave Arndt, one of only two people to apply, to fill the seat vacated by John Kreitz.

Before Arndt’s selection, borough Manager Dane DeWire informed borough council that he did not receive Arndt’s letter of interest by last Friday, the deadline for candidates to submit.

Regardless, borough council offered Arndt the chance to explain why he would be interested in serving.

Arndt said he planned to bring his skills and drive behind a broad spectrum of experience in the workforce.

He told council that he has three children who attend school in the Lehighton Area School District.

Currently a truck driver, Arndt said he has helped out with coaching as well.

Councilwoman Dr. Jordyn Miller asked Arndt if his job as a truck driver would prevent him from being able to attend borough council meetings.

Arndt said it would not.

Before the vote, DeWire reiterated that he only received one letter of interest as of last Friday’s deadline.

That letter of interest, he said, came from Timothy Fritz, who was not in attendance.

In lieu of Fritz not being at the meeting, Councilman Steve Hawk said he thought it would only be fair to re-advertise for the vacant seat on borough council.

However, Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said the fact that Arndt showed up at Monday’s borough council meeting “speaks volumes” and made a motion to appoint Arndt.

After the meeting, Arndt said he was thankful for the appointment to borough council, and added that his goal is to see progress made in a positive direction.

Arndt will fill the seat for the remainder of this year.

To fill the 2026-27 vacancy, local Democratic and Republican chairpersons will each nominate a candidate to be placed on the November ballot for a two-year term.

Kreitz, who won a seat in the 2023 election, submitted his resignation Aug. 25, citing “work conflicts.”

Before that, he had served on council from 2012 to 2015.