Irma J. Leibensperger, 164 W. Ridge St., Lansford, has announced her candidacy for a seat on the Lansford Borough Council. She is seeking a Republican nomination in the May 16 Primary Election.

The widow of Robert J. Leibensperger, she and her late husband owned and operated the Daily Catch restaurant in Lansford for over 25 years.Formerly of Summit Hill, Irma is a past president of the former Summit Hill Woman's Club and a past vice president of the Carbon County Woman's Club.She served on the original board of the Panther Valley Visiting Nurse Association and previously served as president of the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit of the American Cancer Society.The candidate has long been active in Lansford civic affairs, having served on the borough's Civil Service Commission and being a past treasurer of the town's Recreation Board.As one of the founders of the Lansford Alive Events Committee, she helped to establish the Music in the Park and the Christmas in the Park programs, and oversees the judging of decorations for the Autumn Harvest/Halloween and Christmas seasons.She belonged to the former Lansford Senior Citizens and was one of the original members of the Lansford Improvement Committee, which raised funds for the original Christmas streetlights in the town, as well as in the Lansford Park.She belongs to the Tamaqua Senior Citizens, the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club, Lehighton, and the Coffee Bowling League at Spare Time Bowling, Hometown, and has been active in the New Seasons program of the Blue Mountain Health System, which promotes healthier lives and vitality among persons 55 and older.Irma said as a council member, she will work toward assuring the town has a balanced budget, helping to improve the appearance of the town, and making badly-needed repairs to streets and roads in the community. She said she will also work to attract new business in the town.Irma is running for council with Democrat Marie Ondrus, a fellow member of the Lansford Alive Events Committee with whom she has worked for the past several years for the betterment of the community.