Paul F. Hoffman, 41, of Lehighton is seeking the Democratic nomination for Carbon County coroner in the May 19 primary election.

The coroner is charged with determining the cause and manner of in deaths that occur within their counties. Hoffman has extensive medicolegal death investigator training, as well as management experience. He worked for the Lehigh County coroner's office for 15 years before his departure in 2014.For 12 of those years, he was responsible for day-to-day operations of the office. ln addition, Hoffman has over 25 years experience as a Pennsylvania Department of Health certified emergency medical technician-paramedic.Hoffman is a diplomat with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. He was an active member of state Coroner's Association from 1999-2014 and is a founding member of the Society of Medicolegal Death Investigators, a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.He has attended training from many agencies, including the St. Louis University-School of Medicine; the Pennsylvania Coroners Basic Education via the state Office of the Attorney General; the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office; Miami-Dade Police Training Academy; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner New York City; Colby University, Waterville, Massachusetts, and many others.Originally from Slatington, Hoffman lives in Lehighton with his wife, Jenni, and six children. Hoffman has been a dedicated and trusted public servant. Serving in various leadership positions for 25 years with emergency service organizations and youth athletic association in the Slatington area attests to his dedication to community. He is a member of the Lehighton Fire Department.Hoffman believes education is paramount. While deputy coroners are not required to receive official training, and in Carbon, they have not, his belief is deputy coroners should have the same if not better training than the coroner. There is no member of the current Carbon County Coroner's Office who is certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, and he plans to change that.That Carbon is a sixth-class county should have no bearing on the quality of death investigations performed. The deceased, their families, and the public are entitled to the most qualified death investigation possible.