Five candidates, all Democrats, will vie to become Carbon County's next coroner in Tuesday's primary election.

Current coroner Bruce Nalesnik is not seeking re-election.Hoping to succeed him are Daniel Blazosky, of Lansford; Ray Bossard Jr., of Palmerton; Paul Hoffman, of Lehighton; Gerald Jones, of East Side Borough; and Robert Miller Jr., of Mahoning Township.The primary responsibility of the coroner's office is to determine the cause and manner of deaths that occur in Carbon County.The coroner will receive $27,589 in 2016 and $28,141 in 2017.The Times News asked the candidates why they want to become coroner and why they feel they are qualified for the position. Their answers are published below in the order they were received.Why do you want to be coroner?Hoffman: The office of the coroner is an integral part of the emergency and public health services to our county. The citizens have come to expect quality death investigations. Assuring that the staff has the necessary training at a national level is one way to accomplish this. In addition to customary duties, I believe that the coroner needs to be proactive with public health initiatives where their expertise can benefit the residents. While experience matters, the quality education and correct experience is what truly is important.Jones: There is important information you should be aware of before making your choice on May 19. A coroner is responsible for doing thorough investigations of those who pass away and to determine not only the cause but also the manner of the death. The coroner you choose should have a background in investigating these cases along with the education and training to make decisions that are needed in the investigations. I will expand on the work of the current coroner, build on professional relationships for all those the office works with, and broaden the training for all deputies in the office. I will also strive to provide education to those that deal with the coroner's office as well as the general public.Blazosky: I believe my education and working experience in business management and funeral service would be a great asset in the administration of the Carbon County Coroner's Office. I understand as a coroner my responsibilities are to identify the deceased and determine the cause and manner of death.Bossard: I would like to continue the growth of the coroner's office that current Coroner, Bruce Nalesnik has started. The office has seen many changes in the last 20 years and continuing to grow with technology will be challenging, but an achievable goal with training and continued support with state and local Police, fire and EMS agencies. Ensuring that the proper steps and procedures are taken at the scene of a death to reassure family members that the death was natural, a suicide, homicide or accidental is a key element in maintaining the citizens of Carbon County's confidence in local officials.Miller: I want to continue the professionalism and the honesty as the residents have always wanted in the coroner's office. As technology increases, the coroner's office has kept abreast of the times, and I want to continue that trend. I have been very proud to be a public servant in county government and always strive to make the community a better place to live. In each coroner's case, I have taken a professional approach and am very thorough; thus gaining the respect and trust of the Pennsylvania State Police, local police, District Attorney, and medical and firefighting personnel.What makes you qualified to becoroner?Hoffman: I began working in the medicolegal death investigation field in 1999. After three years, I was promoted to operations manager. After holding that position for nine years, I was appointed to chief deputy coroner and held that position for three years. During this time, I became intimately familiar with the requirements and duties of the office of the coroner. In my 15 years of service as a full-time deputy coroner, I have personally investigated or assisted as the scene supervisor on well over 1,200 deaths. I have received training totaling more than 1,800 hours specializing in death investigation and I am nationally certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.Jones: I come to you as a candidate for coroner who strives for professionalism and integrity. I am a current deputy coroner with 23 years experience and endorsed by current Coroner Bruce Nalesnik and former Coroner Phil Jefferies. I am state certified as required by the Coroner Education Board and the Attorney General's office and present you with over 900 hours of continuing education. I am a member of the Pennsylvania Coroner's Association along with other professional organizations and have degrees in business administration and accounting and information systems, to run the administrative side of the office. I also have 32 years of pre hospital service in both fire and ambulance and active as an adult volunteer with girl scouts.Blazosky: My ability to facilitate the day-to-day operations of the funeral home and face-to-face interaction with family members of the deceased has prepared me to handle any type of coroner investigations that are sudden, unattended, or of a violent or suspicious nature, with dignity and respect toward those involved. After passing the state and national board examinations, I became co-owner and operator of two successful funeral homes: Sverchek-Blazosky Funeral Home, Lansford, and Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, Nesquehoning.Bossard: I have been a deputy coroner in Carbon County since 2006 and am currently employed with Carbon County as a senior dispatcher in the 911 Center since 2003. I am also the AFSCME local 2483 union president. Prior to that, I served in the U.S. Army as a bridge crew chief with the Combat Engineers serving at Camp Pelham, Korea; Fort Lewis Washington; Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm; U.S. Army recruiter; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Hood, Texas. While in the Army, he attended Central Texas College and took criminal justice.Miller: I have been a deputy coroner/chief deputy coroner in Carbon County for over 26 years; serving under Bruce Nalesnik and Phil Jeffries. I have been certified by the PA State Attorney General's Office in Death Investigation for 23 years. My medical career includes a degree from Drexel University and a PA Department of Health EMT certification for 42 years. However, the most important qualification is experience in dealing with all types of deaths. I have investigated natural deaths, drownings, multiple types of accidents, burn victims, overdoses, hangings, suicides, and homicides. These deaths have ranged from elderly, middle age, and young adults to teens, youths, and infants.I take the time to answer questions from the families regarding the death of their loved one, and I am very sympathetic towards the families during this difficult time of their life. Being a coroner, one must always be professional and compassionate when dealing with grieving families.