District Justice Race: Meet the 6 Candidates

With current Coopersburg Magisterial District Justice David Harding retiring, several local residents have announced their intention to run for the seat. According to the Lehigh County Election Calendar, potential candidates have until March 12 to file a petition with the county announcing their candidacy. Primaries will be held on May 21. 

As of this writing, six people are collecting petitions before the primaries. Click on each candidates name for additional information.

The current candidate list is [In alphabetical order]: 

Name: Sherie Datis

• Qualifications: Former narcotics agent
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Upper Saucon Township, 19 years, Lehigh Valley, 27 years
• Additional Information: Three children in Southern Lehigh School District

Name: Cathleen Hendrzak

• Qualifications: Servied Southern Lehigh community over 10 years, Southern Lehigh Little League, Hopewell PTA, Ryan's Day fundraiser
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Upper Saucon Township, over 10 years
• Additional Information: Two sons in Southern Lehigh School District

Name: Scott McEllroy

• Qualifications: Bethlehem Police Officer, 19 years
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Upper Saucon, Southern Lehigh "lifer" 
• Additional Information: Three children attended Southern Lehigh School District

Name: Andrew Shaw

• Qualifications: Managing attorney of the Bethlehem law firm Goodman & Shaw
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Upper Saucon Township, five years, Lehigh Valley, 10 years 
• Additional Information: Three children, one in Southern Lehigh School District, two will attend; volunteer coach in the Southern Lehigh Soccer League and a member on the Lehigh Carbon Community College paralegal advisory committee

Name: Daniel Trexler

• Qualifications: Coopersburg Police Chief, almost 18 years
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Upper Saucon 9 years, Lehigh Valley "lifer"
• Additional Information: Graduated from Emmaus High School, Emmaus police officer prior to Coopersburg, serves on the board for the Petzold Foundation and is involved in its Dice Run and Golf Tournament. He also volunteers as Special Olympics security. 

Name: Mike Zweifel

• Qualifications: Coopersburg constable, 21 years
• Filed: Cross-filed
• Resides In: Coopersburg, Southern Lehigh "lifer"
• Additional Information: Four children graduated from Southern Lehigh School District, Member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, an avid fundraiser for Autism Speaks, local Emergency Management Coordinator