Democratic Candidate Chris Casey: 'Let Earley Make His Case'

Chris Casey of Trexlertown, the Democratic nominee for the open six-year supervisor seat in Upper Macungie Township, said incumbent chairman Edward Earley should "make his case," to voters in a write-in campaign this fall.

Earley told Patch Monday night that he is seeking re-election to the Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors via a write-in campaign, after losing the Republican primary to Jim Brunell in May.

"It's America. If (Earley) thinks he can win as a write-in candidate, let him make his case," Casey said Tuesday afternoon. 

"I can't see why (Earley) would run (as a write-in) when so many people in the township are angry at him," Casey said. "Ed served more than a decade and I thank him for his service, but it's time for a change on that board."

Casey did not elaborate on why he thought people are angry with Earley.

Casey said he last ran for an Upper Macungie supervisor seat in 2005 and was defeated.

Casey said he hasn't run for office since then and that his wife encouraged him to do so this year. Casey ran unopposed in May's Democratic primary and picked up 200 votes from the 896 votes cast.

"I attend some of the (township supervisor) meetings, hear what's going on and then I leave. I don't make a big show of things," Casey said.

"It's not some great political football," Casey said of the supervisor's seat. "It's gotten off-track, off the line. It's not all that complicated. You go door-to-door and you explain to people that the township provides basic services -- water, garbage -- there's no other way to explain it."

Casey said he feels that employees of the township should not be in place as township supervisors.

"That's a serious conflict for me," he said. 

Upper Macungie Supervisor Kathy Rader is also a township employee.