Nazareth Mayor Resigns

Nazareth Mayor Fred C. Daugherty Jr. has resigned, according to a press release from the borough council president.

Daugherty, whose resignation was effective Monday, announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. Daugherty is a Republican.

"The Council and I have worked with Mayor Daugherty very hard over the last 3+ years dealing with the Nazareth Borough Police Department and its difficulties," wrote Daniel R. Chiavaroli, president of Nazareth Borough Council.

Borough officials will now "look in a different direction," Chiavaroli said.

The borough will accept resumes for the position until May 2 from any Nazareth registered elector at the borough office. Council will then consider its options to fill the vacancy, in hopes of acting at its May 6 meeting.

According to borough solicitor Alfred Pierce, the nine-member Council has 30 days to make an appointment to fill the mayor's seat. The only qualification for the appointed person is that he or she is a "registered elector" in the Borough of Nazareth.

Pierce said a similar situation occurred in May 1989, when then-Mayor Donald Williams resigned following his defeat by Elmo Frey Sr. in the Democratic primary.

Longtime councilman William Sauerzopf was appointed interim mayor. He had to resign his Council seat, but the resignation did not prevent him from running for re-election as a councilman.

Sauerzopf was re-elected to Council, Pierce said, and he gave up the mayor's seat when a new mayor was sworn in after the November election.

Councilman Jack Herbst, a Democrat, is the only candidate for mayor on the May 21 primary ballot.

Check back with Patch for updates.