EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Commissioner Tara Zrinski claimed the Democratic nomination for county controller on Tuesday, besting Easton resident Nadeem Qayyum.
In unofficial results, Zrinski had amassed a commanding lead.
- Northampton county council member Tara Zrinski held a commanding lead in the Democratic nomination for county controller, according to preliminary results
- Zrinski, a member of the County Council, ran on her experience with the county government
- Easton businessman Nadeem Qayyum, a former prosecutor, positioned himself as an outsider in the race
"I've run many times in Northampton County, and I've knocked on lots of doors. I talk to my voters frequently. And I felt really great at the polls today," she said Tuesday night.
“I'm not here to represent myself or my own interests, I'm here to represent the people of Northampton County.”
Zrinski will face John Cusick, a longtime county commissioner and high school math teacher from Williams Township, in the November general election. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Zrinski’s campaign emphasized her experience in county government, as well as her work as a community organizer. She said she would bring a more collaborative, less antagonistic approach to the office to bring about change.
Qayyum ran as an independent outsider, saying he had no relationships with “special interest groups.” He leaned heavily on his time as a white-collar prosecutor in Pakistan, and more recent experience running restaurants. He is married to Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana.
The county controller is “responsible for the internal control of the fiscal transactions of” the county, as the home rule charter puts it, and has the power to conduct audits scrutinizing the use of county funds.
Qayyum did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.