Candidates hoping to fill the seat of Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons, who stepped down this month ahead of a planned move out of state due to a family member’s job, will have a chance to make their views known at a public hearing Wednesday in Allentown.

There are 14 candidates hoping to join the nine-person board, which creates local laws, approves funding for county programs, and sets county tax rates and budget.

Among those who will appear before the commissioners’ governance committee is Phillips Armstrong, who served two terms as Lehigh County executive before leaving office at the start of this year.

Also seeking the post are:

• Michael “Nykolai” Blichar Jr., an Allentown resident and director of student life and leadership development at Northampton Community College

• Heather Dean, an insurance broker from Allentown

• Stevie K. Draklan, a Washington Township attorney

• Keith M. Miller Sr., an Allentown psychologist

• Jason Nagle, an Allentown resident and program manager at Victory House, which helps homeless veterans

• Glen Paisley, a real estate broker from Lower Macungie Township

• Jay Rohatgi, an Upper Macungie Township resident and Parkland School Board member

• Jeremy Smale, a Catasauqua School Board member

• Ben Stemrich of Allentown, head of the weather department at Blue Ridge 13 News

• Juan Vargas, a South Whitehall Township resident and owner of Nowhere Coffee Co.

• Dr. Thomas V. Whalen, an Allentown surgeon and chief medical officer at Lehigh Valley Health Network

• The Rev. Geoffrey S. Whitcomb, a Lower Macungie Township music teacher who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 187th House district in the May primary

• Sean Ziller, deputy director of economic development for Bethlehem.

All the candidates for the at-large seat are Democrats, since the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter requires Irons’ replacement be from the same party. The term runs through 2027.

Candidates who receive a recommendation from the governance committee will move forward toward a vote from the full board. The commissioners will appoint their new member next month.

The governance committee consists of Commissioners Sheila Alvarado, Zach Cole-Borghi and April Riddick.