It’s a 5-way race for Bethlehem City Council with addition of Kiera Wilhelm
Updated Feb 17, 2021;
Facebook Share
The editor of Fig Bethlehem magazine is jumping into the Bethlehem City Council race.
Kiera Wilhelm, 48, is running as a Democrat for one of the four council seats up for grabs this year. The Moravian College alumna said Fig Bethlehem’s mission is to support and promote local businesses and groups in the city and Lehigh Valley.
“Many of our small businesses have been devastated by the pandemic, and I am inspired every day now more than ever by their dedication and commitment, and I want to do more,” Wilhelm said in a press release announcing her candidacy. “Connecting with so many hard-working business owners, particularly in the past year, has fueled my desire to run for city council. Their needs are diverse, and diverse opportunities to help our small businesses exist council can and should serve as an accessible resource in getting them the help th
Lehigh-university
Pennsylvania
United-states
Boston
Massachusetts
Bethlehem
West-bank-general
West-bank
Philadelphia
Moravian-college
Bryan-callahan
Adam-waldron
Bethlehem Councilwoman Crampsie Smith 1st to declare in 4-seat council race
Updated Jan 23, 2021;
Bethlehem City Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith is seeking her first four-year term on the governing body.
The Easton Area High School counselor was already running unopposed to fill a two-year council term when Councilman Shawn Martell resigned in September 2019. Council appointed her to fill the short-term vacancy until the November election.
Crampsie Smith then won the two-year term created when Eric Evans resigned to become city business manager and was sworn in January 2020.
With that term expiring next year, Crampsie Smith is running in 2021 for a chance to continue her agenda of “assuring public health and safety, balancing economic development with housing that is inclusive and affordable, and encouraging sound fiscal management.”
Bethlehem
West-bank-general
West-bank
United-states
Americans
Bryan-callahan
Adam-waldron
Hillary-kwiatek
Shawn-martell
Eric-evans
Olga-negron
Dana-grubb
Bethlehem passes budget with 5% tax hike and new stormwater fee
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
Bethlehem City Council Tuesday night backed a 5% tax increase to help the city weather the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and created a new stormwater fee.
The $87.4 million spending plan cuts six jobs through attrition and means the average homeowner of a home with an assessed value of $50,000 would pay $46 more a year in city taxes.
It passed in a 6-1 vote with Councilman Bryan Callahan dissenting due to the tax hike and cuts to the city fire department through attrition.
The budget includes no new jobs or programs. It cuts four firefighters from each city platoon as well as two Bethlehem Service Center employees, estimated to save $500,000 annually in salary and benefits. Bethlehem’s workforce will drop to a low of 588 people, from a high of 670 back in 2010.
Bethlehem
West-bank-general
West-bank
Bryan-callahan
Michael-alkhal
Adam-waldron
Olga-negron
Bethlehem-service-center
Bethlehem-area-school-district
Bethlehem-housing-authority
Bethlehem-city-council