Before a small, but very enthusiastic crowd of about seventy supporters, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan endorsed Willie Reynolds in the Bethlehem Mayoral race yesterday afternoon at Payrow Plaza. Callahan was joined by State Rep. Steve Samuelson, who also endorsed Reynolds.
Both Callahan and Samuelson condemned the negative campaign mounted by Reynolds' opponent, Bob Donchez. In fact, Callahan criticized himself for not speaking out sooner. "I chose not to get involved because I have my own race to run," he explained, adding that he had intended to remain neutral.
Getting involved will hurt Callahan among some Donchez supporters who might have considered voting for Callahan. He's already being criticized by opponent Lamont McClure. "The mayor now wants to instruct you on who the next mayor of Bethlehem should be," huffs the asbestos lawyer. But it's also honest and shows leadership, two qualities I find lacking in McClure.
Reynolds, who walked to this little shindig from his home near Liberty High School, said he intends to keep pushing until Tuesday. Reynolds was also joined by Bethlehem City Councilman and Bethlehem City Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Recchiuti; Council member Karen Dolan; BASD President Mike Faccinetto; BASD Directors Shannon Patrick, Aurea Ortiz and Basilio Bonilla; and former Chairman of the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee, Jack Burke.
Bob Donchez is going to be the next Mayor of Bethlehem
ReplyDeleteI hope Callahan is not the next County Executive.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but the race is going to be much closer than it neeeded to be because Bob ran a negative campaign he did not have to run. In the Slate Belt, that's the norm. But I know several people who were really turned off. I don't think it went over well in Bethlehem.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can't understand is that Bob Donchez has never been anything but a consummate gentleman in every single instance in which I've dealt with him.
Now he's managed to alienate Willie and two other members of City Council.
I think he still wins, but if this election were 4 weeks from now, i think Willie would win.
Willie will lose because everyone knows who did the mailers. You do too..Why dont you say
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I'm unaware of any dark secrets concerning Reynolds and his mailers.
ReplyDeleteCallahan did nothing courageous. those who support Donchez would never vote for Callahan. Everyone knows Reynolds is Callahan's boy, he ran him for council and ran him for Mayor. Its no secret.
ReplyDeleteReynolds entire campaign was to juice up the Bethlehem vote for Callahan. Reynolds has taken it seriously. Callahan has taken a beating on his record and is dipping in the polls. So he is now grabbing on to Reynolds, hoping to remind his supporters to vote for the Casino boy himslef.
This is just more sleazy backdoor politics. new Bethlehem style. Get ready Northampton County, you will soon be occupied.
The Past & Future!
A bit hypocritical that Callahan is condemning a negative campaign given all the negative mailers he has sent out in his County Executive race and in his prior Mayor's race against Jimmy D.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIn a sane world, Callahans endorsement wold be the kiss of death for any candidiate.
BO,
ReplyDeleteI keep telling you that behind that plastic face lurks a nasty revengeful person.
at any rate either way bethlum loses
wonder if samuelson's wife will keep her city job if donchez wins..........
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure how I was going to vote. Now you helped make up my mind. Callahan has no business sticking his nose in this race. He is running for public office himself. He wants to control everything. He lost my vote not only for executive but also for Reynolds.
ReplyDeleteDumb and dumber. She will be let go, and that is. Good thing where us taxpayers are concerned.
ReplyDeleteSamuelson's wife does not have an appointed position. So I think she will keep it.
ReplyDeleteCallahan has every right to make an endorsement. He is a voter and resident of Bethlehem. He has a vested interest in continueing to move Bethlehem forward.
Callahan is very popular in Bethlehem, and this is probably a game changer. Reynolds was close and this may put him over the top. Remember, the electorate is Democrats, super voting ones, and only about 6000 to 7000 of them. That group likes Callahan.
Pretending there is any difference between the two candidates or their predecessor is silly. Bethlehem is a one-party town. The political intrigue is akin to routing at a sporting event or waiting for the Homecoming queen to be announced. From a standpoint of government, absolutely nothing is at stake in this election. The only requirement for the position is to have successfully climbed to the top of the city party. Neither of these candidates is remarkable. Neither is different from the other. Neither's mayoralty will be different from the other's.
ReplyDeletemunicipal omentsvaCallahan is a pariah in Bethlehem because of his stance on Sinle payer hauling and 911. By endorsing Willie, he has finished off his candidacy ( Willie's) for good. Congrats John and Bobby..It's so over, lol..Now we go on to help Brown crush Callahan in the fall! Lets see, the unions hate him, The COAF dislikes and doesn't trust him, the retirees are mad because he said County pensions should be cut..Now he has pissed off John Morganelli..Not good..John Brown can head to the Bahamas now and come back in January of 2014 to take office..Thank God for Obamacare. Callahan will be crushed so badly, he'll need it. Since he'll be unemployed, I guess he'll get it cheap! LOLbis gestornss
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise here. Samuelson finally comes out of the shadpws to endorse his former coworker. Geez, Steve, what courage you have..You do know that Bobby and John will never forget this and Willie is toast anyway..Funny, after all these years of hiding, you finally come out to kill your future candidacy. lol
ReplyDeleteJim needs his meds.
ReplyDeleteSamuelson's soon to be, ex-wife
ReplyDeleteReibman and McClure have to be wondering why on earth they ever attempted to run in this race. They're sending out nasty junk mail and emails about Callahan on a daily basis, neither one acknowledging that the other exists, and here is Callahan, so far ahead that he's endorsing an underdog candidate in a different race. When a labor poll shows Callahan up 30 points, you know you're shit out of luck. Sucks to be them. That's the real takeaway from this endorsement.
ReplyDeleteSamuelson is an asshole and we will not forget this act of stupidity on his part.
ReplyDeleteJim Gregory's poll is far from scientific. More scientific polls are out there that show the race much closer. Bold prediction is Callahan may win this thing, but he will go down in defeat in Bethlehem...
ReplyDeleteThis will leave him vulnerable in November.
McClure will be 2nd and could win this thing. Reibman... Who is Glenn Reibman again!
The poll call I received from Jim Gregory was county council choices, not county executive...
ReplyDelete"McClure will be 2nd and could win this thing."
ReplyDeleteA distant third. Most people don't know him, and those who do, run from him. Not a nice person. Glenn Reibman, on the other hand, is a gentleman who, despite an 8-year absence, is still more knowledgeable about the County than McClure. He will finish second.
My hope is to see Callahan get more than 50% in the primary, and then watch opportunists like Barron try to get back in Callahan's good graces.
As for mcClure, he's done. He will not win his district seat again bc it is now more conservative than it was the last time he ran.
"We, the People," are a little more comprehensive than the Fake Rev and his Kool-Aid drinkers. The real people will speak on Tuesday, and when they do, it will be a rejection of McClure, Barron, the Fake Rev, Jim Schlener, Tricia MezzaKKKappa, Jim Gregory and all their sickening hatred. I can't wait.
That's funny it seems alot of county voters do know him at least that what there saying when asked. Reibman is a nice guy but he lost to Stoffa and to say he is more knowledgeable than McClure that is simply not true. He is definitely more knowledgeable than the Mayor of Bethlehem on county issues. Mr. McClure has been on county council for the last seven years and although he doesn't attend committee meetings that he not a part of. He is by far the most knowledgeable candidate on Northampton county issues. Do you really believe it is going to be a landslide? It's going to be close and you know it. Why wouldn't the Mayor have endorsed Willie weeks ago doing it now seems like desperation?
ReplyDeleteMorganelli Jr. Is gonna run against Samuelson now, he's been wanting it and Steve just have him the opportunity.
ReplyDelete12:21, I saw them at two debates. Reibman is more knowledgeable McClure is never around, and does not know 10% of what he thinks he knows.
ReplyDeleteMcClure was overheard making fun of Seyfried and Heckman. Claiming he knows more than they do about government and that they are senile.
ReplyDeleteI have heard Jerry and Ron speak about government, McClure isn't even close when it comes to experience and knowledge. If that is a true story,he owes these men an apology.
Lamont McClure did not disrespect Ron or jerry. In fact people supporting Lamont are also supporting Ron and Jerry.
ReplyDeleteHey Bernie, I appreciate your coverage of all these races, but when can we Allentownians read about the mayoral and city council elections on your blog?
ReplyDeleteWell at least 40% of the Bethlehem vote will go to Callahan.
ReplyDeleteMaybe before the Willie endorsement. Good luck now.
ReplyDelete65-75 percent for Callahan in Bethlehem. Easily.
ReplyDeleteWillie will get 55 percent.
40 percent before Willie maybe 30 now. Why would his campaign manager let him endorse? Will it cost him Bethlehem?
ReplyDeleteHe endorsed because his race is over. Callahan won the day he announced. Lamont has no name recognition. Glenn couldn't win for dog catcher.
ReplyDeleteSteve is a good guy, and a true public servant. Those bashing him over this mere endorsement display their own negative character and self-reflection. That said, his district boundaries are changing, and while relatively safe, are not as safe as they were... nice guys sometimes fall to the brutes in the world of politics.
ReplyDeleteI believe Willie's first job was with Samuelson. He is a good and decent person, and I admire his incredible work ethic.
ReplyDeleteI believe Bob will win and consider Bob the better candidate of two very good candidates. But the race will be much closer than it should be, in my opinion, primarily bc (1) Willie worked harder; and (2) Bob's mailers were too negative. You don't do that when you're up bc they are risky.
ReplyDelete"but when can we Allentownians read about the mayoral and city council elections on your blog?"
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I become convinced there's a reason to care. Democracy is pretty much dead in Allentown, and I get depressed writing about it. Pawlowski has no primary opponent. Kim Velez and Alfonso Todd are great candidates, but I really wonder whether they have a snowball's chance.
"Lamont McClure did not disrespect Ron or jerry. In fact people supporting Lamont are also supporting Ron and Jerry."
ReplyDeleteActually, he has, and on several occasions. And they both know it.
But we need you writing about Allentown, too. Your insight is useful. What about Hendricks and Bell? And with Ed only winning the last election by 3,000 votes, and no Republican opponent, it's possible Donovan could pull off enough disaffected Democrats and Independents to win. We'll know more after Tuesday's primary, but don't underestimate the public anger out there about the water lease, and how that affects turnout in November.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't make sense why would Lamont say anything about two individuals that he will have to work with one way or another? Are you just trying to create friction between them? Or friction between voters that support all three candidates? Lamont must have made this election alot closer than you are telling people.
ReplyDeleteHe has badmouthed both, and on several occasions, and they both know it.Not a nice guy, and they both know that, too. A for working with Jerry and Ron, McClure doesn't work with anyone bc he attends no committee hearings. In two year, he will lose his council seat, too. He's about to have a very disappointing election day.
ReplyDeleteMcClure is a smug person who is a no show at more than just council meetings.
ReplyDeleteReibman is old and tired and we have seen his cronyism long enough in NorCo.
Callahan is a pay to play politician who likes to drink and drive with a municipal car and on taxpayers time.
Seems to me that the only choice is a write in....