Bethlehem's City Council races are no longer uncontested. Incumbent Council members Adam Waldron, Bryan Callahan, Olga Negron and Eric Evans all ran unopposed in the Spring primary for four-year at-large terms. Each is a Democrat and will be on the ballot in November. Negron, who lives on the City's south side, was the top vote getter with 1,850 votes.
Paige Elizabeth Van Wirt, a physician with a practice in Allentown, has decided to stage a write-in campaign. Dr. Van Wirt also has a Master's degree in Urban Planning . She is probably the most qualified candidate running for anything in the Lehigh Valley.
She resides in Bethlehem's historic neighborhood on the north side.
She was concerned when Bethlehem City Council rejected a comprehensive ethics reform ordinance authored by Negron and Michael Colon in favor of a weaker version. In letter to The Morning Call, she slammed Bryan Callahan's "outrageous request" for the names of those who assisted Negron and Colon.
Things like that do have a chilling effect on those who want to participate in their own government.
It wasn't me, Bryan! Honest!
In a Facebook message, Dr. Van Wirt states "there is an urgent need to change the way Bethlehem City Council listens to, and responds to, the Citizens of Bethlehem."
Despite her impeccable qualifications, she must know that a write-in campaign is virtually impossible, as it will be for Ray O'Connell in Allentown.
But it might give her visibility for a race in two years.
I know very little about Dr. Wirt, but hope to sit down and get more details.
GOOD! She may not win but she will het a boatload of votes. Many Bethlehemites are disgusted with the locked in place seat holders on city council. Don't be surprised by how many votes this woman gets.
ReplyDeleteIt's a one party town. If you want to play politics he must participate in the primary. There's nothing to decide in general. There never is. A good planner would have jumped in by the primary.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous. Good luck to this foolishness
ReplyDeleteI think you've underestimated how good of a planner she is! She just started her campaign for the 2019 primary.
ReplyDeleteDoubtful she will get any votes outside the goofy Historic District. She was not a sports star at Becahi, Liberty or Moravian, and is not a teacher. She moved here like most of the other loudmouths from the Historic District who now think they can changes how things are done.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of time and money, if she even lives here in the beginning of 2019 that's when to start, between this November and January 2018 voters will forget who she is and say Doctor WHO.
ReplyDeleteCallahan is a jerk so good luck.
ReplyDeleteWe need a doctor on Bedlum council. To quote the Joker from the first Batman movie "this town needs an enema!"
ReplyDeleteWish her the best of luck. She's going to need it with all of the rampant apathy among Bethlehem voters.
ReplyDeleteif she was really serious she would start her PAC now for the next election cycle. I would like to see someone run again for these positions and if your not a school teacher then that is a vote from me
ReplyDeleteI think she was recently on one of those house hunter shows. She and her family were looking for a home in Bethlehem's historic district. Not sure but it looks like the same person.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's her.
DeleteWould be nice to see her knock off Bryan Callahan who has insulted just about every person who dares to speak out at city council meetings. Callahan is the most vulnerable to an effective write in campaign if he is the targeted candidate to unseat.
ReplyDeleteIf she gave Bethlehem an enema there'd only be about 10 people left to govern.
ReplyDeleteI wish get luck. Both Bethlehem and Allentown sorely need ethics reform. Anyone who won't support true ethics reform in Bethlehem nneedsto go.
ReplyDeleteBryan stared out as a good guy but adopted the Callahan arrogance of power.
ReplyDeletebryan is known as Callahan light
ReplyDeleteBernie, did you delete a post about Nun boots?
ReplyDeleteNo,
ReplyDeleteI remember that comment and thought it was funny. You must have posted it somewhere else.
ReplyDeletePlease do not be so quick to make assumptions about anyone living in the city of Bethlehem--in the historic district or elsewhere. How can that help anyone? We need to talk about issues. Do you live in the city? Downtown? Most people living downtown do not live in the historic district. What do you think the issues are?
ReplyDeletedo something about all the vagrants and move the god awful bus terminal on Guetter which is too big for that area.
ReplyDelete