From John Kachmar's Mayoral Campaign - John Kachmar spent his life serving his country – first, as a Marine and then as a professional city and county government manager. Today, he sees his hometown in crisis with annual tax and fee increases, the streets in poor condition and basic city services and safety in jeopardy. After nearly 30 years in municipal management, he is concerned about the future of Bethlehem.
“Bethlehem is deeply in debt and has $60+ million in unfunded pension liabilities while planning more spending on elitist projects that don’t advance basic city services. We have an $80 million budget and 800 full- and part-time employees, and we have enough resources to efficiently run our city. But with tax increases three out of the last four years during a pandemic, we are headed for trouble. I am not a professional politician. I am a professional city and county manager. With my many years of executive management of bipartisan city and county administrations, I know that we need transparent and efficient city government to stop this trouble in its tracks.” John said.
Born on Hayes Street on the Southside and raised on Washington Avenue on the Northside, John has roots in Bethlehem and a strong understanding of the needs of the city. John can utilize national best practices in city management, and he has creative solutions to vexing problems. Currently, our city government is engaged in massive, irresponsible spending which will only worsen each year unless it is addressed head-on with efficient practices and less politics. John can bring back fiscal responsibility to city government while considering all the peoples’ needs as it makes decisions to put Bethlehem on a solid footing into the future.
With early voting starting this week, John asks for your vote for Mayor of Bethlehem this year.
To learn more about John, visit www.johnkachmarformayor.com.
About John Kachmar
John is a Bethlehem native who graduated from Notre Dame High School, wounded and decorated combat Vietnam Veteran USMC, and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Moravian College. He was a city manager and county administrator in several municipalities throughout the United States. During that time, he produced 28 budgets with one tax increase, five tax decreases and the remainder with no tax increases.
Blogger's Note: John is one of two candidates seeking election as Bethlehem's Mayor. His opponent is Willie Reynolds, a teacher who also serves on City Council. If Willie sends any news releases my way, I will publish them as well.
Sounds like the guy I am voting for, it's that or another School Teacher who presided over all the tax increases and thinks this is the norm
ReplyDeleteMr. Kachmar appears to be extremely qualified to be Mayor of Bethlehem. More importantly, he does NOT seem to be one of the many, self-anointed, ‘Beautiful People’ of that city. Most of them as phony as three dollar bills. I live elsewhere and can’t give him my vote, by my instincts tell me this man will be willing to roll-up his sleeves and get meaningful things done for Bethlehem.
ReplyDeleteJohn is getting my vote. Enough with one party rule and electing mayors whose sole platform is “it’s my turn.” I checked out John’s mayoral Facebook page. Bethlehem born and raised, decorated combat veteran, decades of successful municipal and county-level management, and a real love for his hometown. He’ll be a breath of fresh air here. Go for it, John!
ReplyDeleteTime for change in the Christmas city. There is absolutely no reason to raise taxes meanwhile allowing certain city workers 8000 dollar raises. This is not fair to the citizens.
ReplyDeleteall politicians are the same ego driven people who know more than anyone else--look what they did to our country
ReplyDelete10:46- Correct! I see more evidence of ‘Buyers Remorse’ every day. But, the amount of damage done will take years to fix, if ever.
ReplyDeleteIS it willy who voted for every tax increase,.voted for storm water run off fees and voted not to bring back firefighters and was told by the present mayor he is next.John is right that there are problems with city finances.Taxes go up and the people get less service.The parks in this city look shitty also.Iknow that this city is majority democrat but do you want more taxes every year and whatever else comes along as a matter of fact we have a mayor right now who has run unoposed two times.So if you want more taxes and less service vote Willy or if you want fiscsl responsibility vote for JOHN by the way I am a democrat but will be voting for John.
ReplyDeleteI've seen nicer parks in New York city and Philadelphia. The city caters to more and more apartment projects.
DeleteDoesnt John know that the Dems have already anointed Willy as the next Mayor? it is his turn afterall
ReplyDeleteI hope he stops all these crazy tax increases. How the hell are we supposed to be able to live here if we can't afford it anymore!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteall politicians are the same ego driven people who know more than anyone else--look what they did to our country
Yeah, Look how Trump screwed us in the eyes of the world
12:57, exactly. As much as I strongly dislike Willie both as an individual and as a politician, and as much as I think Kachmar is the type of mayor Bethlehem needs whether it likes it or not, Willie is pretty much the anointed one among the establishment and nobody stands a chance against him in an election.
ReplyDeleteWillie's platform is basically "I'm due" and "how many woke buzz words can I put in a sentence while saying absolutely nothing of substance about how I would run the City."
Sadly, Willie Reynolds will not have a problem winning the mayoral election. His arrogance will be front and center during his tenure, but the majority of voters won’t care. After Willie, is Eric Evans next? It seems like as though Bethlehem politics is just take a number snd wait your turn. Sad.
ReplyDeleteComment of the day! Spot on.
Delete2:27 Trump made us powerful in the eyes of the world--north korea settled down , the talaban was afraid to make move after Trump dropped the mother of all bombs, China did not want to deal with Trump,Russia was afraid of Trump, Middle east was peaceful as can be----You must be a left wing radical or a complete idiot you probably say Biden is better than Trump in foreign affairs
ReplyDeleteI met John back in the 70s and witnessed him going out of his way to help folks with no expectation of any benefit to him from his acts of kindness.
ReplyDeleteIt's tragic that he hasn't a chance. But you get the government you elect and Bethlehem really likes tax and fee increases that only Willie can guarantee. If you don't like the increases, Willie suggests you gtfo. He's going spending.
ReplyDeleteTrump was strong president especially in foreign affairs He straighten out trade deals and he made the slacker nations pay their fair share, he also settled down many places in the world --make America first NOT LIKE THE PRESENT REGIME
ReplyDeleteYour boy Trump and his REGIME created the shit show over 4 years Biden is now trying to correct just 9 months in office.
DeleteYour boy Trump and his REGIME created the shit show over 4 years Biden is now trying to correct just 9 months in office.
Delete@6:02 Trump was the laughing stock of the world. He was Putin's whipping boy. There keeps coming out more and more ties to how much they helped him and how much of his money continues to be tied to him. He pardoned a sitting general who took money directly from Russia and only admitted it after he got caught. He invited the Taliban into the white house for a visit. He and his family all failed security clearance checks and need to have special clearances given. Hi son in law took millions from Russia. China gave his company big bucks and why was it easier to import from China during his tenure as president then any other time other then under Clinton? He personally said he idolized Kim Jun Un! He called his military loser, the people that were in roles connected with these countries incompetent's. Trump sold out this country for so much just so his ego could be stroked his pockets could be lines, and the unsavory pictures and stories about him and his family would not be released. He is a failure in life that only survived because daddy and mommy gave him huge amounts of money and property. He is nothing better then a Kardashian who Americans think for some reason are great people.
ReplyDeleteWe will never know the total truth about what he did to this country until we are a long dead or the country (and our democracy) has ended like he wanted it to. Too many politicians have done and are doing similar things to drop the dime on him.
@ 6:02 you should get on your knees like most Trump supporters and allow him to ________ in your face like he woudl actually prefer to do. At least the professionals he did it too got paid. You probably pay him ever day by donation. OR you can put up your wife or daughter so he can grab her grope her kiss her just because he thinks he is famous and says he can do it.
ReplyDeleteWille is hopefully not in the bag with the landlords and developers like Donchez. People cannot afford the rents in town. Or you have the carap unkempt converted apartments that are all over. The developers are all going high-end and ruining the city. If Wille continues that trend he is a one-termer.
ReplyDeleteKachmar is said to be a hothead who is always right. We don't need that. The county has an executive like that an the city can do without it.
Every candidate claims to have the city's residents' best interests at heart and promise more services, a rebuilding of infrastructure, no tax increases, etc. These promises are a given every election. I would love to see a candidate (especially for those already working in city administration) actually list some specific ideas and plans as to how they will accomplish these things. If you really understand this city and want my vote as well as those of the majority of this city, please provide us with more than just promises.
ReplyDeleteBethlehem has to get back to the town it once was. There are too many people in position of power that live outside the city. Also there are more than many workers themselves that live well outside the city limits. That in itself has to play a big part in more than subpar performance on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Donchz pushing McClure so hard. Is it all the money the county pushed to Bethlehem or the insider connection?
ReplyDeletePeople we need a change! Reynolds has increase taxes and cut so far 4 firefighter postions. Than word is out that he also will be cutting police officer positions. Reynolds really has done nothing significant for this great city. Bethlehem needs to wake up or there will be 4 years of "I told you so".
ReplyDeleteOn a side note...Why are we even considering Amy Zanelli as a District Judge over a very qualify proven person who cares about this city? Ask youself several questions before you vote.
Would you vote for a judicial candidate who has a problem following the rules?
Would you vote for a judicial candidate who is less than truthful about their employment history?
Would you vote for a judicial candidate who has past problems of following the rules?
Wake up people!!!
Is it true that Kachmar voted for Trump?
ReplyDeleteI think not.
ReplyDelete