Dr. Paige Van Wirt Seeks Evans' Bethlehem City Council Seat

Lori Vargo Heffner (L) and Dr. Paige Van Wirt
at women's march in Bethlehem

Dr. Paige Van Wirt, who waged an unsuccessful write-in campaign for Bethlehem City Council in November, is seeking the vacancy created when Eric Evans resigns February 5 to become the City's Business Administrator. I have heard she may have the votes to be appointed, too. Some may feel that you should only appoint a person who has no intention of running for the seat because it otherwise gives that appointee an unfair advantage in an upcoming election. It does. But appointing a person who has no intention of ever actually running for the job can result in an appointee who ignores the people's will and is unresponsive.

Dr. Van Wirt is the most impressive person I've seen in local politics for some time. In addition to her education in planning and experience in an urban community, she has immersed herself in numerous local issues, even county issues. In fact, after the county council debate was over, she had some insight as a practicing physician on how the counties can handle the opioid crisis.

Bethlehem will be lucky to get her. I believe she would work well with Council members like Willie Reynolds, and they would work well with her.

Here's what Dr. Van Wirt said from her Facebook page:

Dear Friends,

As you may have read, Eric Evans will be resigning from city council to join the administration as of Feb. 5th. The vacant seat will be filled by appointment by city council. I am applying for the vacancy. I feel I am the best choice due to my expertise, recent candidacy and tremendous support (1700 votes) as a write-in candidate. I will be submitting my resume as well as letter of intent and answers to Council’s 10 questions for consideration. I am meeting with council members individually to discuss my candidacy. Nevertheless, it will also be vital for you to advocate for my appointment.

Although there are rumors that various individuals are under consideration, it is in Council's interest to appoint me. I have expertise and skills relevant to the position - urban planning, municipal finance, and physician/entrepreneur/small business owner. I would also be another woman on council and an independent voice outside of the usual political establishment. Appointing me would demonstrate to the community that council recognizes the strong preference the voters have already expressed for an ‘outside’ candidate. The most important criterion should be who would be the most qualified person to lead Bethlehem through service on the council; I feel that I am that person.

Selection of the candidate will take place at a public meeting on March 1, with March 5th as a back-up date. This will be a special meeting of the full council with a public vote by the 6 remaining council members. The selected applicant will be announced that night. We will also be given 5 minutes to speak, and if I understand correctly, the public is welcome to speak as well about their wishes for this spot. It will be important for as many people as possible to attend that meeting and advocate for your choice. In advance of that, you can email city council (email the clerk at cityclerk@bethlehem-pa.gov and ask that your email be distributed to council members) and write letters to the editor of the newspapers. Please alert your friends/networks to this situation and ask for their help as well. Deadline for applicants is Feb 9th, and letters of support would be valuable if received in the next 6 weeks.

Many of you worked hard during my write-in campaign to try and get me elected to city council; this presents an exciting opportunity to place me there now rather than after I run again in 2019. I thank you for your time, your energy and your ongoing support. I am ready to work hard for the citizens of Bethlehem.

Sincerely,

Paige Van Wirt
Paige Elizabeth Van Wirt

Doctor To Heal Bethlehem City Council

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.