Democrats Sweep Bethlehem City Council Race

Bethlehem voters gave Democrats a clean sweep of four open seats for City Council on Tuesday, shutting out a lone GOP candidate who aimed to become the city’s first Republican councilman in more than a decade.

Republican Chris Morales finished fifth in a five-person field in a City Council contest that would reward only the top four vote getters.

Morales, who acquired local fame by opening a hot dog cart in South Bethlehem, campaigned as “The Hot Dog Guy,” in his lawn signs.

His business became controversial as a few of his South Bethlehem neighbors complained about littering, loitering and competition from a cart that pays no real estate taxes.

The city, meanwhile, struggled to come up with a mechanism to regulate street carts, which propelled Morales into candidacy.

Incumbents Eric Evans and Karen Dolan were both returned to City Council for their second and third terms, respectively. Evans was the top vote getter with 5,247 tallies, unofficially. Dolan was second with 4,961.

They will be joined on City Council by political newcomer and house painter Adam Waldron and teacher Bryan Callahan, Mayor John Callahan’s older brother. Waldron finished third in balloting with 4,939 votes, unofficially.

Callahan finished last among Democrats with 4,468 votes, but that was still more than 600 votes more than Morales, who, unofficially, had 3,794 votes.

Council candidates had planned to celebrate with the mayor at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, where Callahan waited for results on his unsuccessful bid to become Northampton County executive.

Waldron becomes the first West Sider on City Council since Don Cunningham moved from council to the mayor’s office.