Politics & Government

Hear Mayoral Candidates Debate on Radio Thursday

Bob Donchez and J. William Reynolds will discuss their vision for the city with Alan Jennings on WDIY, 88.1-FM, on Thursday.

 

Democratic mayoral candidates J. William Reynolds and Bob Donchez will be featured on ’s weekly public affairs program, Lehigh Valley Discourse, on Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.

The weekly program on the Bethlehem-based public radio station is hosted by Alan Jennings, executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, a non-profit anti-poverty agency.

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A news release from the radio station said Jennings and the two candidates will discuss their vision for the city in a program that will have a “relaxed, conversational style.”

That would be a departure from the last two tense debates the city councilmen had last week in front of the League of Women Voters of Northampton County and the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee.

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Reynolds has accused Donchez of playing “dirty politics” with some of his campaign mailers. Donchez has accused Reynolds of attacking his integrity first.

On Wednesday, Donchez held a news conference across the street from Yosko Park in South Bethlehem to talk about his plans for maintaining quality neighborhoods and expanding the city’s recreational opportunities.

He said one of his goals would be to develop a bike path that would connect many of the neighborhoods of the city from Illick’s Mill Park on the West Side to Saucon Park in South Bethlehem. He also said he would explore the possibility of getting corporate sponsorships for city facilities and recreational events.

The WDIY radio appearance is scheduled to be the next to last opportunity for the two candidates to meet face-to-face before the primary election on May 21, which will likely determine who the city’s next mayor will be. No Republicans are running.

The station is heard on 88.1 FM in the Lehigh Valley, with translators at 93.7 to the west and 93.9 to the east, and at www.wdiy.org.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce plans to host a debate in the Grand Ballroom of the Historic Hotel Bethlehem on May 16. It will be taped for airing on Business Matters, a weekly program on WFMZ-TV, Channel 69. It is scheduled for airing on May 20 at 7:30 p.m.


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