Meet City Council Candidate Karen Dolan

Bethlehem City Council Race

Candidate: Karen Dolan

Age: 53

Family: Married to John Chay for 23 years; two sons, Zachary and Cooper

Political party affiliation: Democratic

Tell us about your educational background:

BA English and History from Rutgers University, Douglass College; Teaching Certification from Moravian College

Tell us about your professional/business background:

Currently Executive Director/ CEO of The Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center, Teacher in the Bethlehem Area School District 21 years, Reporter and Editorial Board Member of The Globe Times; City Councilwoman, 8 years; YWCA  “Woman of the Year,” a PSEA School-Community Relations award; the PA Diversity Network “Community Service Award,”  “Igniting Creative Energy” award from the National Energy Foundation, a “Mover and Shaper” in LV Magazine.

Why are you running for City Council? 

I believe my role on council is important as a leader on quality of life issues, preservation of our historic resources, and protection of clean water and air.

What qualifies you to serve as a City Councilwoman?

My experience as an involved citizen for the past 26 years and eight years as a councilwoman, and the skills I learned restoring Illick's Mill, a city-owned building and now running a small non-profit business there.

What do you see as City Council's primary role and responsibilities?

Obviously, the budget and overseeing allocation of funds is our primary role, but City Council is the legislative body of Bethlehem, so reviewing, updating, and approving laws is also a major part of the job.

Tell us about three major challenges facing Bethlehem and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):

1. The growth of pension and health costs is crippling cities across the country. I’ll support – and budget for – employment contracts that offer reasonable benefits without bankrupting the City of Bethlehem and its taxpayers  
2. Managing trash in Bethlehem shouldn’t be such a challenge but it is. A lot of people benefit by using a private trash hauler, yet trash issues resulted in more calls to City Hall than all other complaint calls combined. City Council should meet with the haulers as promised, consider zoned hauling for a three-year trial to see if that solves the environmental and nuisance issues we currently face, and, if needed, return to the issue of a single hauler if we are confident this is the only solution to this issue.   
3. Economic growth is important for a healthy local economy, but all municipalities need to do their part in reducing our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy. if elected I’ll advocate for legislation that offers incentives for adaptively-re-using our existing buildings rather than demolishing them (whenever possible) and installing renewable energy sources in homes and businesses.  

How much are you spending to run?

Not a lot, $3,000 to $5,000. I’m against the trend of big spending in Bethlehem races. There are better ways to spend all of this money being raised and wasted on excessive mailers that only end up in the trash.    

How is your campaign being funded?

Donations from friends and local supporters.

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

Equality PA

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/KarenForCouncil?ref=ts&fref=ts