Battle for City Mayor Goes to Voters Tuesday

Democratic primary will likely decide who Bethlehem's next mayor will be, Bob Donchez or J. William Reynolds.

Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Mayor's Race: Reynolds Gets Big Endorsements

Councilman J. William Reynolds endorsed by Mayor John Callahan and state Rep. Steve Samuelson. Councilman Bob Donchez calls mayor 'the ultimate hypocrite.'

  UPDATED: 9:05 p.m. Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan endorsed City Councilman J. William Reynolds to be the next mayor of the city at a campaign rally before about 100 supporters in Payrow Plaza next to City Hall on Friday afternoon. “This city has always turned to a culture of invigorating leadership as opposed to a more cautious, status quo, stand pat, ‘let’s test the winds’ kind of approach,” Callahan said. “That was true when Don Cunningham was elected at the age of 31, 15 years ago. It was true when I was elected at the age of 34, ten years ago. “On those occasions, every time, the insiders tried to falsely scare the voters by portraying youth as somehow irresponsible or inherently reckless.” The mayor criticized Reynolds’ opponent, Bob…

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Pan Dora

11:28 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The council is completely corrupted. ALL they ever think about is stealing more and more of the people's money. Every single year I have been in Bethlehem the School District voted itself another tax hike. Leave it to a democrat to RAISE TAXES. Tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend - The ONLY thing democrats are good for.   more ›

Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Reynolds: Donchez Spent $100,000 on Negative Ads

In last debate between Bethlehem mayoral candidates, Donchez says he has 'no apologies' for campaign mailers.

  In their last scheduled face-to-face meeting before Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Bethlehem's mayoral candidates continued to argue over negative campaigning. J. William Reynolds charged that Bob Donchez had spent more than $100,000 on negative advertisements against him. Donchez countered that “95 or 96 percent” of his campaign mailers have been positive. The ones that were not, Donchez said, were a legitimate effort to educate the voters on Reynolds’ record. “If he thinks that 95 percent of his ads were positive, I’m not sure we want him in charge at City Hall because there’s a math problem there,” Reynolds said. The last debate between the two City Council colleagues who want to be mayor was Thursday afternoon in the Grand Ballroom of…

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Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Donchez, Reynolds Battle to be Bethlehem Mayor

Fellow City Council members Bob Donchez and J. William Reynolds seek the Democratic nomination for Bethlehem mayor in the May 21 primary.

  Two incumbent Bethlehem city councilmen—Bob Donchez and J. William Reynolds—are seeking the Democratic Party nomination to be the city’s next mayor. Donchez, 63, is serving his fifth term on council. He is a retired teacher who worked for 35 years in the Allentown School District and most recently served as a legislative aide to state Reps. Joe Brennan and Dan McNeill in the 133rd Legislative District. Reynolds, 31, is serving his second term on council. He is currently a social studies teacher at William Allen High School in Allentown. Before then, he was the chief legislative aide to state Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-135. The winner of the primary will likely be the next mayor of Bethlehem. No Republicans—or any other candidates—have …

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Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

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 WDIY, 88.1-FM’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. 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 …

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Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Meet Mayoral Candidate J. William Reynolds

City Councilman J. William Reynolds is one of two candidates in the Democratic primary for mayor of Bethlehem. The primary is Tuesday, May 21.

  Bethlehem Mayoral Race Candidate: J. William Reynolds Age: 31 Family:  My parents are John and Rachel Reynolds, both professors. They raised me and my 4 siblings—Scott, Molly, Joey, and Elizabeth—right here in Bethlehem. We grew up right across the street from Liberty High School. Political party affiliation: Democrat Tell us about your educational background: I attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Northeast Middle School. I graduated from Liberty High School in 1999 and then went on to Moravian College. I majored in political science, minored in history and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2003. Tell us about your professional/business background:  I started out my professional career working as a Legislative Aide in the …

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Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Mayoral Candidates to Debate 3 Times Before Primary

Bob Donchez and J. William Reynolds will face off 3 more times before Democratic primary likely decides which one will be Bethlehem's next mayor.

  With three weeks to go before the primary election that will likely determine who Bethlehem’s next mayor will be, there will be three more forums during which the public can hear the two candidates debate and discuss the issues. City Council colleagues Bob Donchez and J. William Reynolds have met at least twice before in mayoral candidates forums. They differed on very few issues at the first one hosted by the city’s Latino community at the Fowler Hispanic Youth Center in South Bethlehem. They’ve also met once at a forum hosted by a West Bethlehem neighborhood group. Now in the campaign’s home stretch, the last three scheduled forums are being hosted by the League of Women Voters of Northampton County, the Bethlehem City Democratic …

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Election 2013: Bethlehem Mayor

Reynolds: I Won't Preside at Weddings Until All Can Marry

Democratic mayoral candidate promises to be advocate for gay, lesbian marriage equality.

  Democratic mayoral candidate J. William Reynolds on Thursday promised to be an advocate for marriage equality for gays and lesbians, pledging that, if elected, he will not officiate at any weddings unless he is allowed to officiate at all weddings. Same sex couples are not permitted to wed in Pennsylvania. Nine states and the District of Columbia will issue marriage certificates to gay and lesbian couples. "One of the ceremonial functions mayors have is to officiate weddings if they choose," Reynolds said at a news conference at Payrow Plaza early Thursday evening. "Well I am here today to promise and to pledge to you that as mayor, I will not officiate or preside [at] any marriage in the city of Bethlehem until I am able to officiate …

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