Allentown City Council will have at least two fresh faces after incumbent Democrat ousted

Allentown City Council will have at least two fresh faces next year because of the apparent ouster Tuesday of an incumbent Democratic council member.Challenger Ce-Ce Gerlach led the way with 28% of the vote for the first of three Democratic nominations for the board. Incumbent Candida Affa also held onto a nomination with 18% of the vote, according to unofficial results with all but one of the city’s 58 precincts reporting.The third Democratic nomination appeared to go to newcomer Joshua Siegel, who was locked in a tight battle for much of the night with Councilman Courtney Robinson. Shortly after 11 p.m., Robinson conceded to Siegel as incomplete results showed Siegel leading by 100 votes. Early Wednesday, Siegel maintained an 83-vote lead with only a four-voter precinct in the 19th Ward not reporting. The Democratic nominees will face Republican Joe Hoffman, who was uncontested in the primary.Democratic challenger Luis Acevedo trailed with 12% of the vote and John Rosario had 10%, according to unofficial results.One of the contested seats on the board is that of council President Roger MacLean, who is not seeking reelection. Robinson will depart with him at the end of the year.Courtney Robinson speaks during an Allentown City Council candidate debate. (April Gamiz/)Robinson said late Tuesday that he was proud of his tenure on the board and pledged to work hard through the end of the year.“The taxpayers of Allentown are going to get their money’s worth out of me,” he said.Siegel said Tuesday night that residents are hungry for “fresh, bold ideas” to address the city’s financial challenges and plan for the long term. He lamented others’ skepticism as “an unfortunate byproduct of the deep dysfunction at all levels of government.”“I’m going to win them over by showing that when you have a comprehensive and consistent policies, and the heart and courage to fight for policies, government can in fact be a force for good,” he said.Gerlach, 33, a teacher and two-term member of the Allentown School Board, received the most votes of the six Democratic candidates. The Center City resident made a name for herself as a staunch critic of former Mayor Ed Pawlowski, and she’s also been the one of the most vocal advocates for more interventionist affordable housing policies such as inclusionary zoning and community benefits agreements.Ce-Ce Gerlach speaks during an Allentown City Council candidate debate.
(April Gamiz/)Gerlach raised more money ($14,363) than any other Council candidate during the first four months of the year. She also became the first-ever council candidate to receive an endorsement from Emily’s List, the national PAC that helps fund the campaigns of Democratic women who support abortion rights.Affa, 75, sought her second term after being elected in 2015. She’s the former owner of Candida’s Bar, which was one of two operating gay bars in the city. She’s defended her vote in favor of a 27% property tax hike as necessary to maintain adequate public safety staff and resources. Allentown Councilwoman Candida Affa, who is seeking re-election. (APRIL BARTHOLOMEW / THE MORNING CALL/)She thanked residents for recommitting to her but expressed disappointment that they likely ousted Robinson, whom Affa called “a superb councilman” who accomplished much over the past 18 months.“[Siegel and Gerlach] worked very hard, and I’m going to congratulate them, but I think a lot of people don’t look at records as much as they listen to candidates who say they’re going to do this and that,” Affa said.Siegel, 25, previously ran for mayor in 2017 while he was completing his degree at Seton Hall University. The Lehigh County public information officer offered one of the more detail-oriented policy platforms. To address regular structural deficits, Siegel advocated that the city request payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) from large nonprofits such as health care companies that don’t pay property taxes but use local services. And like Gerlach, he called for community benefit agreements and inclusionary zoning, the latter of which he called a “moral imperative” during one debate.Joshua Siegel speaks during an Allentown City Council candidate debate. (April Gamiz/)Entering May, Siegel had spent three times as much ($13,849) as any other council candidate. He spent $12,403 alone on mailers and, like Gerlach, raised $14,000 in donations. He also contributed $2,000 of his own money.Robinson, an account manager for Meier & Dutch Wholesale Distributors, was elected to a two-year term in 2017 (he defeated Rosario in the primary and former Republican Councilman Lou Hershman in the general election). Since then he’s been one of the more vocal and intentional members on Council. Like Affa, Robinson voted in favor of a 27% property tax hike this year.Hoffman is a retired grants manager at Barry Isett & Associates and a past employee of the city’s planning and parks departments. He says the city needs to come up with creative new revenue sources to implement any of the policies other candidates are talking about, and that his work experience makes him an ideal candidate.Joe Hoffman is the lone Republican candidate for Allentown City Council. (April Gamiz/)Hoffman faces steep odds in the general election. Of Allentown’s 67,000 registered voters, 41,760 are Democrats, and 12,386 are Republicans.Morning Call reporter Andrew Wagaman can be reached at 610-820-6764 or awagaman@mcall.com.
Source: Morningcall