Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Mayor of Bethlehem Pennsylvania was created in 1917 with the merger of Borough of Bethlehem and the Borough of South Bethlehem to create the city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Robert Donchez is the current mayor having been sworn in January 7. 2014.

(election for 11th mayor )

J. William Reynolds, city councilman, was the first candidate for Bethlehem Mayor.^[1] A second Democratic Councilman. Robert Donchez, also ran for mayor.^[2] The Democratic primaries were held on May 21, 2013, and Reynold's conceded the primary election to Donchez two days later. No Republican has announced their candidacy.

On October 21, 2013, Todd Dietrich launched a write-in campaign for the election.^[3]

Donchez was sworn in on January 7, 2014.

(10th mayor)

John B. Callahan (10 years): JohnCallahan is currently serving his final term as Mayor. He was first chosen as the Democratic Candidate Candidate for Mayor in November 2003 for the remaining portion of Cunningham's term (John Callahan had 1,973 votes to the Acting Mayor James A Delgrosso's 1,959 votes).^[4] He won the general election taking over 60% of the votes but also sweeping every ward in the city to serve the final two years of his predecessors term. He ran unopposed in both the general election in 2005 and 2009.^[5]

(Interim Mayor)

James Delgrosso: James Delgrosso was appointed by the council to serve the remaining 300 days of Donald Cunningham's term (March 12, 2003 – January 5, 2004). James Delgrosso died on October 8, 2009.

(9th mayor)

Don Cunningham (1988-2003) (5 years): On November 1997 Democratic Councilman Don Cunningham beat Republican Councilman Otto Ehrsam. In 2003, Cunningham resigned as Mayor of Bethlehem after serving only 14 months of his second term, He became Secretary of the Department of General Services under Governor Ed Rendell.

(Interim Mayor)

Former Mayor Paul Marcincin was appointed interim mayor by the council from October 1997 to January 1998 as Mayor Smith had resigned early.

(8th mayor)

Kenneth Smith (1988-1998)(10 years): Republican candidate Ken Smith was elected in November 1987, first to serve the remaineder of the term, and then elected for two subsequent terms. In 1995 Bethlehem Steel Corporation ends steelmaking operations in Bethlehem. Smith accepted the post of vice president of public affairs with his alma mater, Lehigh University, in October 1997 and resigned three months early.

(Interim Mayor)

Former Mayor Gordon Mowrer was appointed interim mayor by the council when it was determined that Mayor Marcincin's third election was illegal. He served from January 14, 1987 until the election in November 1987.

(7th Mayor)

Paul Marcincin (1978-1987) (9 years): Democratic candidate Marcinin was elected Mayor in November 1977 after being a member of City Council for 12 years. In 1984 the first Musikfest took place in Bethlehem. In November 1985 Mayor Marcincin decided to run for a third term despite having voted for the term limiting ordnance in 1973. Council forced Marcincin out of office on Jan. 14, 1987 when a Northampton County Court determined the city ordinance setting term limits was legal. The judge that made the ruling, was the same one who declared the ordinance illegal in 1985, permitting Mayor Marcincin to run for a 3rd term. Paul Marcincin died on October 26, 2009. ^[6]

(6th Mayor)

Gordon Mowrer (1974-1978) (4 years): Democrat Gordon Mowrer restored the historic character of Bethlehem. Under his term Victorian streetlights were introduced.^[7]

Term Limits

In October 1973, just before the 15th mayoral election as the city was about to elect its 6th mayor, the council voted in favor of an ordinance limiting Bethlehem mayors to two full four-year terms (in addition to a partial term if applicable). The ordinance was never submitted to, or challenged by, the voters. At the time, Bethlehem was the only city in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia that had term limits for a mayor.

(5th Mayor)

H. Gordon Payrow, Jr. (1962-1974) (12 years): Republican Gordon Payrow was the first mayor to serve under Bethlehem's strong mayor form of government. During his term in off construction of Route 378 began in 1966. The new City Center and Library opened in 1967. The Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge opened in 1973. Mayor Payrow died April 13, 2004.

(4th Mayor)

Earl E. Schaffer (1950–62) (12 years): Earl E. Schaffer accomplishments were as follows: identified need for new City Hall complex, expanded recreation facilities, identified need for strong-mayor government, adopted earned income tax, completed sewage plant, built Penn Forest Dam, completed Penn Forest Reservoir, created Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority.^[8] The population of Bethlehem reached its maximum in 1960 (as of 2010) under Mayor Schaffer. Earl Schaffer died in 1982.

(3rd Mayor)

Robert Pfeifle (1930-1950) (20 years): Robert Pfeifle began his term with a massive campaign to close speakeasies, brothels, and confiscation of illegal liquor. Undesirables from New Jersey and New York were barred from entering the city. Bethlehem became formally known as the Christmas City in 1937. School children and other organizations raised $800 to build a star atop South Mountain. The first star was 60' and lit with 100 30-watt light bulbs. In 1939 an 81' replacement was built by Bethlehem Steel. It was the largest single electrical display in the world. Robert Pfeifle died in 1958.

(2nd Mayor)

James M. Yeakle (1922-1930) (8 years): During the term of James Yeakle the Hill to Hill bridge opened in 1924 and the Daily Times merges with the Globe to form the Bethlehem Globe-Times. During Yeakle's term Police Officer Charles Fenton was shot on Nov. 12, 1927 while trying to apprehend robbers at one of 35 brothels on the south side. He left behind a wife and two sons. The politics of reform prevented Yeakle from being re-elected in November 1929.^[9]

(1st Mayor)

Archibald Johnston (1918-1922) (4 years): A graduate of Lehigh University, Republican Mayor Johnston was active in all areas of Bethlehem life, including Vice President of Bethlehem Steel. During Johnston's single mayoral term, Liberty High School was built, planning for the Hill to Hill Bridge began, and Hotel Bethlehem opened.^[10] Johnston died on February 1, 1948 in his Bethlehem Township home, Camel's Hump Farm.

References