ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Local campaign season is set to kick off next month — less than two weeks after voters fill a slew of federal and state seats.
Democratic Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk is scheduled to officially announce his re-election bid at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.
The event will move over to Ume Asian Cuisine across the street later in the night, according to an invitation distributed Tuesday by Tuerk’s campaign.
It’s long been known that Tuerk would run for re-election. He told LehighValleyNews.com in February that “there should be no doubt in anybody’s mind” that he would seek a second term as Allentown mayor.
“I want to keep doing this. I have every intention of continuing to do this work through at least another term.”Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk in February
“I've never made any secret about my intention to run for re-election next year,” Tuerk said.
“I want to keep doing this. I have every intention of continuing to do this work through at least another term.”
Likely campaign focus
Tuerk served in a leadership role at the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, then worked eight years for Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation before he was elected mayor in 2021.
Tuerk listed several accomplishments he’ll likely tout on the campaign trail, including how he “championed change” and turned City Hall into a more efficient and “data-driven” organization.Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk's 2024 state of the city address
During his 2024 State of the City address, Tuerk listed several accomplishments he’ll likely tout on the campaign trail, including how he “championed change” and turned City Hall into a more efficient and “data-driven” organization.
Tuerk also credited experiments and adjustments within city government for boosting the new of new construction permits and business licenses last year.
And the mayor almost certainly will point to Allentown’s $20 million Recompete grant as further evidence of his administration’s effectiveness.
That money is meant to help city officials connect residents in some of Allentown’s poorest neighborhoods to jobs in “high-opportunity” industries like manufacturing and health care.
City projections show the $20 million investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will help employ more than 650 people in Allentown by 2030.
Clashes with council
The mayor this winter said residents have been “incredibly supportive of the work that I’m doing” during his first few years in the job.
But he’s often clashed with Allentown City Council over the past year.
Council voted 4-3 in December 2023 to pass a no-confidence resolution that called Tuerk’s service “a detriment to the well-being of the city, its residents and city employees.”
Council last month sued Tuerk and Finance Director Bina Patel, alleging they are trying to block its probe into reports of racism and discrimination within city government by not paying the investigator.
But lawyers for the administration officials argue council has no case because the investigator, former FBI agent Scott Curtis, has not filed any invoices.
Possible opponents
No other candidates have announced their intention to challenge Tuerk.
But Allentown City Council member Ed Zucal has discussed a potential campaign with residents, and Council President Cynthia Mota in May told Univision host Jorge Ramos that she would “love” to be Allentown's mayor one day.
The Democratic primary on May 20 almost certainly will determine who is elected in November to be Allentown’s next mayor.
Tuerk in 2021 defeated incumbent Mayor Ray O'Connell and City Council members Ce-Ce Gerlach and Julio Guridy in the Democratic primary.
He easily defeated Republican Tim Ramos in November 2021.
