ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A longtime local business manager is confident he can land a seat on Allentown City Council with his third bid for the office.
Luis Acevedo again is throwing himself into the race to become one of the city’s seven legislators after running unsuccessfully in 2019 and 2023.
Acevedo said he’s “learned a lot” about the city since his first campaign and has worked to develop relationships with police, fire and other officials.
“You see what's going on [with] city council: there's a lot of fighting back and forth. We’ve got to fight for the people, for the city, not between each other.”Luis Acevedo, Allentown City Council candidate
Acevedo now sits on the board of the Allentown Parknership, a nonprofit launched last year to boost the city’s parks programming.
As he did two years ago, Acevedo is centering his campaign around transparency and integrity.
His platform calls for greater investments in Allentown’s police and fire departments, parks and nonprofits, as well as measures to make homes more affordable to residents.
He pledged to “work with everyone together to move the city forward.”
“I see what's needed in the city, I see what the people are crying about in the city,” Acevedo said. “And I think I could bring some new ideas, some new fresh ideas.
"And make sure that it comes to the table — make sure that the community is able to give their opinion before a decision is made.”
Three announced candidates
Acevedo also promised to fight for residents — and not with his colleagues — if elected.
“You see what's going on [with] city council: There's a lot of fighting back and forth,” Acevedo said. “We’ve got to fight for the people, for the city, not between each other.”
Acevedo, a manager for more than two decades at RJ Walker in Northampton, plans to start actively campaigning Tuesday, the first day to circulate nominating petitions.
“... Make sure that the people you're going to vote for are the people that you know you're going to trust … and are going to work for you, not for themselves.”Luis Acevedo, Allentown City Council candidate
He urged Allentown voters to give candidates an open ear but not to take them for their word.
“Read about your candidates,” Acevedo said. “Speak to people about these candidates and make sure that the people you're going to vote for are the people that you know you're going to trust … and are going to work for you, not for themselves.”
Acevedo is among three residents to announce a bid for four open seats on Allentown City Council as of Monday.
Jeremy Binder, who owns an Allentown-based IT and security consulting firm, launched his campaign in December.
Cristian Pungo, a construction project manager at Alvin H. Butz Inc., announced his campaign this week.
