ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Three incumbents on the Allentown City Council are expected to retain their seats, earning the most votes in Tuesday’s seven-candidate Democratic primary, according to complete but unofficial results.
Cecilia “Ce-Ce” Gerlach, Santo Napoli and Candida Affa faced challenges from Luis Acevedo, Rodney Bushe, Sarina Torres and Tino Babayan.
- Seven candidates ran for three spots on the Allentown City Council in the May 16 Democratic primary
- Cecilia “Ce-Ce” Gerlach, Santo Napoli and Candida Affa had the top-three vote totals, according to unofficial election results
- All three are incumbents
The three incumbents will be the only candidates for Allentown City Council on general election ballots Nov. 7. No one sought the Republican Party’s nomination for the seats.
Many of the candidates focused their campaigns addressing Allentown’s lack of affordable housing, as well as public safety and quality-of-life issues.
"Residents just want a really strong, functioning government."Allentown City Council member Santo Napoli, who won the Democratic Party's nomination for re-election Tuesday
Gerlach claimed victory around 11 p.m. Tuesday after opening up a significant lead over fourth-placed Acevedo.
Gerlach said she was “really just thankful to the voters of Allentown for trusting me with another four years” on council.
She said she would “keep fighting for housing [and] keep fighting to decriminalize poverty, to decriminalize mental health challenges, to decriminalize being unsheltered.”
Napoli also paid tribute to his supporters, as well as his wife, Jasmine, and his campaign manager, Jack Ziets.
He said his primary victory “validates" what he's learned since joining the council in January. He was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Josh Siegel’s election to the state House of Representatives.
Napoli, a landlord and owner of assembly88, said he is “excited to bring my background and experience in housing, and help make a difference in [housing] policy.”
He said he also will focus on bringing “professionalism and normalcy” to the council.
“Residents just want a really strong, functioning government,” he said.
Affa finished third in the Democratic primary, according to unofficial election results. That means she’s almost certain to win a third term in November.
“I’m thrilled that council’s staying the way it is,” she said. “We’re used to working together and we’ll get things done in the city now.”
Though their new terms would not start until 2024, the incumbent nominees’ work begins again in earnest on Wednesday with another Allentown City Council meeting.
