ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A journalist-turned-part-time weatherman and hot sauce maker is seeking a seat on Allentown City Council.
Ben Stemrich announced his bid Friday, joining three other candidates — Jeremy Binder, Luis Acevedo and Cristian Pungo — in the contest for four open seats.
Stemrich has never served in public government but said he feels prepared to succeed on council after spending “a good 1,000 hours” reporting on various municipal meetings.
He worked for Blue Ridge Communications for about eight years and reported for Lehigh Valley Public Media from March 2020 to August 2021.
Stemrich spent three years as a freelance reporter before returning in December 2023 to Blue Ridge Communications, where he’s a weather forecaster three days a week.
He said he’s making the jump into local politics to demand transparency and accountability and be in a position to defend the city from federal initiatives.
“The fact that hedge funds can kind of scoop things up before local residents have a chance at it is a big problem."Ben Stemrich, Allentown City Council
Stemrich said he’s worried too many current council members are content with “just following the law” on immigration and other issues getting the focus of President Donald Trump’s administration.
“The laws are changing very fast and in a lot of ways that the general public is not in favor of,” Stemrich said.
“What happens when the laws are changed where maybe local police departments, according to the federal government, have to ask for citizenship?”
“When that law changes, what do you do? Do you obey the law or do you work for the people?”
More housing, jobs in Allentown
Stemrich’s platform is focused on housing, jobs and public safety, which he called “paramount” for any candidate.
Allentown needs more affordable housing, but also more locally owned housing, Stemrich said.
“The fact that hedge funds can kind of scoop things up before local residents have a chance at it is a big problem,” Stemrich said.
“We all have to have irons in the fire because we have given into a system that has prioritized investment and capital over labor. In my opinion, we have prioritized the wrong things in our society.”Ben Stemrich, Allentown City Council candidate
He also called for more and better job opportunities in Allentown for city residents.
Stemrich said he’s running as a Democrat to stand a chance at being elected but is “a little further left” than most Democrats.
Running as an independent would mean he’d “put in twice as much time, get half of the face time, and [spend] twice as much,” Stemrich said.
He called it “damn near impossible” to win without running as a member of one of the two major parties.
‘Wrong’ priorities
Stemrich started making hot sauces a few years ago to save some money on groceries; that venture last year turned into a “fledgling” business called Stem and Rock Provisions.
He called it a necessary “side hustle,” like those that many Allentown residents are forced to take up to make ends meet.
“In my opinion, we have prioritized the wrong things in our society.”Allentown City Council candidate Ben Stemrich
“We all have to have irons in the fire because we have given into a system that has prioritized investment and capital over labor,” Stemrich said.
“In my opinion, we have prioritized the wrong things in our society.”
Stemrich said he’ll be knocking on residents’ doors over the next few weeks as he tries to collect enough signatures to appear on the May 20 Democratic primary ballot.
“I hope to talk about what they’re going through right now” and learn “what would get them more engaged” in the community and Allentown’s government, he said.
