ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A former Republican state legislator is eyeing Lehigh County’s top administrative job.
Justin Simmons, who served a decade in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives, on Tuesday announced his candidacy for Lehigh County executive.
Simmons is the first Republican to announce a run for the office.
“I think county government can do more with less."Justin Simmons, Republican candidate for Lehigh County executive
State Rep. Josh Siegel is seeking the Democratic nomination for Lehigh County executive.
Incumbent Democratic County Executive Phil Armstrong, who has served two terms, is prevented from running again by term limits.
Simmons said he wants to bring “common sense ideas and needed government reforms” to Lehigh County and give its residents “a new pro-taxpayer voice they deserve.”
“I think county government can do more with less,” Simmons said.
Campaign pledges
He made several campaign pledges to voters Tuesday in his campaign announcement.
“This I can promise you, as your county executive, I will never sign a budget that increases taxes," he said.
"I will never sign a budget that increases taxes; I will always support our law enforcement; and I will keep local zoning decisions where they belong —with locally elected municipal officials."Justin Simmons, Republican candidate for Lehigh County executive
"I will always support our law enforcement and I will keep local zoning decisions where they belong — with locally elected municipal officials."
Simmons said he is “now determined more than ever” after working the past five years in the private sector and “successfully overcoming health issues that his previous opponents used as political fodder against him.”
Simmons missed hundreds of votes while serving in the state House. He ended his bid for U.S. Congress in November 2017, days after a report by The Morning Call on those votes.
He later said he suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and attributed some of his absences to seeking treatment for the disorder.
Simmons served from 2011-21 as the state representative for the 131st District, which included the Saucon Valley area of Northampton County and parts of Lehigh and Montgomery counties.
