ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Campaign season is in full swing in Lehigh County.
A day after a small-business owner opened up the race for Allentown City Council, state Rep. Josh Siegel kicked off the battle for Lehigh County executive.
Siegel announced his campaign Tuesday evening at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 375 headquarters less than a block away from the Lehigh County Government Center, which he hopes to lead come 2026.
Siegel said he wants to address a dearth of affordable housing in the region and push for more investment in regional assets like Coca-Cola Park and Trexler Park.
“I think we have the power in Lehigh County to build the kind of communities people want to live in: walkable, amenity-rich, safe and vibrant."Josh Siegel, candidate for Lehigh County executive
He called for officials to consider regionalizing police, fire and emergency medical services in parts of the county, a move he said would put more officers on the streets at a lower cost and create opportunities for better use of technology.
Siegel also said he would push the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office to open a division to prosecute employers who violate local labor laws.
And he promised he would “never sell” the county-owned Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab in Allentown if elected executive.
“We will not abandon it or walk away from it,” he said.
‘One Lehigh’
The 31-year-old state representative said he’s running for county executive because local government is “best positioned” to address people’s needs and rebuild faith in institutions.
“I think we have the power in Lehigh County to build the kind of communities people want to live in: walkable, amenity-rich, safe and vibrant,” Siegel said.
He referred to his “One Lehigh” platform as a “plan of collective action," one that he said will appeal to voters of all parties and require support from some of the region’s large institutions.
“‘One Lehigh’ is a ‘We’ movement, not a ‘Me’ movement,” Siegel said, tweaking a line from Allentown City Council candidate Jeremy Binder delivered at his campaign launch Monday night.
Siegel said he would use the county executive’s office to safeguard and “administer democracy” through expanded and easier voting.
Lehigh County Republicans are “in disarray” over who will run for executive, Siegel said, warning their candidate could “try to bring out the freaking worst in us.”
“They don’t have an agenda; They have no plan for you or your family,” he said.
Incumbent backs Siegel
Siegel on Monday bagged arguably the most valuable endorsement in the Democratic primary for Lehigh County executive: the man who’s held the office since 2018.
He was elected to Allentown City Council in 2019 when he was 25 and served less than one term before voters elected him to the state House of Representatives in 2022.
He was re-elected in November to a second term as a state legislator.
“I’m ready to fight like hell with everything I have to hold this seat."Josh Siegel, candidate for Lehigh County executive
Siegel got his first government job in 2017 when incumbent Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong hired him as communications director fresh off then-22-year-old Siegel’s failed bid for mayor.
Armstrong on Monday threw his full support behind Siegel, a man he somewhat jokingly referred to as his son.
“I can’t wait to hand over the reins to (Siegel),” Armstrong said. “I can’t wait to see what his ambition is going to do to continue Lehigh County on the success road.”
Siegel said it’s imperative for Lehigh County to elect another Democrat as executive to maintain its momentum and build on recent successes.
“I’m ready to fight like hell with everything I have to hold this seat,” Siegel said.
