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By Lindsay Weber | liweber@mcall.com | The Morning Call The candidates for Lehigh County executive, one of this year’s most closely watched local races in the Lehigh Valley, traded arguments and attacks at their first televised debate Wednesday before the November election. Josh Siegel, a Democratic state representative for Allentown, and Roger MacLean, a former Allentown City Council member and retired Allentown police chief, will face each other on the ballot Nov. 4. County Executive Phillips Armstrong, who has held the seat since 2017, is term limited and thus not running in 2025. In their opening remarks, Siegel, 31, positioned himself as part of a “new generation of leadership” in politics, whereas MacLean, who came out of retirement to run, said he felt he had “too much energy” to remain on the political sidelines. The two candidates shared their thoughts on Donald Trump, local policing, county finances and other key issues in a debate hosted by Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Tony Iannelli as part of the WFMZ program “Business Matters.” It will air at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 on WFMZ. Here are the key takeaways: Ties to Trump Though Trump will not be on the ballot in 2025, he was a frequent subject in the debate as Siegel attempted to tie MacLean to the president’s policies. Siegel on several occasions criticized MacLean for failing to vocally oppose the federal tax bill passed in July, which will reduce the number of people eligible for Medicaid and SNAP via implementing work requirements. “What they have done in D.C., the politics and policies that frankly, my opponent voted for proudly three times, are going to be catastrophic for Lehigh County residents,” Siegel said. “Our neighbors are going to be kicked off their health care. They’re going to lose their food assistance. We’re going to take money or food out of the mouths of children and veterans and grandparents.” MacLean said that he did vote for Donald Trump but that he is not concerned about federal funding cuts, adding that he thought the county “will get our money one way or another.” Feared losses to food and health care programs are “fearmongering,” in MacLean’s opinion, and he called on Siegel to focus on issues local to the county. “I am not running against Donald Trump, I am running for county executive, and that’s what I’m concentrating on,” MacLean said. County finances Both candidates said they would look to improve the county’s financial position. Though the county’s proposed 2026 budget has no tax increase, an impasse with the state budget could force the county to burn through its entire $25 million stabilization fund just to keep its programs running. Siegel proposed several methods that the county could use to expand its sources of tax revenue to continue to fund county programs, including changing the county’s employee health insurance plan via tying the county’s financial obligation to Medicare’s financial obligations, and piloting a program allowing local nonprofits and universities to pay directly for county programs in lieu of taxes. MacLean offered few specifics on his financial plans, but said he is for “efficient, cost-effective government” and would take a look at each specific county department once he takes office to decide where to make cuts. Law enforcement The candidates traded attacks on their opponent’s respective positions on law enforcement. While Siegel accused MacLean of “downplaying” the Jan. 6 insurrection, MacLean attacked Siegel for his previous statements criticizing law enforcement in 2020. “MacLean touts his service as chief of police in Allentown, and frankly, I think he committed the ultimate betrayal when he decided to vote for Donald Trump in 2024,” Siegel said. “This is a president who incited a violent and bloody insurrection that sicced a dangerous mob on our nation’s capital that led to five Capitol Police officers dying, hundreds more being wounded because they were attacked by traitorous Americans.” The two argued about the death toll of Jan. 6: MacLean claimed that only one person died, rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed while climbing through a broken window in the Capitol building. However, at least five police officers died in connection with the attack, including one police officer who had a stroke the day following the riot and four who died by suicide in the aftermath. MacLean accused Siegel of being “antipolice,” pointing to Siegel’s record on City Council. Siegel and fellow Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach had proposed in 2020 reallocating some of the police department’s funding toward social services. The two also faced calls for censure at the time from other City Council members, who alleged they made disparaging comments about police during Black Lives Matter protests. Siegel acknowledged that he has “evolved” on the issue of policing and said, “I like to think that I’m capable of growth and maturity.” He pointed to his support for police departments as a state representative, including voting for budgets that increase funding for local police departments.
By Lindsay Weber | liweber@mcall.com | The Morning Call
The candidates for Lehigh County executive, one of this year’s most closely watched local races in the Lehigh Valley, traded arguments and attacks at their first televised debate Wednesday before the November election.
Josh Siegel, a Democratic state representative for Allentown, and Roger MacLean, a former Allentown City Council member and retired Allentown police chief, will face each other on the ballot Nov. 4. County Executive Phillips Armstrong, who has held the seat since 2017, is term limited and thus not running in 2025.
In their opening remarks, Siegel, 31, positioned himself as part of a “new generation of leadership” in politics, whereas MacLean, who came out of retirement to run, said he felt he had “too much energy” to remain on the political sidelines.
The two candidates shared their thoughts on Donald Trump, local policing, county finances and other key issues in a debate hosted by Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Tony Iannelli as part of the WFMZ program “Business Matters.” It will air at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 on WFMZ.
Here are the key takeaways:
Though Trump will not be on the ballot in 2025, he was a frequent subject in the debate as Siegel attempted to tie MacLean to the president’s policies.
Siegel on several occasions criticized MacLean for failing to vocally oppose the federal tax bill passed in July, which will reduce the number of people eligible for Medicaid and SNAP via implementing work requirements.
“What they have done in D.C., the politics and policies that frankly, my opponent voted for proudly three times, are going to be catastrophic for Lehigh County residents,” Siegel said. “Our neighbors are going to be kicked off their health care. They’re going to lose their food assistance. We’re going to take money or food out of the mouths of children and veterans and grandparents.”
MacLean said that he did vote for Donald Trump but that he is not concerned about federal funding cuts, adding that he thought the county “will get our money one way or another.”
Feared losses to food and health care programs are “fearmongering,” in MacLean’s opinion, and he called on Siegel to focus on issues local to the county.
“I am not running against Donald Trump, I am running for county executive, and that’s what I’m concentrating on,” MacLean said.
Both candidates said they would look to improve the county’s financial position. Though the county’s proposed 2026 budget has no tax increase, an impasse with the state budget could force the county to burn through its entire $25 million stabilization fund just to keep its programs running.
Siegel proposed several methods that the county could use to expand its sources of tax revenue to continue to fund county programs, including changing the county’s employee health insurance plan via tying the county’s financial obligation to Medicare’s financial obligations, and piloting a program allowing local nonprofits and universities to pay directly for county programs in lieu of taxes.
MacLean offered few specifics on his financial plans, but said he is for “efficient, cost-effective government” and would take a look at each specific county department once he takes office to decide where to make cuts.
The candidates traded attacks on their opponent’s respective positions on law enforcement. While Siegel accused MacLean of “downplaying” the Jan. 6 insurrection, MacLean attacked Siegel for his previous statements criticizing law enforcement in 2020.
“MacLean touts his service as chief of police in Allentown, and frankly, I think he committed the ultimate betrayal when he decided to vote for Donald Trump in 2024,” Siegel said. “This is a president who incited a violent and bloody insurrection that sicced a dangerous mob on our nation’s capital that led to five Capitol Police officers dying, hundreds more being wounded because they were attacked by traitorous Americans.”
The two argued about the death toll of Jan. 6: MacLean claimed that only one person died, rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed while climbing through a broken window in the Capitol building.
However, at least five police officers died in connection with the attack, including one police officer who had a stroke the day following the riot and four who died by suicide in the aftermath.
MacLean accused Siegel of being “antipolice,” pointing to Siegel’s record on City Council. Siegel and fellow Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach had proposed in 2020 reallocating some of the police department’s funding toward social services. The two also faced calls for censure at the time from other City Council members, who alleged they made disparaging comments about police during Black Lives Matter protests.
Siegel acknowledged that he has “evolved” on the issue of policing and said, “I like to think that I’m capable of growth and maturity.” He pointed to his support for police departments as a state representative, including voting for budgets that increase funding for local police departments.