ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown is hosting a debate in a local race that could have state-wide implications.
This comes ahead of the special election on Feb. 24 for the state house seat vacated by current Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel.
Right now, the Democrats hold a slim majority in the house with five seats up for grabs.
Republican Robert Smith will face Democrat Ana Tiburcio in a special election for Pennsylvania’s 22nd District.
69 News caught up with both of them last month.
Former, current Allentown school board members vie for Pa. House District 22 seat
Tiburcio was nominated in early January. She replaced Democratic candidate Julian Guridy, who had to withdraw over failing to meet residential requirements.
The three-year Allentown school board member says if elected, she plans to focus on fair funding for schools and affordable housing.
Smith is also not a stranger to public service. He served on Allentown’s school board for 16 years, and is a former member of city council.
If he gets the seat, he wants to help working families, and improve the region’s roads and bridges.
Democrats have held the slimmest of margins in the Pa. House where the balance of power has been razor thin.
Republicans are hoping to change that in this heavily Democratic district.