ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Newly elected Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel is wasting no time, announcing his transition team and the plans he says will drive his administration.

Lehigh County Executive-Elect Josh Siegel announced his transition team and laid out the governing philosophy that will define his administration for the next four years, according to a news statement from Siegel.

Siegel was elected the youngest county executive in the history of Pennsylvania at 31 and one of the youngest elected county executives in the country.

“People are frustrated by our broken political process and our corrosive and toxic politics, they’re losing faith in democracy and institutions. People are looking to the government to act and lead to solve problems.” Seigel says. “This administration will be defined by the urgency, decisiveness and action that people deserve from their elected officials.”

The transition team will be chaired by Jim Irwin, President of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council and Business Agent for the Operating Engineers Local 542 and Samantha Pearson, Director of Development at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

“The housing affordability crisis, struggle to preserve open space, congestion and traffic and increasing demand on local services will require partnership and collaboration and new ways of thinking,” said Siegel. “Our transition chairs reflect the mindset at the center of those challenges, fighting working people and thinking regionally and strategically. As we work together to tackle these challenges, we must make sure the focus is security and prosperity for people and the future of our entire region.”

Siegel organized his transition team to focus on core county functions and priorities as well as preparation and contingencies for the uncertain federal funding and actions.

“I believe at the end of the day, people don’t want a life of luxury, but a life well-lived. That’s my goal in building One Lehigh, that every one of our residents can live well. Every resident should have a community that respects and embraces them, a home and life they can afford, quality communities to raise their family, entertainment and enjoyment that enriches their life and a sense of purpose and belonging that gives meaning to place in Lehigh,” said Siegel.

The transition team consists of the following committees that will begin meeting in December.

Human Services Subcommittee:

Chair: Marci Lesko, President and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Kate Cohen: Vice President, Institutional Advancement River Crossing YMCA

Marc Rittle, Executive Director, New Bethany

Brad Osborne, Former Lehigh County Commissioner & Chair of Board

Eric Ruth, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kellyn Foundation

Housing Subcommittee:

Jonathan Strauss, Co-Founder and Partner Cortex Residential

Abby Goldfarb, Executive Director, Lehigh Conference of Churches

Robert DiLorenzo, Director of Planning and Construction, City Center Group

Phil Malitsch, Director of Land Development Tuskes Homes

Asher Schiavone, Director of Government Affairs, Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors

Economic Development and Regional Growth Subcommittee:

Jason Salus, Montgomery County Treasurer

Dave Nasatir, Chair of Firm, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippell LLP

Alex Michaels, President and CEO Discover Lehigh Valley

Frank Facchiano is COO and Executive Vice President, Member Relations, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

Kristin Cahayla-Hoffman, Vice President of Business Development and Attraction, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation

Paul Anthony, Business Manager/Financial Secretary International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 375 and President of the Lehigh Valley Building Trades

Labor/Personnel Subcommittee:

Joe Scoboria, Business Representative, AFSCME 13

Andy Hilt, Business Agent, SEIU 668 for Lehigh County

Danielle Joseph, Executive Vice President, Business & Diversity Councils, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

Chris Naylor, Legislative and Political Director, UFCW 1776

Public Safety Subcommittee:

Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca

Jeani Garcia, Director of Operations, Promise Neighborhoods

Katarah A Jordan, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Allentown

Jeremy Warmkessel, President of IAFF Local 302

Tinku Khanwalkar, Member of Pennsylvania Prison Society, Member of Allentown Environmental Advisory Council focused on environmental sustainability, justice and equity

Local Resilience and Response to Trump Administration:

Chair: Jon Iron, Lehigh County Commissioner

Jasmine Rivera, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Immigrant Coalition

Mary Erdman, Immediate Past President, Lehigh County League of Women Voters

Adam Hosey, Policy and Political Director, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates

Nicole Folino, Community Services Manager, Second Harvest Food Bank