ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two new faces are set to join City Council.

Jeremy Binder and Cristian Pungo will formally join council Monday night after they finished among the top four vote-getters in last year’s elections.

They were elected alongside incumbents Cynthia Mota and Natalie Santos.

Allentown City Council members are scheduled to take their oaths of office at 6 p.m. Monday during a reorganization meeting in which members will elect a new council president and vice president.

Allentown City Council agenda

They’re scheduled to take their oaths of office at 6 p.m. Monday during a reorganization meeting in which members will elect a new council president and vice president.

Binder, who owns an IT and security consulting firm based in the city, campaigned on his hopes of bringing “a broader perspective” to council.

He said he would “focus on community” and work to build better relationships between residents and city officials.

Pungo is a construction manager at Alvin H. Butz Inc. He told voters he wants to bring his “results-based approach” to Allentown City Council to try to avoid some of the “dysfunction” the body has faced in recent years.

He identified investments in affordable housing and infrastructure as top priorities.

‘Own personal beliefs’

Binder and Pungo will replace Daryl Hendricks and Ed Zucal, who depart with two decades of council experience between them.

Hendricks served a dozen years across three terms. He sought a fourth term last year but finished 25 votes short of Pungo in May’s Democratic primary.

“You’ve got to serve with dignity and integrity.”

Outgoing Councilman Ed Zucal to incoming members

Zucal’s time on council will end after two terms. He did not seek another four years on council as he challenged Mayor Matt Tuerk for his job in 2025.

Zucal last month told LehighValleyNews.com that he was ready for “a little break.” He offered a small piece of advice to the newcomers who will replace him.

“You’ve got to serve with dignity and integrity,” he said, urging Binder and Pungo to ground themselves in their “own personal beliefs” as they weigh numerous, varying perspectives.

It’s unclear when or if council will revisit Allentown’s 2026 budget.

Council members, by a 4-3 vote on Dec. 17, passed a budget that kept the property-tax rate flat while increasing annual trash fees $135.

Tuerk vetoed that budget, and members failed to override his veto.

Council and its solicitor argue that leaves the city without a budget, but Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com his initial proposal — which called for an almost 4% property tax increase on top of the trash-fee hike — wouldtake effect Thursday.