{"id":79236,"date":"2026-01-06T13:24:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/79236\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:24:06","slug":"bethlehem-welcomes-newest-edition-of-city-council-1st-ever-elected-african-american-member","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/79236\/","title":{"rendered":"Bethlehem welcomes newest edition of City Council, 1st-ever elected African American member"},"content":{"rendered":"

BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 Some new and some familiar faces took their spots at the table for the first time at Bethlehem City Council\u2019s first meeting of 2026 on Monday.<\/p>\n

Incumbent Councilwomen Rachel Leon and Hillary Kwiatek, both Democrats, have their positions back for another four years.<\/p>\n

The panel also saw the addition of account executive Jo Daniels<\/a> and local educator Justin Amann<\/a>, also Democrats.<\/p>\n

The four swore to do right by the city and uphold the duties of their council roles \u201cwith fidelity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniels and Amann will take the place of outgoing panel members Grace Cramspie Smith and Kiera Wilhelm, making for another council made up solely of Democrats.<\/p>\n

The newcomers have both said they’re ready to put in the work required but also understand there’s plenty ahead to learn alongside fellow council members and constituents.<\/p>\n

George Yasso, another Democrat, also was sworn in as city controller for his third and self-imposed final term.<\/p>\n

Mayor J. William Reynolds is set to take on another four-year term. He was absent from the meeting.<\/p>\n

\"Jo<\/p>\n

Will Oliver<\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n

Democratic Bethlehem City Council newcomer Jo Daniels swears her oath of service on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. <\/p>\n

‘In the direction of inclusivity’<\/p>\n

Monday also marked a historic date for the city, as Daniels, who\u2019s also the daughter of the city\u2019s first Black firefighter, became the first-ever elected City Council member of African American descent, according to now-Council President Leon.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an honor and a privilege to continue to see the city move forward in the direction of inclusivity. It is a great, great thing that happens within these chambers, even when the pressure cooker is on high.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bethlehem City Council President Rachel Leon<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an honor and a privilege to continue to see the city move forward in the direction of inclusivity,\u201d Leon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great, great thing that happens within these chambers, even when the pressure cooker is on high.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first Black person to be appointed to a position on City Council, Dr. Wandalyn Enix, who served from 2022-24, was in the audience.<\/p>\n

So was Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee \u2014 known as being the first African American woman elected to public office in the Lehigh Valley, serving on Bethlehem Area School Board.<\/p>\n

Leon also said that when she and Councilman Michael Col\u00f3n previously joined the panel, it marked the first time two Hispanic people were elected to the seats.<\/p>\n

\"Bethlehem<\/p>\n

Will Oliver<\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n

Democratic Bethlehem City Council newcomer Justin Amann swears his oath of service on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. <\/p>\n

‘Neither a crown nor a sword’<\/p>\n

In her farewell statement, Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith, who served from 2019-26, said she\u2019s found it\u2019s always best to \u201cvote your conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is that moving forward, all of City Council will be objective in thought and action, tolerant of the beliefs opposite of their own and recognize and exercise their power as an equal, separate and significant level of government within our city,\u201d Crampsie Smith said.<\/p>\n

She said she wants better for the new members, as she\u2019s seen \u201cdisruptive mannerisms, both non-verbal and otherwise\u201d and a \u201cperceived lack of decorum\u201d from others representing the city within the council chambers.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how much pressure was put on you by anybody, you always did what you thought was best for the city \u2014 and that I will never forget.”<\/p>\n

Bethlehem City Councilman Bryan Callahan to outgoing Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important that we all remember it is an honor and a privilege to serve our community in both the administrative and legislative level,” she said. \u201cIt’s neither a crown nor a sword.\u201d<\/p>\n

Councilman Bryan Callahan told her, \u201cYou were always a rock. I wanted you to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how much pressure was put on you by anybody, you always did what you thought was best for the city \u2014 and that I will never forget,\u201d Callahan said.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on work done together in campaigning and legislation, Kwiatek wished Crampsie Smith the best.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that this isn\u2019t the end for you in terms of public service because you have a drive for that, and that will not change just because you\u2019re not up here at this desk,\u201d Kwiatek said.<\/p>\n

‘Honored to have served alongside of you’<\/p>\n

Wilhelm, who joined in 2022, advised the newcomers to stand firm in their values, do proper research and keep an open mind moving forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose of you who have worked together respectfully, even through disagreement \u2014 I\u2019m honored to have served alongside of you,\u201d Wilhelm said to her fellow members.<\/p>\n

She said she appreciated \u201cthe processes, procedures and people required to make a city run.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can no longer set foot in another city or town without wondering how their public transportation system works, being curious as to whether that development project elicited ire or support from the public, or taking mental notes to bring back to Bethlehem. And I\u2019m glad for it.”<\/p>\n

Outgoing Bethlehem City Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm<\/p>\n

\u201cI can no longer set foot in another city or town without wondering how their public transportation system works, being curious as to whether that development project elicited ire or support from the public, or taking mental notes to bring back to Bethlehem.” Wilhelm said. “And I\u2019m glad for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newly appointed Council Vice President Colleen Laird said Wilhelm\u2019s \u201crestraint combined with her words\u201d made her a good fit for the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s evident that you really care about the community,\u201d Cramspie Smith told Wilhelm.<\/p>\n

\"Bethlehem,<\/p>\n

Donna S. Fisher <\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

For LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n

This is Bethlehem City Hall and Payrow Plaza at 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, Pa.. Picture made in February, 2023. <\/p>\n

Resident Stephen Antalics, coming from a different angle, said, \u201cIt appears that council has lost its mission as a citizen advocate for public welfare and has become an extension of local government.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark Will-Weber, another city resident, said Crampsie Smith has always been \u201cvery attentive to big and small issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to salute the councilwomen and councilmen up there for doing what I know I wouldn\u2019t have the temperament to do,\u201d Will-Weber said.<\/p>\n

2 council members in for raises<\/p>\n

Kwiatek and Leon are in for a raise, according to a council vote back in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Amann and Daniels also would see the increased salary, while the other three council members with terms ending in 2028 (Callahan, Col\u00f3n and Laird) would have to be re-elected to get the new pay.<\/p>\n

Wilhelm proposed the salary increases, which include upping the next council president\u2019s salary from $7,600 to $11,400 a year and council members\u2019 annual pay from $7,100 to $10,650.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 Some new and some familiar faces took their spots at the table for the first…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":79237,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,164,155,154,40323,40324,16620,16622,40325,171,40326,40327,635],"class_list":["post-79236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-city-council","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news","tag-democratic-bethlehem-city-council","tag-esther-lee","tag-jo-daniels","tag-justin-amann","tag-new-city-council-members-in-bethlehem","tag-rachel-leon","tag-wandalyn-enix","tag-whos-new-on-bethlehem-city-council","tag-will-oliver"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}