I followed Bethlehem’s Democratic mayoral primary closely and I will say that I found it more than a bit disturbing. While one candidate chose to look toward the future of our great city, the other candidate chose to run a disgracefully negative campaign. Unfortunately, the latter candidate won the primary and is now the only person listed on the ballot for mayor.

As an active and involved member of the community who has attended and volunteered at numerous events in town, I haven’t even seen the winner of the primary in attendance, let alone out and about talking with people. Being mayor isn’t about a platform listed on a website, it’s about leadership, building bridges and bringing people together for the future.

After conversations with fellow citizens of Bethlehem about their concerns and quite a bit of thought, I’ve decided to publicly announce my write-in campaign for Mayor of Bethlehem. As a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley I’ve seen Bethlehem grow and prosper in recent years, and I want to see that continue. The citizens of Bethlehem deserve the choice to vote for a candidate who is excited about the possibilities of the future and is willing to engage in meaningful dialogue about their concerns and ideas.

One of the most frustrating things during an election is when a candidate refuses to directly answer questions or address specific topics, so I’ll be using this blog to address things that have been on my mind about the city, and about things that are brought to my attention. If you want to know where I stand on something, don’t be afraid to ask.

This coming Thursday, October 24, I’ll be at Tapas on Main from 5 – 8 PM for a meet and greet where you can get to know me better and we can talk about the possibilities for our great city. It’s not a fundraiser, and I’m not seeking donations. I’m looking for your support to keep our city moving forward.

facebook.com/dietrichforbethlehem
@Dietrich2013