BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Republican Roger MacLean and Democrat Josh Siegel offered sharply contrasting visions for Lehigh County’s future during a debate Wednesday evening, tackling issues ranging from policing and immigration enforcement to taxes, homelessness and the integrity of elections.
MacLean, a former Allentown police chief, framed his campaign around experience and steady leadership.
“My goal when I lead as county executive is to make sure Lehigh County is a better place than when I walked in,” MacLean said. “That’s my goal in every role. In my tenure as police chief, major crimes fell 27%. I’m very proud of what we accomplished.”
Siegel, a state representative from Allentown who was first elected to the state House in 2022, emphasized generational change and proactive governance.
“I’m running because I think we, here in this county, commonwealth and country, need a new generation of leadership,” Siegel said. “We need leaders who act boldly and decisively and govern with a sense of urgency for the challenges people are facing in their daily lives.”
Experience and management
When asked about his lack of experience overseeing large departments — Lehigh County employs about 2,200 people — Siegel said leadership is not a one-person effort.
“Any good leader understands what they do and don’t know,” he said. “Experience is one thing, but energy and vision are another. It’s one thing to know how the wheels of government work; it’s another to be able to use them to benefit the people.”
MacLean said he would take a practical approach to management.
“I’m going to look at all the departments, see what’s running efficiently, see what’s not, and make sure we’re getting our bang for our buck,” he said.
Elections and democracy
The candidates’ views diverged on election integrity.
Siegel called the administration of elections “perhaps the most solemn and important responsibility we hold.”
“I don’t think too much democracy is a bad thing,” he said.
MacLean declined to say whether he believes President Joe Biden fairly won the 2020 election.
“You’re trying to make this about Trump and Biden,” he said. “It’s not about them.”
He also declined to condemn the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, instead referencing the 2020 protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a police officer.
“I’m not going to talk about that,” he said. “Why don’t we talk about your January 6 — which was July 2020, when you marched down Hamilton Street?”
Siegel responded by saying his participation in the 2020 demonstrations was not anti-police.
“You can be for racial justice, reinvest in our community and also support our police,” he said.
Immigration and public safety
On immigration enforcement, MacLean said he supports the county’s current policy of allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into the courthouse and would not change it.
Siegel said the county should take a stronger stance by condemning what he called “horrific behavior” by federal immigration authorities.
“We’ve seen stories around the country of children as young as 8 being deported,” he said. “The county should make clear that no sheriff or county employee coordinates with ICE without a judicial warrant.”
Homelessness and housing
Both candidates said homelessness remains a persistent challenge. This comes two weeks after a homeless encampment along Jordan Creek in Allentown was cleared by authorities.
“It’s a very persistent issue,” MacLean said. “We need to work with the county, social service agencies and hospitals to do whatever we can.”
Siegel proposed a right-to-counsel or eviction-aversion program modeled after Philadelphia’s, along with building more affordable housing.
Budget and taxes
Both candidates said raising taxes would be a last resort.
“A tax increase is the absolute last possible option,” Siegel said, suggesting the county could save money by reducing employee health care costs through a Medicare-based peg system. But he warned against complacency.
“You don’t build budgets on a prayer and a wish,” he said.
MacLean said he hopes cooperation in Congress will prevent deep budget cuts.
“I’m not so sure all these doom-and-gloom scenarios are going to happen,” he said. “I’m hoping cooler heads prevail.”
Political climate
When asked about political violence, including the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, MacLean condemned such acts.
“Political violence is uncalled for, abhorrent and should never happen again,” he said. “Law enforcement has to be swift to stop this.”
Siegel said accountability is key to addressing polarization.
“Calling out folks who behave like fascists and authoritarians is not dangerous — it’s simply accountability,” he said.
Competing visions
MacLean said he entered the race after learning Siegel was running, adding that voters “needed some choices.” He said the county needs “somebody that can run the operation with a steady hand.”
Siegel said he believes local governments have the greatest potential for change.
“I believe local is our salvation,” he said. “In this era of corruption and gridlock in D.C. and Harrisburg, local government is the last place where we can make a deeply tangible and lasting impact.”
He closed by emphasizing long-term planning.
“We need to elect folks who are going to live with the consequences of the decisions they make,” Siegel said. “It’s the decisions we make today that are going to determine what the next 50 years in Lehigh County look like.”
