‘People need leaders who act’: How Josh Siegel plans to transform Lehigh County

LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. — Rep. Josh Siegel has talked for years about urgency. Not the kind that shows up on campaign mailers, but the kind that comes from what he described in an op-ed earlier this year as “a constant sense of dread and anxiety” about the direction of the country. Politics, he argued then, is drowning in outrage. The path forward, he said, isn’t in Washington or Harrisburg — it’s at home.

Now, after a decisive victory over Republican Roger MacLean, a former Allentown police chief and city council member, Siegel will have the chance to test that philosophy as the new Lehigh County executive. His win was powered by both a generational message and a significant financial advantage. Campaign finance reports show Siegel raised roughly $447,000 — nearly ten times more than MacLean.

Siegel, 29, comes to the role of county executive from the state House, where he has served since 2022. In Harrisburg, he said, influence is built slowly through seniority and negotiation. He said leading in Lehigh County will allow for a different pace.

“As county executive, you have the ability to set the agenda on day one,” Siegel said. “There’s no waiting years for enough influence to act. You can move immediately — and people need action now.”

Siegel won’t begin by unveiling sweeping new programs or budgets. His first priority, he said, is internal: meeting with county employees individually, establishing expectations and reinforcing a sense of shared mission.

“I want people in the building to feel like we are all part of a larger purpose,” he said. “They should know I’m going to be a present, engaged executive, and that we’re working toward something specific — together.”

He expects to announce his transition team and top administration staff in the coming weeks. He said party affiliation will not be a top factor.

“We want people who can do the job,” he said. “I’m not assembling a team of loyalists. I want a team of capable leaders. I’m all for a team of rivals.”

Top priorities

If there is one theme Siegel returns to, it is cost of living — particularly housing. The city of Allentown, located in Lehigh County, ordered evacuations in September at homeless encampments along Jordan Creek, where more than 100 people were living.

His administration will push for more housing construction — especially walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and smaller, more affordable units, such as accessory dwelling units and micro-apartments. He also wants the county to act more aggressively in preventing large corporate investors from buying up aging housing stock and raising rents.

“We need all hands — private, nonprofit, and public,” Siegel said. “We have to increase supply, and we have to do it at every level.”

For homelessness, he says housing is part of the answer, but not all of it. He supports permanent supportive housing with built-in mental health and social services, and wants the county to invest in eviction-prevention programs such as right-to-counsel initiatives.

“The most effective way to reduce homelessness is to stop people from losing housing in the first place,” he said.

Budget stability

Nearly 80% of the county’s budget relies on state and federal dollars — many of which have been delayed or stalled during extended budget negotiations in Harrisburg and Washington. The county has already begun drawing from its $25 million stabilization fund to cover gaps; Siegel wants to increase that reserve to about $30 million over the next four years.

“We cannot operate on wishful thinking,” he said. “We need to plan for instability to be normal.”

Lehigh County is currently preparing to take out a bond to avoid service disruptions. Siegel called that “responsible” and said layoffs or service cuts would undermine the county’s ability to function.

Democracy, access, and trust

Siegel has been outspoken about expanding voting access. He has pledged to increase the number of secure ballot drop boxes in the county and to explore on-demand ballot printing or early voting sites.

“To me, the administration of elections is one of the most solemn responsibilities we hold,” he said during an Oct. 15 debate. “I don’t think too much democracy is a bad thing.”

His opponent, Roger MacLean, often framed the campaign around steady, experience-driven leadership but declined to say whether the 2020 presidential election was fair and did not condemn the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol when asked during the debate.

Siegel said calling out anti-democratic behavior is necessary. He also noted that, despite winning 60% of the vote, many residents did not vote for him.

“I don’t intend to govern for a party,” he said. “I intend to govern for a purpose.”

He said frustration with government is shared across political lines and that trust is earned through results, not rhetoric.

“People need leaders who act. They are tired of leaders who talk around problems,” Siegel said. “If we’re going to rebuild faith in government, we need to show that government can work.”

Siegel has described the coming years as decisive, not just for his administration but for the region.

“The decisions we make today will determine what the next 50 years in Lehigh County look like,” he said during the campaign. “Local is where we can make the most lasting impact.”