Published March 01. 2018 11:00PM
By NATE JASTRZEMSKI
njastrzemski@tnonline.com
Council voted 5-1 to appoint Dr. Paige Van Wirt to fill Eric Evans’ recently vacated seat at a special meeting last night.
Van Wirt, who ran as a write-in candidate in November and amassed 1,700 votes, is a small-business owner, physician and former urban planner.
There were four candidates for the seat, the others being; Carol Ritter, a Bethlehem Library employee and longtime city advocate; Lynn Rothman, chair of the city’s Environmental Advisory Council with experience working with the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers who has run for council three times; and Clyde Thomas, a New Jersey transplant who offered no prepared statement but evinced a desire to serve the community.
All sitting members thanked the candidates for their interest and work in the community beyond what would be expected of a council candidate. Michael Colon said, “Though three people will walk out without council support, I hope none of you walk away discouraged.”
Bryan Callahan cast his vote for Ritter, and though Waldron did vote for Van Wirt, he honored Rothman’s tenacity and community spirit with a nomination.
Van Wirt will be sworn in and will take her seat at Tuesday’s meeting.
PRESS PHOTO BY NATE JASTRZEMSKIDr. Paige Van Wirt outlines her ideas for continuing a strong municipal government. She said she recently heard a Republican official say you can't have social justice and fiscal responsibility, and retorted, “Buddy, come on down to Bethlehem and see how we get it right here.”
