As the sounds of progress hummed in the background and construction tradesmen work to build the new PPL Center hockey arena and convention center, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski officially announced Sept. 9 he is running for governor of Pennsylvania in 2014.

Pawlowski, who first announced his decision Sunday on the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC, said this was not a decision he comes to lightly.

"I have seen firsthand the damage that has been caused to the commonwealth the past three years, which is why I cannot sit idly by and watch our state continue to suffer," said Pawlowski. "It is an exciting time, our downtown is literally reinventing itself as we speak.

"This project [PPL Arena] in Allentown is truly becoming a model of redevelopment for cities across the commonwealth and I believe across the country."

Pawlowski said when he took office, Allentown like every other city across the country was seeing its revenues decline.

"We didn't sit on our hands while this was happening, we jumped into action," he said. "We responded. We learned to do more with less. The city tighten its belt decreasing its spending levels to compensate for low revenues.

"We transformed a multi-million dollar deficit I inherited from the previous administration into a multi-million dollar surplus."

Pawlowski said instead of shying away from difficulties and problems such as infrastructure, the city tackled those problems head-on and this year began construction on the American Parkway Bridge, something he said people have talked about for 50 years.

He said the story of Allentown shows by working together any challenge can be overcome.

"Now, unfortunately folks, Pennsylvania is going in an entirely different direction," Pawlowski said. "Pennsylvania was seventh in job creation three years ago. We have dropped to 49th, coming in just ahead of Wyoming."

Pawlowski said under the current governor Pennsylvania schools have fared even worse.

"The leadership in Harrisburg cut education by $1 billion in 2011, ruining the great work the state accomplished in education in the past not to distant. The impact of these funding cuts have been felt throughout the state," Pawlowski said. "These cuts are real and they are beginning to decimate public education in our cities.

"They are putting our children and future generations of children at risk. We need to make that stop.

"Even beyond education, jobs, the environment, most importantly, we need to believe we face a fundamental divide in our state over the most basic question: Is government good or is government bad?"

"We need to believe in a state in which life is better and richer and fuller for everyone.

"We need to believe in the fact that we are all in this together …. most importantly of all we need to have the proven ability to work on both sides of the aisle, accomplishing things that must be done to turn this state around."

Lisa Pawlowski said she knows how hard her husband has worked over the last eight years as mayor.

"So many wonderful things have happened over the last eight years, so many changes," Lisa Pawlowski said. "Ed wants to see that progress continue and he will do everything he can to make sure that progress continues here, but I know he cares about the rest of Pennsylvania also and he wants the kind of changes that we have had here to happen for the whole commonwealth."

State Rep. Dan McNeill, D-133rd, said he has known Pawlowski for many years and what he has done for the city of Allentown is totally remarkable.

"He has brought up economic development; most importantly he has brought jobs back into Allentown," said McNeill. "We need a change in Harrisburg. We need a leader like Ed Pawlowski to get the job done."

Easton Mayor Sal Panto said Pawlowski first thinks about Allentown, but then he thinks of the region and the state.

"I also want to tell you that not only does Ed have the integrity, the dedication, the honesty, morality, the leadership qualities, he has the family values and the sincerity in his heart to do what is right," Mayor Panto said.

"Like Ed, I speak from the heart and my heart tells me this man is the man that can lead us to a better future for all Pennsylvania.

"He is the man that will put the common good into the commonwealth."

Rick Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee also addressed the crowd at the rally.

"Our next governor must be someone with vision, purpose, ideas and the willingness to work with everyone in order to find the best solutions to our problems and to make Pennsylvania a leader in job creation, environmental protection and prosperity for all," said Daugherty.

He added Pawlowski is the best candidate to accomplish these goals and transform the state of Pennsylvania.

"Ed Pawlowski has shown that he has what it takes to transform a city that many had written off into a city of hope destined to succeed," Daugherty said. "He knows what he is doing, he transformed Allentown.

"He is a serious candidate, he knows how to win the Democratic primary, he knows how to become our next governor and we need to work with him to make that happen, so all of Pennsylvania prospers."

Other Lehigh Valley officials who spoke on behalf of Pawlowski at the rally, which kicked off a nine-day statewide tour, included Lehigh County Controller Mary Ellen Koval, Allentown City Councilwoman Cynthia Mota and Whitehall Township Commissioner Jerry Palagonia.