There will be two special elections on Tuesday, February 17 for vacant seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and both could have a major impact on majority control in the chamber.
Democrat in the 22nd Legislative District Ana Tiburcio and republican Robert E. Smith Jr. meet to fill the remaining date Josh Siegelwho resigned and took over as Lehigh County executive.
There will be two separate elections for the 2027-2028 term – a primary election on May 17 and a general election on November 5.
Ana Tiburcio (D)
- Experience: Owner, A&M Tax & Services. Allentown School District (ASD) Board of Directors. Coordinator of the Fine Feather Foundation program. Volunteer at Allentown Works.
- The reason for running. She said she is a mother and knows the struggles of getting city projects that residents need. Tiburcio said she has a son who is in prison, so she understands that prisons need resources to provide the education, job training and mental health services that will give people a second chance when they return to society.
- Priorities.
- Apartments. He wants to be involved in plans for affordable housing and infrastructure.
- Education. He says student performance has increased compared to previous years and is getting better every day.
- Minimum wage. He supports raising the wage to $15 an hour.
- Integrity of elections. He does not support attempts to nationalize elections.
- Public transport. People shouldn’t expect fewer resources in a neighborhood where more people operate public transit than anywhere else in the region.
- Recreational cannabis. Supports.
- Education: Northampton Community College.
- Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
- What they say. “I’m not running to be a title. I’m running to be a voice. A voice that listens, acts and brings people together. This is about representation, responsibility and community.”
Robert Smith (right)
- Experience: Former Allentown city councilor. Former board member of ASD (2003-19) and program specialist for a mental health service provider.
- The reason for running. He said he sees himself as an individual who will not be intimidated by either side. He said he would represent all Lehigh Valley residents regardless of party affiliation. He said he sees the country divided along party lines, but many of the people he talks to are independent or unaffiliated voters.
- Priorities.
- Political identity. “I’m a conservative, but I’m also moderate on social issues. I’m a fiscal conservative. I’m a religious person. My wife and I are Catholic. We believe in conservative values in dealing with family, and I think (Donald Trump and Doug Mastriano) were the best people at the right time, at the right time, in the history of our country.”
- Apartments. I’m not sure I’ll support the governor’s proposal to issue $1 billion in bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure. “I’m not saying we don’t lend everything, but it has to be done in a timely manner first.”
- Education. He supports school choice laws but has called on the state to restore a policy that reimburses public schools for charter school tuition, which was abandoned in 2011. He wants the state to end overly stiff curriculum requirements.
- Minimum wage. He supports raising the wage to $15 an hour.
- Integrity of elections. He does not support attempts to nationalize elections.
- Public transport. The state should operate gas tax money to fund public transportation. We will fight to provide Philadelphia with less public transportation and Allentown with more.
- Surroundings. Supports a gas bill forcing a public audit of the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.
- Women’s sports. Support for a bill banning transgender students from competing in sports leagues that match their gender identity.
- Recreational cannabis. Supports.
- Education: Middlesex County College, New York University.
- Cufflinks: Website | Facebook
- What they say. “It’s a perfect storm for someone who could unite the district. I think I can win and I think I can work with my colleagues.”
Debates
In the News
By the numbers
- The 22nd District includes all of East Allentown, parts of Center City Allentown and three wards on the eastern side of the city of Salisbury. According to the latest state data, there are 31,669 registered voters in the district, 53% of whom are Democrats and 21% are Republicans.
- The district is the poorest housing district in the Lehigh Valley, with 23.2% living below the poverty line.
- About 62 percent of residents are Latino.
