The 2017 mayoral election in Allentown, Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2017, and resulted in the incumbent mayor Ed Pawlowski, a member of the Democratic Party, being re-elected to a fourth term over Republican Party candidate Nat Hyman.[1][2][3]
The Republican nominee was Nat Hyman, a jeweler and real estate developer.[4] Hyman was the first Republican candidate to make an Allentown mayoral election competitive in a decade.[1] Common Sense Independent Party candidate John Richard Ingram, also a real estate developer, and Solomon Tembo, the candidate of the King Solomon Tembo party, were also on the ballot.[4][5]Ray O'Connell, the president of the Allentown City Council, also ran as a write-in candidate.[4][5] O'Connell; Siobhan "Sam" Bennett, a bed and breakfast owner; Lehigh County Commissioner David Jones; Joshua Siegel; Charlie Thiel, a member of the Allentown school board; and Nathan Woodring also sought the Democratic Party nomination.[6][7] Luiz Garcia also sought the Republican nomination.[7]
No debates were held during the election; instead the candidates engaged in retail politics. Pawlowski worked to increase turnout among Allentown's Hispanic and Syrian populations.[8]
In July 2017 Pawlowski was the subject of a 54-count indictment that alleged that he conspired to provide municipal contracts in return for campaign contributions, dinners and tickets to sports events.[1]
Pawlowski resigned in March 2018 following his conviction on corruption charges.[10] The City Council selected O'Connell to succeed Pawlowski later that month.[11]