List of Mayors of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania


The Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a political position dating from 1917, arising from the merger of Borough of Bethlehem and the Borough of South Bethlehem, which came together as the city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Robert Donchez is the current mayor having been sworn in on January 6, 2014.

Term limits

In October 1973, just before the 15th mayoral election as the city was about to elect its 6th mayor, the council voted in favor of an ordinance limiting Bethlehem mayors to two full four-year terms. The ordinance was never submitted to, or challenged by, the voters. At the time, Bethlehem was the only city in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia that had term limits for a mayorand

Mayors of Bethlehem

MayorTerm BeginsTerm EndsNotes
Andrew Harford Boyle18861913First Mayor of Bethlehem. A graduate of Lafayette College, Democratic Mayor Boyle was born in 1839 in Burtonport, Ireland. He arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1842 and moved to the Bethlehem Area in 1859 to attend Lafayette College. He became a successful engineer and merchant, and was elected mayor in 1886, and served until his death in 1913. His son in law was famous baseball player Dick Wright.
Archibald Johnston19131921Second Mayor of Bethlehem. A graduate of Lehigh University, Republican Mayor Johnston was active in all areas of Bethlehem life, including Vice President of Bethlehem Steel. During Johnston's single mayoral term, Liberty High School was built, planning for the Hill to Hill Bridge began, and opened. Johnston died on February 1, 1948 in his Bethlehem Township home, Camel's Hump Farm.
James M. Yeakel19221930. During the term of James Yeakel the Hill to Hill bridge opened in 1924 and the Daily Times merges with the Globe to form the Bethlehem Globe-Times. During Yeakel's term, police officer Charles Fenton was shot on Nov. 12, 1927, while trying to apprehend robbers at one of 35 brothels on the south side. He left behind a wife and two sons. The politics of reform prevented Yeakel from being re-elected in November 1929.
Robert Pfeifle19301950: Robert Pfeifle began his term with a massive campaign to close speakeasies, brothels, and confiscate illegal liquor during Prohibition. "Undesirables" from New Jersey and New York were barred from entering the city. Bethlehem became formally known as the Christmas City in 1937. School children and other organizations raised $800 to build a star atop South Mountain. The first star was 60' and lit with 100 30-watt light bulbs. In 1939, an 81' replacement was built by Bethlehem Steel. It was the largest single electrical display in the world. Robert Pfeifle died in 1958.
Earl E. Schaffer19501962: Earl E. Schaffer accomplishments included identifying the need for new City Hall complex, expandeding recreation facilities, identifying need for strong-mayor government, adopting earned income tax, completing a new sewage plant, building the Penn Forest Dam, completing the Penn Forest Reservoir, and creating Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority. The population of Bethlehem reached its maximum in 1960 under Mayor Schaffer. Earl Schaffer died in 1982.
H. Gordon Payrow, Jr.19621974: Republican Gordon Payrow was the first mayor to serve under Bethlehem's strong mayor form of government. During his term in off construction of Route 378 began in 1966. The new City Center and Library opened in 1967. The Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge opened in 1973. Mayor Payrow died April 13, 2004.
Gordon Mowrer19741978: Democrat Gordon Mowrer has been credited with restoring the historic character of Bethlehem and preserving the city's downtown. Under his term Victorian streetlights were introduced.
Paul Marcincin19781987: Democratic candidate Marcinin was elected mayor in November 1977 after being a member of city council for 12 years. In 1984, the first Musikfest took place in Bethlehem. In November 1985, Mayor Marcincin decided to run for a third term despite having voted for the term limiting ordnance in 1973. Council forced Marcincin out of office on January 14, 1987, when a Northampton County Court determined the city ordinance setting term limits was legal. The judge that made the 1987 ruling was the same one who declared the ordinance illegal in 1985, permitting Mayor Marcincin to run for a 3rd term. Paul Marcincin died on October 26, 2009.
Gordon MowrerJanuary 14, 19871987Former Mayor Gordon Mowrer was appointed interim mayor by the council when it was determined that Mayor Marcincin's third election was illegal. He served from January 14, 1987, until the election in November 1987.
Kenneth Smith1988October 1997: Republican candidate Ken Smith was elected in November 1987, first to serve the remainder of Marcincin's unexpired term, and then elected for two subsequent terms. In 1995, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation ends steel making operations in Bethlehem. Smith accepted the post of vice president of public affairs with his alma mater, Lehigh University, in October 1997 and resigned three months early.
Paul MarcincinOctober 1997January 1998Former Mayor Paul Marcincin was appointed interim mayor by the council from October 1997 to January 1998 as Mayor Smith had resigned early.
Don Cunningham1998March 2003In November 1997, Democratic Councilman Don Cunningham defeated Republican Councilman Otto Ehrsam in the mayoral election. In March 2003, Cunningham resigned as Mayor of Bethlehem after serving only 14 months of his second term to become Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of General Services under Governor Ed Rendell.
James DelgrossoMarch 12, 2003January 5, 2004James Delgrosso was appointed by the council to serve the remaining 300 days of Donald Cunningham's term. He ran for a full-term as mayor, but was defeated in the Democratic primary election by John B. Callahan. James Delgrosso died on October 8, 2009.
John B. CallahanJanuary 5, 2004January 7, 2014John Callahan won the Democratic primary and then the mayoral general election in November 2003 for the remaining portion of Cunningham's unexpired term. He won the general election taking over 60% of the votes but also sweeping every ward in the city to serve the final two years of his predecessors term. He ran unopposed in both the general elections in 2005 and 2009.
Robert DonchezJanuary 6, 2014PresentDonchez won the Democratic primary that was held May 21, 2013. No Republican ran in the 2013 election. However, on October 21, 2013, Todd Dietrich launched a write-in campaign for the election. Donchez defeated Dietrich in the general election. Donchez was sworn into office as the city's 11th mayor on January 6, 2014.