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Ed Pawlowski

Candidate for: Mayor of Allentown, PA
Election Date: November 8, 2005

FINAL RESULTS
Pawlowski: 59%
Heydt: 38%


Candidate Background

Ed Pawlowski is running for Mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the third largest city in the state. Election Day is November 8th. Pawlowski most recently served as the city's director of Community and Economic Development under the outgoing Mayor Roy Afflerbach (D). Before moving to Allentown, Ed was a community organizer in Chicago and ran a college ministry.

While directing Community and Economic Development in Allentown, Ed successfully lured companies with high quality jobs to the area and attracted $100 million dollars of private investment since 2002. Moreover, his background and expertise in community development have been called upon beyond Allentown's city limits. For several weeks in October 2004, Ed brought his community development skills from Allentown to Bosnia, where he consulted with a nonprofit organization that helps raise the standards of living in poor countries. Ed met with city officials from several cities to plan strategy for housing, community and economic development.

About the experience, Ed remarked, it was "an opportunity to share the expertise I have gained with people who are really struggling to rebuild their lives." He hopes to bring this experience to City Hall as the next Mayor of Allentown. Pawlowski's neighbors and colleagues know him to be well informed, earnest and serious. He is committed to balancing the city budget, cutting crime and ensuring that City Hall is led by professional, experienced officials.


The Issues

There are two primary issues in this campaign. The first is crime: this past year the murder rate in Allentown reached an all-time high: sixteen residents were murdered, a significant figure considering Allentown is a city of roughly 100,000. Compounding this problem is a retirement incentive laden contract between the police force and outgoing administration that has resulted in a serious officer-on-duty shortage. The successful candidate in this campaign will clearly articulate a plan to fight crime while strengthening the police force from the top down.

Pawlowski is committed to addressing these problems through a pragmatic plan that will produce greater cooperation with the Lehigh County Sheriff's office and create a clerical and messenger volunteer program to support the Allentown police force. By freeing up the trained officers to remain on Allentown's streets, the force will be able to focus more needed time and attention on crime fighting.

The second major issue is fiscal management: the budget for the 2004 fiscal year has left Allentown with a $3.6 million debt. In 2005, Mayor Afflerbach's poor fiscal management led to budget cuts that fell disproportionately on Pawlowski's bureau for Community and Economic Development. Believing firmly that cutting economic development efforts in a city that needed to greatly bolster its local economy sent a bad message, Pawlowski resigned in protest. Shortly thereafter, Pawlowski's supporters convinced him to announce his candidacy for mayor.


The Race

Ed Pawlowski won the May primary by a few hundred votes. He has centered his candidacy on a pledge to bring an end to the economic decline and serious mismanagement that has plagued Allentown.

Ed's protest resignation as director of the Community and Economic Development speaks to his commitment to reform.
Still, Mr. Pawlowski faces a formidable opponent in Republican Bill Heydt. Having previously served two terms as Allentown's mayor, Heydt enjoys a name recognition advantage over Ed Pawlowski and is expected to tap his own personal wealth to fuel the Republican message. But Heydt is vulnerable.
Allentown is a Democratic town by a 2-to-1 registration margin. On crime in Allentown, it is noteworthy that the previous high for murders in a year (15) came under the Heydt Administration. On behalf of Mr. Pawlowski, Governor Ed Rendell has two scheduled stops to Allentown and is committed to fundraising.


Why CNM Supports Ed Pawlowski

Like many local races in America's swing states, the race for Mayor of Allentown is an essential step in building and connecting a new Democratic majority. The third largest city in Pennsylvania, Allentown has mimicked national voting trends in Presidential elections recently practically to the percentage point: CBSNews.com ran an article during the 2004 Presidential Election describing Allentown as "Swingtown."

We need strong Democratic leadership in such cities. Ed Pawlowski has brought new energy and clear vision into this mayoral race and in November he'll have the chance to bring those same qualities to the job. As a problem solver and out-of-the-box thinker, he is exactly what Allentown needs. For all of these reasons, CNM proudly endorses Ed Pawlowski for Mayor of Allentown.


Support Ed Pawlowski for Mayor

CNM is proud to endorse Ed Pawlowski for Mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania. We encourage you to give him your support.

Please contribute directly to Ed Pawlowski's Campaign by clicking here!

You can also send checks to:
Campaign for a National Majority
Attn: Nathaniel Stinnett
6 Claflin Road, Suite 3
Brookline, MA 02445
Make checks payable to "Ed Pawlowski for Mayor." Please include information about your occupation, employer, and address.*

*State law requires candidate campaign committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of individuals whose contributions aggregate in excess of $100 in an election cycle.
*There is no limit on individual contributions.