Debate set for 22nd House District special election candidates at Da Vinci Science Center

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The candidates to represent the Allentown-area’s 22nd House District will participate in a debate Thursday, Feb. 12.

Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Bob Smith are on the ballot in a Feb. 24 special election to fill the unexpired term of former state Rep. Joshua Siegel, who now is Lehigh County executive.

Tiburcio and Smith have agreed to meet head-to-head in a debate organized by Lehigh Valley Public Media.

It will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 12 in Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion, 815 Hamilton St.

The forum will be moderated by reporters Tom Shortell and Jason Addy of LehighValleyNews.com. It will be broadcast live on PBS39 and streamed on PBS39's YouTube channel and on LehighValleyNews.com.

The hourlong debate is free and open to the public. Registration is required; a link to register online will be available soon on PBS39.org.

Candidates' backgrounds

Tiburcio currently sits on Allentown School Board, to which she was elected in November 2023. A graduate of Dieruff High School in Allentown, she owns A&M Tax & Services, according to her LinkedIn account.

She also is a program coordinator for the Fine Feather Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers holistic youth programs and mentorship, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Smith is a former Allentown School Board member, having served from 2003 to 2019. He ran unsuccessfully for the 22nd House District seat won by Siegel in 2022.

The 22nd House District covers parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township.

While the district overwhelmingly favors Democrats — they outnumber Republicans by a 2.5-to-1 margin, according to voter registration data — the special election could have statewide implications.

Currently, Democrats hold a single seat majority in the state House.