ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County's quiet district attorney race grew rosier Monday as prominent local Democrats endorsed Republican Gavin Holihan for the top law enforcement job.
Holihan is running unopposed to succeed incumbent Jim Martin, the longtime Republican incumbent. With no apparent competition, Holihan hasn't had to do much to woo voters. His campaign finance report shows he's spent $2,232, almost all of which was for a consultant's services. A $51.15 expense to WIX.com, a company that allows customers to build websites, on May 1 suggests he may be creating a campaign website, but LehighValleyNews.com was unable to find a site or even a social media account associated with his campaign.
- Republican Gavin Holihan picked up endorsements of prominent Democrats Monday as he runs for Lehigh County district attorney
- Outgoing DA Jim Martin backed Holihan for the top law enforcement spot in January
- The bipartisan support is a stark contrast to the heated campaign for Northampton County district attorney
But that hasn't discouraged politicians backing Holihan. Martin immediately endorsed Holihan to take over the office he's led for 24 years. On Monday, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong and state Reps. Michael Schlossberg and Josh Siegel — all Democrats — made their own endorsements of Holihan in a news release issued by the candidate's campaign. LehighValleyNews.com independently confirmed the trios' endorsements.
"Gavin Holihan represents what good government should look like – an independent thinker who pursues justice and leads with integrity. He has the right experience for the job and the right vision for the office," Siegel said in the news release.
"He’s a leader in the legal community and will work tirelessly and impartially to protect our families and the entire community," Schlossberg said in the same release.
The kumbaya moment hasn't extended to the Northampton County district attorney race, which has been bitterly contested from the get-go. In that race, incumbent Terry Houck is facing off against retired county judge Stephen Baratta in the Democratic primary. Baratta went on the offensive early, launching a barrage of negative mailers that started in February. The campaign has turned into the most expensive primary in Northampton County in the past decade.
Houck has mounted a write-in campaign for the Republican ballot, saying he wants to sew up the race on Tuesday. While there are no candidates in the race, local Republican leaders have called on party members not to support Houck.
