ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County Republicans will look for a candidate capable of ending a 20-year losing streak at the polls when they select their nominee for Lehigh County executive Tuesday.
Former Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean and former Allentown School Board Director Mike Welsh are looking to become the first Republican to win the top county government job sine Jane Ervin in 2001.
"In my view, [state Rep. Josh Siegel] represents a real threat to the way Lehigh County is currently governed."Lehigh County Executive candidate Mike Welsh
Executives oversee day-to-day operations of what's essentially the region's safety net.
The position is responsible for operations at the 911 center and Lehigh County Jail, managing services for mental health as well as drug and alcohol abuse, running the county-owned Cedarbrook nursing home and several senior centers and maintaining county parks and the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, among other duties.
The winner of the Republican primary is expected to take on Democratic state Rep. Josh Siegel in the general election.
MacLean and Welsh have described Siegel as anathema to conservatives.
Siegel, 31, has a $180,000 war chest at his disposal.
While he sat on Allentown City Council, he voted against hiring police officers, and has called for a countywide sales tax — stances opposed by both Republicans.
Both GOP candidates have emphasized the importance of picking a candidate capable of defeating him in November.
"In my view, he represents a real threat to the way Lehigh County is currently governed," Welsh said.
Siegel, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, has swung back at his Republican opponents. He's accused the two of supporting voter suppression for their desire to reduce mail-in drop boxes and said they would not resist efforts by the Trump administration to cut funding to the county.
"I'm the only candidate in this race that has an actual vision and plan for Lehigh County and that you can count on to fight back against the Trump administration, not bow down to it," he said in a statement.
Agree on most issues, except ICE
The Republican candidates are in sync on most issues.
MacLean and Welsh have expressed concern over the $4 million structural deficit in the county's 2025 budget, and both have said they want to avoid tax increases if possible.
However, neither could provide concrete plans of how they would address spending, saying they need more time to wrap their arms around the $550 million budget.
Some $119 million of that amount is raised by local taxes with the rest coming from state and federal funding, investments and fees for services.
One of the few policies on which they disagree regards the county's relationship with ICE.
For years, the county has alerted the federal agency when an inmate at the jail is a person of interest. However, the county won't hold those individuals beyond their release date unless ICE produces a warrant for their arrest.
The policy came about after the county lost a federal lawsuit for holding a New Jersey man for 48 hours without a warrant; the man was a U.S. citizen who was confused for someone in the country illegally.
The insistence on a warrant has led some officials to label Lehigh County as a sanctuary county, a label that past and present executives and county commissioners have disputed.
MacLean said the county is playing the situation by the book to protect due process, and that he would continue the policy if elected.
"It's not that hard for an ICE officer or a police officer or anyone else anywhere to get a warrant to come pick a prisoner up," said MacLean, who served in the Allentown Police Department for 39 years.
Welsh, however, argues the county needs to work more closely with ICE as a matter of public safety.
"There can be real tragic consequences if we release a dangerous criminal out onto the street," said Welsh, who said the county needs a tough executive.
'I don't have a single regret'
Instead of policy, the two differentiate themselves by emphasizing their resumes and personal backgrounds.
Both have touted their experience in local government and willingness to reach across the aisle and engage in difficult conversations.
"I think Republicans have to be part of the conversation."Lehigh County Executive candidate Mike Welsh
Along with his experience as the owner of AC Thompson Insurance, Welsh set policy and the tax rate for three years as an Allentown School Board director.
As a director, he set policy, voted on personnel decisions and set the tax base. During his final year in office, he oversaw a budget of $289 million.
He resigned a year before his four-year term ended when he briefly moved out of state for a business opportunity.
Welsh has questioned his opponent's conservative bona fides, noting MacLean switched to a Democrat before launching his successful campaign for Allentown City Council.
Welsh said he understood being a Republican limits a politician's ability to win in the deep blue city, but noted that never stopped him from running — and losing — difficult campaigns for local government.
"I don't have a single regret," he said of his losses for county commissioner and state house. "I think Republicans have to be part of the conversation."
'I developed a reputation'
MacLean defended his Republican values, saying he voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024 while registered as a Democrat.
While there was a "D" next to his name on the ballot in the past, he said he used his voice on city council to advocate for lower taxes and support law enforcement.
"Through my whole career, I worked with Republicans and Democrats on city council, with the mayor, with issues on the street."Lehigh County Executive candidate Roger MacLean
"I fought against the stormwater fee," he said. "I voted against the 26 perent tax increase that [then-Mayor Ray O'Connell] proposed. I was known to be conservative on city council."
MacLean worked as Allentown's top cop, directing personnel and operating $35 million budget during his tenure. As a city councilman, the final budget on which he voted totaled $119 million.
He said he's focused more on his moderate lean — more concerned about getting results and building trust than political purity.
"Through my whole career, I worked with Republicans and Democrats on city council, with the mayor, with issues on the street," he said.
"I never once asked, 'Are you a Republican or a Democrat?' if they needed help. I worked with them all, and I think I developed a reputation in Allentown for being fair."
