Lehigh County’s new Democrat-majority Board of Commissioners chose Democrat Amy Zanelli to run the board, and she promptly tapped Republican Marc Grammes as vice chairman.
“I wanted to go with a Republican,” Zanelli said. I want to make sure everybody in the county, no matter where they fall, feels represented. Now that we’re sworn in, it’s game on for everybody.”
The leadership selections followed a swearing-in ceremony Monday at the Lehigh County Government Center for four newly elected commissioners.
Lehigh County Judge Edward Reibman handled the duties for Democrats Bob Elbich, Dave Harrington, Dan Hartzell and Zakiya Smalls.
Afterward, the board held its reorganization meeting.
Commissioner Geoff Brace nominated as chair Zanelli, who was elected in 2017, and the board approved her 8-0 (Zanelli abstained). Zanelli replaces Marty Nothstein, a Republican who was unseated by Elbich in the November election.
Zanelli then nominated Grammes as vice chair — a decision she said went against her party’s wishes.
The Democratic Party, with the four newly elected Democrats, seized control of the board for the first time in decades in what was viewed as a historic election for the board.
Smalls, who owns a local commercial cleaning business, is bracing for her first go-around at public office while still maintaining an active role in her company. Since getting elected in November, Smalls says she remains focused on finding common ground with her political counterparts.
“It’s not about partisanship,” Smalls said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or independent. We’re all families, we all care for one another and we want to do the right thing by our communities.”
Despite being one of only three Republicans on the board, Grammes says he isn’t concerned about the change in the balance of power.
“I don’t think it’s going to be as much of a problem as other people think, because they’re all good people,” Grammes said of his fellow commissioners. “I think the party thing goes out the window, especially at the local level.”
The commissioners will meet Wednesday to begin tackling new agenda items for the year, one of which, Zanelli said, is changing how the county negotiates with its employees. Zanelli said the board’s past decision to take charge of labor negotiations was a “massive, massive failure,” and the responsibility should lie with the county executive’s office.
“My goals this year are to really undo some of the mistakes I feel the board made when it was distracted by those of us running for election,” Zanelli said. “I’m superbly confident that all nine members of the board now have the county’s best interest at heart. I’m sleeping with ease knowing we are looking at a very bright future and progress for the county.”
Allentown Rabbi Seth Phillips, of Congregation Keneseth Israel, provided a benediction at the ceremony.
Peter Blanchard is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.
