Welcome
Thank you for visiting my website.
Let me take a minute to introduce myself - I'm John Callahan and I'm running to be the next Representative for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. I've spent my life in the Lehigh Valley - I went to high school and college here, and it's where my wife and I have chosen to raise our three children. I want to ensure that their future - and the future of all Lehigh Valley residents - is bright.
During these difficult times, I know the decisions we make today will have a lasting impact. We can't afford more of the same, tired political rhetoric - we need real solutions and real action. It's time we had a leader in Washington who truly represents the best needs of our local communities and not just the needs of the corporate special interests.
I understand the unique challenges that Pennsylvanians face. That's because for the last 10 years I've proudly served the people of Bethlehem, first as a member of the City Council and now as their mayor. I've worked hard to promote fiscal responsibility, create thousands of new jobs, and keep our community safe.
That is what I will do as your member of Congress - I will put the needs of the Lehigh Valley first.
I will make job creation a priority.
As mayor I helped create 5,000 jobs during these tough economic times, and I helped attract more than $2 billion in new private sector investments, with another $1.8 billion in additional investments forthcoming. While the same old Washington career politicians were bailing out Wall Street, I was working to take care of Main Street and the working men and women of Lehigh Valley.
I will fight to put our fiscal house in order.
Each year as the mayor of Bethlehem I've had to make tough decisions to ensure we balanced our budget, while at the same time growing our police force, reducing crime, and improving city services. My opponent has served in Congress for almost seven years. Not once in that time has Congress passed a balanced budget; and the national debt has grown a staggering $5 trillion dollars. Meanwhile, I've served six years as mayor of Bethlehem, balanced six budgets, and reduced the city debt by over $60 million dollars.
I will work to create health care reform that works for everyone.
It's time to reform the insurance industry, make health care more affordable, and ensure that patient-doctor relationships are free from Washington regulations or insurance company interference.
During this very challenging economic period, we need to return to fiscally responsible policies that help people across the Lehigh Valley. We need to create jobs, balance our budget, and give every American access to quality, affordable health care.
So please join our campaign. Sign up to volunteer. Send a check if you can. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Put a sign in your yard. Check the website regularly. This campaign is not going to be won with slick commercials or glossy mailings, but by building a grassroots campaign that reaches out to the voters across the Lehigh Valley.
Together, I know that we can move away from same old Washington politics as usual and put our country back on track. As your member of Congress, I will fight for job creation, for policies that take the burden off our middle class, for small business owners, for families, and for you.
John B. Callahan
Mayor of Bethlehem