(7th in a series of posts on candidates for election)
Will Carpenter Announces Candidacy for Bethlehem City Council
Bethlehem: Longtime Bethlehem resident Will Carpenter is happy to announce his candidacy for the two-year term on the Bethlehem City Council. “I spent my career at the intersection of business and government, finding solutions that benefit the city, its citizens and the private sector.“ Will spent more than 20 years of his career managing 
corporate real estate and development for a global retail company, and looks forward to bringing his business and municipal experience to Council.
Before making Bethlehem his home in 1999, Will spent the majority of his time living and working on the East Coast. After college Will became a district supervisor for fast-paced retail stores and excelled in management and operations. Ultimately promoted to Director of Real Estate, Will spent the next 20 years working with cities, including Baltimore and Philadelphia. Throughout his career, Will spent many hours with council members, mayors and city staff negotiating agreements including zoning changes, improvements to public infrastructure, traffic studies and performance guarantees.
Bethlehem has defied the odds of most cities in the North East and continues to be in a strong position for responsible growth. “I am running for Council because I believe we must build on our strong foundation with a vision that puts our community needs and values front and center. I look forward to bringing my experience to help Bethlehem find the right balance in continued growth and sustainability with responsible government oversight. Transparency, inclusion and high ethical standards are key ingredients to keep Bethlehem strong for generations to come.”
Will was raised in upstate New York and is a graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Business Management. Will and his wife, Renell, are raising two daughters who both attend Liberty High School and grew up using the wonderful Bethlehem Public Library, playing youth sports, and enjoying Main Street and the many festivals in our great city. Will is active in the community and has held leadership positions in both business and community organizations.
A reminder that the other new candidates for Council thus far are Grace Crampsie Smith, Carol Chamberlain Ritter, and David Saltzer. Incumbents running are J. William Reynolds, Michael Colon, and Paige Van Wirt. Incumbent Shawn Martell is not running. There are three four-year seats and one two-year seat on the ballot this year. As far as Gadfly knows, Smith and Carpenter are running for the two-year seat, Ritter and Saltzer for the four. Reynolds’ kickoff is Thursday, Feb. 24, 6:30, BrewWorks. Smith’s is Sunday, Feb. 24, 2-4, Roosevelt’s.