Update:  May 20, 2009:
I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my campaign.  I ran a good, clean, hard-fought campaign and when all the votes were tallied I came up a little short.   While I am disappointed in the results, I am not upset.  I met many people while knocking on over 3,500 doors in the city.  This campaign was a great experience for me personnally and I am better for having gone through it.  

I am not sure where my future in politics lies, but I am sure I want to stay involved.   

Thank you all for your support throughout the campaign! 

-Michael


Bethlehem has changed a lot in my lifetime.  The city's history is very much an open book, and our 21st Century chapter is yet to be written. 

I think this is an exciting time to live in Bethlehem, but it is also an uncertain one.  
 

I am running for City Council because I care about Bethlehem's future and want to ensure that the changes our city is undergoing strengthen our community rather than weaken it.    

The issues that faced Bethlehem in the past are different from those that we confront today.  This requires a modern, creative approach to problem-solving.  If we always think the way we did in the past, our future will never be as bright as it could be. 

In all aspects of city government--from economic redevelopment, to making our neighborhoods safer, to promoting home ownership, to ensuring fiscal accountability--we must blend modern, creative thinking with the hard-working, roll-up-your sleeves approach that built Bethlehem and still flourishes in its people. 

The stakes are too high to allow past differences and personal agendas to get in the way of progress.  The decisions we make now, or those we fail to make, will determine what Bethlehem looks like years from now.  I plan on being a part of that Bethlehem years from now, and I won't leave that future to chance.  

We must act now, and we must act together to make sure Bethlehem remains a great place to live by honoring Bethlehem's past and leading Bethlehem's future.

Please feel free to contact me to further discuss my vision for Bethlehem.

Very truly yours,

Michael Recchiuti