John B. Callahan

John B. Callahan is the mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat.

Early life

Callahan grew up on the West Side of Bethlehem. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biology from Moravian College. After graduation, Callahan worked as a Senior Institutional Healthcare Consultant for Pfizer Inc., which employed him for 13 years. Callahan has three children with his wife Mafalda; the family resides in Northeast Bethlehem.cite web|url= http://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/about/mayor/ |title= City of Bethlehem - Mayor's Biography - John B. Callahan|accessdate=2007-04-23]

Political activity

Callahan initially served on the Bethlehem city council from 1998 to 2004; at the time of his election in 1998, he was the youngest ever Bethlehem councilman. As a member of the city council, Callahan chaired the Finance Committee and the Public Works Committee.

Elections

Callahan was first elected mayor in November 2003, in a landslide victory, not only taking over 60% of the popular vote, but also winning every ward in the city. He was inaugurated on January 5, 2004.

Callahan was re-elected in the 2005 primary elections and ran unpposed in the general election. He was sworn in for a four-year term on January 3, 2006.

Post-election

Callahan was a graduate of the the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Executive Program on Leadership in the 21st Century, and the Transition and Leadership for New Elected Mayors Program. The United States Conference of Mayors later invited Callahan back to the Kennedy School to speak about transitioning from political campaigning to governing.

Non-political involvement

Callahan serves on the Board of Directors for Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Callahan also chairs the Urban Scouting Program in Bethlehem, and is a member of the Bethlehem Rotary Club.

Notes and references

Children

John has 3 children: Sarah, Evan, and Johnny. Sarah goes to East Hills Middle School