Two days before Allentown voters pick a new state representative, Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. used a community Zoom forum to press his case on immigration enforcement, tax relief and homelessness. Smith, running in Tuesday's special election in the 22nd District, sketched out a nuts-and-bolts approach that included bilingual staffing in his district office, mobile constituent services and what he called permanent housing solutions for people living on the streets. The winner will hold the Allentown-based seat in Harrisburg through November.
Smith appeared at a "Community Connect" forum moderated by Bill Allen, fielding questions from local advocates and city leaders on ICE activity, housing policy and addiction services. He said he would push back on what he views as overreach by federal immigration agents while backing broader border enforcement, pledged bilingual staff in his district office from day one, and called expanded Narcan access and restored drug-education programs core priorities. Those remarks and district details were reported by Lehigh Daily.
The seat opened after Democrat Josh Siegel resigned to become Lehigh County executive, triggering a Feb. 24 special election to fill the remainder of his term through November 2026, according to Lehigh Valley News. Political watchers note the contest is one of several special elections this month that could help decide control of the Pennsylvania House, a storyline followed by City & State PA.
Taxes And The NIZ Question
On economic issues, Smith used the forum to rip a land deal tied to Allentown’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone and called for more sunlight on development subsidies in general. He also lined up behind Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis and tax skill games, arguing those revenues should help drive down property taxes. That budget framework projects roughly $2 billion in new revenue, as reported by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Smith added that small games of chance should be regulated and taxed, with proceeds targeted to school tax relief and benefits for seniors.
Education, Debate And Candidates
Smith’s opponent is Democrat Ana Tiburcio, a Dieruff High School graduate, Allentown School Board member and local tax-preparation business owner. The two met on stage at a televised Feb. 12 debate at the Da Vinci Science Center, where Tiburcio leaned into themes of school funding, affordable housing and the public-safety case for tightly regulated cannabis sales, according to Lehigh Valley News. Both candidates have said they plan to be on the ballot again in the May primary and the November general election for the next full term.
Polls on Tuesday will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote, consistent with statewide practice reported by WGAL. Voters can look up their polling place and get official instructions at VotePA.
Lehigh Daily reported that Tiburcio was invited to respond to Smith’s forum comments and had not provided a statement by the event’s conclusion. As Allentown voters make their choice, the race is drawing close local attention for what it could mean on housing and services, and statewide interest for what it might signal about the balance of power in Harrisburg.
