Harrisburg, PA (January 22, 2026) – The Pennsylvania Municipal League is proud to announce that Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds will serve as The League’s president in 2026 and 2027.
Mr. Reynolds has been Mayor of Bethlehem since 2021 and has served on Bethlehem City Council since 2007. Mayor Reynolds is focused on economic revitalization, affordable housing, parks and recreational planning, and climate action initiatives.
“I am honored and grateful to serve as the Pennsylvania Municipal League’s newest President and excited to continue working alongside municipal leaders from across the Commonwealth.” said League President J. William Reynolds. “Together, we will build on the League’s strong foundation to advocate for vibrant, resilient communities, with a clear focus on legislative priorities such as housing affordability, sustainability, public safety, municipal finance, and protecting local authority. I look forward to strengthening our relationships in Harrisburg and beyond as we work collectively to ensure Pennsylvania’s municipalities have the tools, resources, and voice they need to thrive.”
Mayor Reynolds is a graduate of Moravian University and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. He serves as chair of the Bethlehem World Heritage Council and has served previously on Moravian University’s Board of Trustees and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s Transition Team.
“Mayor Reynolds has been an outstanding leader in Bethlehem by positively and proactively collaborating with city staff, businesses and the non-profit sector to move the city forward.” said League Executive Director John Brenner. “His administration has focused on public safety, enhancing neighborhoods through a comprehensive housing strategy, celebrating Bethlehem’s rich history and diversity and producing long term economic results.”
2026 Legislative Priorities
The League’s Legislative Priorities in 2026 focus on Municipal Finance, Community Development & Infrastructure, and Public Safety. The League’s advocacy efforts have impacted public policy by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and it continues to call for common-sense solutions that will allow municipalities to provide greater services to their local communities while addressing deficiencies. You can find more details on our priorities as well as a copy of our Legislative Policy Statement in the Media Center on our website, www.pml.org.
National League of Cities Fly-in
League Executive Director John Brenner, along with League past president, Mayor Michael Lombardo, will be joining local government officials from across the nation in Washington D.C. next week as part of the National League of Cities annual State Municipal League Fly-In. The Fly-in is a special two-day event focused on lobbying priorities directly with federal decision-makers. Local government leaders elevate the real-time needs of communities through meetings on Capitol Hill and with federal agency officials and intergovernmental affairs officials.
The proposed agenda includes topics such as:
- FY26 funding issues
- Local government protections from ARPA recoupment
- Passage of the Streamlining Federal Grants Act
- Reauthorization of surface transportation and water infrastructure programs
- Strengthening FEMA programs as disasters grow more frequent and costly
Mayor Lombardo serves on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities.
CONTACT: Susan Schrack Wood, Pennsylvania Municipal League, 717-236-9469, ext. *223 swood@pml.org
The Pennsylvania Municipal League strengthens and empowers effective local government through advocacy, education, and support for our members. The League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that offers a wide array of municipal services including legislative advocacy, publications, education/training, consulting-based programs, and group insurance trusts. For more about the Pennsylvania Municipal League, please visit PML.org. Join the conversation on X, facebook.com/PaMunicipalLeague and LinkedIn. #StrengthThroughEngagement