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{{short description|American politician and public sector executive}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Don Cunningham
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|13}}
| birth_place = [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Don Cunningham 2012 photo.jpg
| image_size =
| smallimage = 
| alt =
| caption = Cunningham in 2012
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| order =
| office = Executive of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
| term_start = 2006
| term_end = 2012
| predecessor = Jane Ervin
| successor = Bill Hansell
| office2 = Pennsylvania Secretary of General Services
| term_start2 = 2003
| term_end2 = 2005
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = [[James Creedon (politician)|James Creedon]]
| order3 = 9th
| office3 = Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
| term_start3 = 1998
| term_end3 = 2003
| predecessor3 = [[Paul Marcincin]]
| successor3 = [[James Delgrosso]]
| office4 = Bethlehem City Councilman
| term_start4 = 1996
| term_end4 = 1997
| predecessor4 = Richard Szulborski
| successor4 = Magdalena Szabo
}}
'''Donald Cunningham Jr.''' (born December 13, 1965) is an American politician who is president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). He previously served as [[County executive|executive]] of [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]], secretary of the [[Pennsylvania Department of General Services]], and mayor of [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]].

Cunningham is credited with leading an economic renaissance in Bethlehem, rejuvenating the city's two downtowns and helping kick-start Bethlehem's economy after the collapse of [[Bethlehem Steel]].<ref name="Micek0315" /> As Lehigh County executive, Cunningham restructured county operations to make economic growth and community regionalization the focus of his administration.

==Early life and career==
Don Cunningham Jr. was born on December 13, 1965, to parents Don Sr. and Valerie Cunningham.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradford |first=Tina |title=Inaugural ball set Jan. 2 for Bethlehem mayor-elect |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=December 28, 1997 |page=E07}}</ref> His family had lived in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]] for five generations,<ref name="Jordan0521">{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Tracy |title=Demos pick Cunningham to be mayoral candidate: Veteran Republican councilman Otto Ehrsam was unopposed for his party's nomination |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=May 21, 1997 |page=A01 |url=http://articles.mcall.com/1997-12-28/features/3166405_1_mayor-elect-shuttle-bus-valerie-cunningham |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225931/http://articles.mcall.com/1997-12-28/features/3166405_1_mayor-elect-shuttle-bus-valerie-cunningham |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |accessdate=October 15, 2015}}</ref> and his father and grandfather were both steel workers at [[Bethlehem Steel]].<ref name="Jordan1105">{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Tracy |title=Cunningham elected mayor: In beating Ehrsam, the 31-year-old becomes youngest mayor in Bethlehem's history |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=October 15, 2015 |url=https://www.mcall.com/1997/11/05/cunningham-elected-mayor-in-beating-ehrsam-the-31-year-old-becomes-youngest-mayor-in-bethlehems-history/ |access-date=October 15, 2015 |page=A01}}</ref> He graduated from the [[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]] in 1983. During his time at Freedom he played football, ran track, worked on the student newspaper, and was the front man for a teenage rock band.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reaman |first=Denise |title=Mayor returns to Freedom halls: Don Cunningham, class of '83, speaks at partners in education day |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=March 26, 1998 |page=B01}}</ref> Cunningham was inducted into the School's hall of fame in 2001.<ref name="WayToGo">{{cite news |title=Way to Go! |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 15, 2001 |page=B5}}</ref>

Cunningham went to [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]] and earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Journalism and a minor in government in 1987. He completed a Master of Arts Degree in political science from [[Villanova University]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=Tax rate just the tip of the iceberg: Courthouse expansion, baseball stadium also key issues in Lehigh County executive race |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=October 31, 2005 |page=B1}}</ref>

Cunningham worked as a correspondent with ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' and as a reporter with the ''[[The Express-Times|Globe-Times]]'' of Bethlehem from 1988 to 1992,<ref name="WayToGo" /><ref name="Patton1006">{{cite news |last=Patton |first=Susan Ruiz |title=Cunningham will enter mayoral race: Democratic councilman will announce Wednesday |date=January 6, 1997 |page=B01}}</ref> covering city government.<ref name="Jordan0109">{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Tracy |title=Mayoral candidate touts blue-collar roots: Don Cunningham tells campaign backers the city must 'redefine itself' |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=January 9, 1997 |page=B03}}</ref> He then worked as a spokesman for [[Moravian College]] from 1992 to 1993 and as an information specialist at the [[PPL Corporation]] in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="WayToGo" />

==Political career==
In 1995, Cunningham was elected to Bethlehem City Council along with two other political newcomers, Democrats Robert Donchez and James Gregory,<ref name="Jordan1105" /> defeating two veteran councilmen in what ''[[The Morning Call]]'' newspaper called "a new era for City Democrats".<ref name="Jordan0521" /> He served as chairman of the council's Parks and Public Property Committee.<ref name="Patton1006" /> In January 1997, during his first council term, Cunningham announced his intention to run for mayor,<ref name="Patton1006" /> a post held since 1988 by Ken Smith.<ref name="Jordan0109" /> Donchez served as his campaign chairman.<ref name="Jordan0521" /> His candidacy was supported by U.S. Rep [[Paul McHale]] and Pennsylvania Rep. [[T. J. Rooney]].<ref name="Patton1006" /> Cunningham defeated Marakovits in the Democratic primary by a vote count of 3,384 to 2,916, and went on to face Republican Councilman Otto Ehrsam in the general election.<ref name="Jordan0521" /> Ehrsham was a 67-year-old Bethlehem Steel retiree who had been on council for 20 years.<ref name="Jordan1105" /><ref name="Jordan0109" /> He was elected with 62 percent of the vote, collecting 6,336 to Ehrsam's 3,919 votes. ''[[The Morning Call]]'' called it "one of the most decisive victories in a Bethlehem mayoral race".<ref name="Jordan1105" /> Voter turnout was approximately 50 percent.<ref name="Jordan1105" /> At age 31, Cunningham became the youngest elected mayor in the city's history.<ref name="Jordan1105" /><ref name="Patton1006" /> Cunningham was re-elected to a second term in 2001.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://doncunningham.org/bethlehem.htm Don Cunningham for Lehigh County Executive]</ref>

Cunningham was inaugurated not long after the city's largest employer, [[Bethlehem Steel]], had closed, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and a significant portion the city's tax base. During his tenure, Cunningham guided more than $1 billion of new development and the creation of 2,500 new jobs into the city. As mayor, Cunningham proposed five city budgets, only one of which had a tax increase in his final year in the office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ad Watch: Lehigh County Executive |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=October 8, 2005 |page=B3}}</ref> Cunningham advocated public-private partnerships and developed new programs to improve public safety and the delivery of neighborhood services.<ref name="Ayers0106">{{cite news |last=Ayers |first=Chuck |title=Cunningham on Rendell's 'short list': Bethlehem mayor may be picked for top state development post |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=January 6, 2003 |page=A1}}</ref>

===Secretary of General Services===
Cunningham became a short-list candidate for the cabinet of Governor [[Ed Rendell]]. Initial discussions centered around the secretary position for the [[Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development|Department of Community and Economic Development]]. Cunningham said he had modeled his administration's economic development plan in part after the prototype Rendell used as mayor of Philadelphia.<ref name="Ayers0106" /> In January 2003, it was announced Rendell had tapped Cunningham for the [[Pennsylvania Department of General Services|Department of General Services]]. Cunningham oversaw $4 billion of Pennsylvania's budget,<ref name="DonBio">{{cite web |title=About Don Cunningham, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. |publisher=Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation |year=2015 |url=http://www.lehighvalley.org/about-lvedc/staff-directory/about-don-cunningham-president-ceo-of-lehigh-valley-economic-development-corp/ |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref> including his department's own budget of $141.6 million. Within his first month in the post, Rendell tasked him with reducing that budget by 10 percent.<ref name="Micek0315">{{cite news |last=Micek |first=John L. |title=Cunningham starts new state post by taking a bite out of his budget: Rendell's secretary of General Services had to slice it by 10 percent |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=March 15, 2003 |page=B1}}</ref>

Cunningham oversaw the design and construction of the non-highway capital construction projects in Pennsylvania, as well as the state's minority and women-owned business contracting program and the Bureau of Commonwealth Media Services.<ref name="DCorg">{{cite web |title=Don Cunningham: Statewide Accomplishments |publisher=doncunningham.org |year=2005 |url=http://doncunningham.org/state.htm |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref> In addition to his secretary position, Cunningham served on the State Public School Building Authority, the Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, the Governor's Homeland Security Advisory Council, the PENNVEST board, the Capitol Preservation Committee, and the Agricultural Land Preservation Interagency Committee during his time in Rendell's administration.<ref name="DCorg" />

===Lehigh Valley positions===
Starting in early 2005, Cunningham was courted by Lehigh Valley Democrats to run for [[county executive|executive]] of Lehigh County.<ref name="Hartzell0204">{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=Ex-mayor may run for county executive: Bethlehem's Cunningham, a Dem working for Rendell, says he's been asked |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 4, 2005 |page=B1}}</ref><ref name="Hartzell0218">{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=County Dems courting Cunningham: But will he bail out on Cabinet job to run for Lehigh executive? |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 18, 2005 |page=B1}}</ref> No Democrat had won the executive's office since the county's home rule charter went into effect in 1978,<ref name="Hartzell0204" /> and Lehigh County Democratic Committee Chairman Charles F. Smith Jr. called Cunningham the party's "dream candidate".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=Cunningham joins race for Lehigh executive: Ex-Bethlehem mayor to seek Democratic nod, members say |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=March 6, 2005 |page=B1}}</ref> Cunningham announced his candidacy for the position in March, and formally resigned from the Rendell administration on April 8. He ran with no opposition in the Democratic primary,<ref name="Hartzell0309">{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=Cunningham points to taxes in bid for Lehigh executive: Former city mayor to resign state job to campaign for county leadership |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=March 9, 2005 |page=B1}}</ref> clearing the way for a challenge against Republican Executive Jane R. Ervin, who was seeking a second four-year term.<ref name="Hartzell0204" /> During his campaign, Cunningham criticized Ervin for a 69 percent county tax increase in 2003, calling it "unconscionable" and declaring that a change in leadership was necessary.<ref name="Hartzell0309" /> Ervin responded aggressively to Cunningham's campaign, raising questions about his record in Bethlehem and Rendell's administration and defending her tax increase as the right thing to do for the county.<ref name="Hartzell1109">{{cite news |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |title=Incumbent defeated in Lehigh: Cunningham bests Ervin for county executive and becomes the first Democrat in seat under Home Rule |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=November 9, 2005 |page=A1}}</ref> Cunningham defeated Ervin by 33,263 to 20,721, with 62 percent of the vote,<ref>{{cite news |title=November 2005 Municipal Election |publisher=[[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]] |year=2005 |url=https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Voter-Registration/Election-Results |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref> becoming the first Democrat ever elected to the executive post.<ref name="Hartzell1109" /> He had spent roughly $500,000 in the election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Darryl R. |title=Cunningham gears up for 2 campaigns: Race is on: Lehigh County executive eyes county run, possible state bid |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 7, 2009 |page=B1}}</ref>

Several major development projects and corporate relocations came to fruition during Cunningham's tenure, including the [[Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)|Boston Beer Company]] establishing their largest brewery in [[Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Macungie Township]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Darryl R. |title= Cunningham: County is in 'sound' shape: Annual address: He announces grants for 10 more police |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 12, 2009 |page=B1}}</ref> [[Olympus Corporation]] opening its headquarters in [[Upper Saucon Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Saucon Township]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Blumenau |first=Kurt |title=Focus on Olympus: Valley center open 400 company officials, dignitaries attend kickoff in Upper Saucon |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=July 21, 2006 |page=A1}}</ref> [[Ocean Spray (cooperative)|Ocean Spray]] establishing manufacturing operation in Upper Macungie Township;<ref>{{cite news |last=Portnoy |first=Jenna |title=Ocean Spray may help quench Lehigh Valley's thirst for jobs: Company's bottling and processing plant outside Trenton, N.J., might relocate here |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=March 25, 2011 |page=A1}}</ref> and [[Coca-Cola Park]], the baseball stadium for the [[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]], opening in Allentown.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schuler |first=Jeff |title=IronPigs to open park against Phillies: An exhibition appearance by major league team is no longer required, but it's scheduled |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=December 19, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref> Cunningham also funded open space preservation,<ref name="Callaway1014">{{cite news |last=Callaway |first=Brian |title=Taxes key issue in executive race: Lehigh County rate unchanged under Cunningham. Ott says it's because he drained relief fund |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=October 14, 2009 |page=A5}}</ref> negotiated contracts to stem rising health care costs,<ref>{{cite news |last=Malone |first=JD |title=Exiting Cunningham touts record: Lehigh County executive, who is leaving today to take over at LVEDC, says he accomplished most of his goals while in office |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=July 6, 2012 |page=A6}}</ref> and helped municipalities with higher crime rates hire more police officers.<ref name="Callaway1104">{{cite news |last=Callaway |first=Brian |title=Cunningham narrowly wins second term: Lehigh County executive gets 51 percent of vote to squeak past Republican Scott Ott |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=November 4, 2009 |page=A1}}</ref>

In 2007, Cunningham endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in her [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008|campaign for U.S. President]]. In April 2008, Cunningham was the top vote-getter in the 15th congressional district to serve as a delegate Hillary Clinton to the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Darryl R. |title=Democratic delegate candidates also on ballot: Five will be elected to go to national convention in Denver |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=April 10, 2008 |page=A4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=April, 22 2008 General Primary Election |publisher=[[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]] |year=2008 |url=https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Voter-Registration/Election-Results |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref> Cunningham announced as early as 2007 that he was considering a [[Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010|run for Pennsylvania governor in 2010]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Micek |first=John L. |title=Don Cunningham considering run at governor's seat in 2010 |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=August 8, 2007 |page=A8}}</ref> However, in June 2009, he announced he would not seek the post due to family concerns and time restraint. Cunningham had raised about $725,000 for the possible campaign by that point.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isherwood |first1=Darryl R. |last2=Micek |first2=John L. |title=Don Cunningham, never officially in, is out: Gubernatorial race got too rich for Lehigh County exec. He'll run for re-election here |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=June 26, 2009 |page=A1}}</ref>

In 2009, Cunningham was challenged in his re-election campaign by Scott Ott,<ref name="Callaway1014" /> a Republican political newcomer associated with the conservative [[Tea Party movement]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kraus |first=Scott |title=GOP gets full-time help in Lehigh County: Scott Ott hired as executive director as volunteer chairmanship becomes open |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=January 12, 2010 |page=A6}}</ref> Ott accused Cunningham of avoiding a county tax increase only by depleting a tax relief fund established during Jane Ervin's administration, leaving the county in a position where future tax hikes would be necessary.<ref name="Callaway1014" /> Cunningham accused Ott of using scare tactics in his campaign and said he lacked the experience to lead the county.<ref name="Callaway1104" /> He also argued Republican county commissioners had actually increased spending.<ref name="Isherwood0218">{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Darryl R. |title=Cunningham announces re-election bid: Seeks second term: Lehigh County executive touts successes |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=February 18, 2009 |page=B1}}</ref> Cunningham defeated Ott in the general election by a voter count of 21,063 to 20,201, capturing 51 percent of the vote to Ott's 49 percent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Municipal Election - November 2009 |publisher=[[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]] |year=2009 |url=https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Voter-Registration/Election-Results |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, a 16.1 percent tax increase was proposed as part of the county budget, with Cunningham said was necessary due to difficult financial times, but would avoid the need to sell assets, deplete savings, impose massive layoffs, or reduce government services to the point that the problem would grow worse in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Portnoy |first=Jenna |title=Lehigh County proposes 16 percent tax hike: Budget would raise tax bill $99 for average resident |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=September 1, 2010 |page=A1}}</ref> It was the first county tax increase since 2003. The budget was ultimately passed.<ref name="Kraus0518">{{cite news |last=Kraus |first=Scott |title=Browning loses primary challenge: All four members of fiscal conservative slate, headed by Scott Ott, prevail in Lehigh commissioner race |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=May 18, 2011 |page=A5}}</ref> In 2011, Ott was elected to the county's board of commissioners, along with a slate of fellow conservatives who ran together on a ticket of reform, which heavily criticized the 16 percent county tax increase during their campaigns.<ref name="Kraus0518" /><ref>{{cite news |last=McEvoy |first=Colin |title=Lehigh County Commissioners select new chairman after five failed rounds of voting |work=[[The Express-Times]] |date=January 4, 2012 |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/index.ssf/2012/01/lehigh_county_commissioners_se.html |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref>

Although the board had always been Republican-majority during Cunningham's tenure, he had a particularly difficult relationship with the commissioners after the 2011 election. Cunningham unsuccessfully attempted to veto a county-wide reassessment that commissioners approved, arguing it should have been delayed at least a year to allow time for the market to become less volatile.<ref name="McEvoy0705">{{cite news |last=McEvoy |first=Colin |title=Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham touts accomplishments as he leaves office |work=[[The Express-Times]] |date=July 5, 2012 |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/index.ssf/2012/07/lehigh_county_executive_don_cu_2.html |accessdate=October 16, 2015}}</ref>

In May 2012, Cunningham accepted the position of president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Council, resigning as Lehigh County executive with a year-and-a-half remaining in his second term.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcus |first=Samantha |title=Cunningham to take over as LVEDC chief executive: Commissioner Dan McCarthy intends to apply for Lehigh County executive vacancy |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=May 30, 2012 |page=A5}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Rendell cabinet}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Don}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American public relations people]]
[[Category:County executives in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Economic development in the United States]]
[[Category:Journalists from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Mayors of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Pennsylvania]]

Don Cunningham - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#articles.mcall.com