Ron Beitler
Lehigh County Commissioner, District 2
Lehigh County Board of Commissioners
Ron Beitler is an Independent Lehigh County Commissioner representing District 2, which includes Lower Macungie, Upper Macungie, Alburtis, Macungie, and Upper and Lower Milford Townships, currently serving his second term through 2030 after first being elected in 2021. He is notable for leaving the Republican Party to become unaffiliated, citing a governing philosophy centered on independent analysis and constitutional responsibility over party alignment. Beitler previously served two terms as a Lower Macungie Township commissioner, including as board president, and has over 12 years of public service with a strong focus on farmland preservation, having helped conserve over 28,000 acres in Lehigh County as Chair of the County Farmland Preservation Board. He is also a co-owner of Bar None Weddings & Entertainment and Rising River Brewing Co., both in the Lower Macungie area, where he has been a lifelong resident.
Timeline
Ron Beitler issued a news release opposing County Executive Josh Siegel's proposal to create new executive team positions by eliminating unfilled jobs at the county nursing home and jail, arguing it expanded the executive office at the expense of frontline workers.
Ron Beitler publicly opposed County Executive Josh Siegel's proposal to cut eight positions from senior care and corrections to fund four administrative roles, questioning their necessity and political motivation.
Ron Beitler switched his voter registration from Republican to independent at the county elections office, citing frustration with partisan politics and a desire to serve the entire community.
During the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners organizational meeting, Ron Beitler proposed Geoff Brace be retained as chairperson, and the nomination was unanimously approved.
Ron Beitler was sworn in for his second term as District 2 Lehigh County Commissioner during an organizational meeting.
The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners elected Sheila Alvarado as vice chairperson over Ron Beitler by a 5-4 vote at the organizational meeting.
Ron Beitler, the incumbent Lehigh County Commissioner for District 2, officially announced his intention to seek re-election.
Ron Beitler was reelected to his second term as Lehigh County Commissioner representing District 2.
Lehigh County surpassed 28,000 acres of preserved farmland in June, encompassing more than 400 farms, with Commissioner Ron Beitler noting the county's commitment to maintaining green space.
Ron Beitler was elected Lehigh County Commissioner for District 2 in 2021, a position he has held without raising taxes.
Ron Beitler was sworn in for his first 4-year term as a Lower Macungie commissioner in January 2014.
Ron Beitler's 2013 campaign for Lower Macungie commissioner focused on quality of life, fiscal sustainability, and smarter growth strategies as a referendum on past land-use decisions.
Ron Beitler's appointment to the Parks & Recreation Board was rejected by the Board of Commissioners after Commissioner President Ron Eichenberg expressed concerns about Beitler's activism.
Facts
Higher education administration
District 2 (Lower Macungie, Upper Macungie, Alburtis Borough, Macungie Borough, and Upper and Lower Milford)
- • Emmaus High School
- • Slippery Rock University (Political Science)
2021
Lehigh County Commissioner
Independent
- • Lower Macungie Township commissioner
- • Lower Macungie commissioner president
- • Owner of Bar None Weddings & Entertainment
- • Owner of Rising River Brewing Co.
- • Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee (Lehigh County)
- • Chair of the Lehigh County Farmland Preservation Board
Lower Macungie
2030
2021
Connections
Ron Beitler and Jon Irons are both Lehigh County Commissioners.
Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler called Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley's announcement a "headline grab by a politically motivated controller."
Ron Beitler is feuding with County Executive Josh Siegel over Siegel's staffing proposals and alleged overstepping of his role.
from 3 sourcesRon Beitler viewed former County Executive Phil Armstrong as a collaborative leader who left his successor with a robust team and a passed budget.
from 2 sourcesRon Beitler and Geoffrey Brace are fellow Lehigh County Commissioners, running unopposed and sworn in together.
from 2 sourcesRon Beitler and Geoff Brace are politically aligned Lehigh County co-commissioners, with Beitler supporting Brace's chairmanship and having run unopposed for their seats together.
from 5 sourcesRon Beitler and Antonio Pineda successfully ran unopposed together and were sworn in as Lehigh County Commissioners.
from 2 sourcesLehigh County Commissioners Ron Beitler and Antonio Pineda are colleagues who ran unopposed together but exhibited political divergence following Beitler's party switch.
from 4 sourcesTracey Werner, Director of Marketing Communications at Lehigh Valley Public Media, provided information to The Valley Ledger.
Fevig, who found an anti-fascism measure divisive, backed Ron Beitler for vice chairperson, implying a political alliance or shared outlook.
from 2 sourcesThe Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, including Ron Beitler, approved Phil Armstrong’s budget for 2026 when he was the county executive.
Sworn in as Commissioner alongside Ron Beitler