John B. Callahan

10th Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

John B. Callahan (born September 20, 1969) was the 10th Mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was the Democratic nominee in an unsuccessful 2010 bid for United States Representative for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district. Callahan was inaugurated Mayor of Bethlehem in 2004 at the age of 34 years old, becoming the second youngest mayor in the city's history after former Mayor Don Cunningham, who was 31.

From the age of five, Callahan grew up on the west side of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Liberty High School, where he was voted class president in 1987. Callahan graduated cum laude with a B. S. in Biology from Moravian College, was named senior scholar athlete of the year and won the Tubby Campbell Award for dedication and sportsmanship in wrestling. He was also named interfraternity man of the year, and was the commencement speaker for his class in 1991. He served on council from 1998 to 2004, during which time he chaired the finance and public works committees. He was elected mayor in the November 2003 general election, taking over 60% of the popular vote and winning every ward in the city. He was inaugurated on January 5, 2004, for a two year term. Callahan was re elected in the 2005 primary elections and ran unopposed in the general election. He was sworn in for his first four year term on January 3, 2006, and was re elected in 2009. Independent Jake Towne also ran. Callahan made his record in Bethlehem a focal point on his campaign, positioning himself as knowledgeable about how to rejuvenate an economy, a central issue in the 2010 mid term elections.

Callahan announced his candidacy for Northampton County Executive on February 6, 2013, after sitting Executive John Stoffa announced his lack of desire to seek reelection. He won the Democratic primary with over 50% of the vote, which was held on May 21. He lost the election to the Republican candidate; Bangor, Pennsylvania Mayor John Brown, with 47% of the vote to Brown's 52%. The results were seen as an upset due to Callahan's higher fundraising and better name recognition.

Callahan was a member of the 300 person transition team for incoming Governor Josh Shapiro in 2022, serving on the Business Development Subcommittee.

Callahan has three children with his wife Mafalda (née Villani); the family resides in Northeast Bethlehem. Callahan met Mafalda when they were in junior high school together. Growing up in west Bethlehem, Callahan's father had a drinking problem and his parents divorced when he was a child. During his congressional campaign, Callahan said he spent more time at the houses of friends than his own home, and credited his wrestling coaches and other community members for keeping his life on a positive track. Callahan served on the board of directors for the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Callahan also chaired the Urban Scouting Program in Bethlehem, and was a member of the Bethlehem Rotary Club.