Longtime Lower Saucon Councilwoman Priscilla deLeon to Resign Sept. 15

A long-serving Lower Saucon Township Councilwoman has announced her resignation, effective Sept. 15, 2026.

In a statement shared at Wednesday’s council meeting, Priscilla deLeon–whose current term ends Dec. 31, 2027–said she is honored to have served the community for the past 38 years.

“Since 1988, I have exercised sustained oversight of landfill regulatory matters, including review of host‑community agreements, amendments, DEP submissions, operational changes and compliance obligations,” she said. “I have advanced critical environmental protections through support of groundwater monitoring requirements, long‑term environmental impact evaluations and measures designed to safeguard public health. I have worked to preserve historic and rural resources by advocating for responsible land‑use decisions and protection of the Township’s heritage assets. I have strengthened the Township’s fiscal management practices through consistent budget oversight, capital planning review and long‑term financial stability measures. I have contributed to key policy and ordinance development affecting zoning, land use and municipal operations. Throughout this period, I have ensured–without exception–that the interests of Lower Saucon Township residents remained front and foremost in all deliberations.”

She did not say why she decided to resign at this time, but asked that township administrative staff “proceed with all required…steps to formally record this resignation.”

DeLeon is currently the most senior member of the five-member body and serves as council vice president. She has also served as council president at various times in the past, most recently in 2024. A Democrat and longtime resident of Steel City, she has been a frequent critic of Bethlehem Landfill during her tenure on council, and particularly during the past five years, as landfill officials have sought permission to expand the facility on Applebutter Road. The expansion–which is opposed by many neighbors and environmental advocates–is the subject of ongoing litigation and remains a hot button issue in the township, which receives substantial annual revenue from landfill-related fees.

Despite Republicans’ voter registration advantage in the township, all five Lower Saucon Township Council seats are currently held by Democrats. Current president Victoria Opthof-Cordaro and councilwoman Laura Ray together with deLeon ran on a platform that promised to restore municipal cooperation with the borough of Hellertown in 2023. The trio defeated the Republican candidate slate for three open seats to regain a majority on council, bringing an end to a period during which deLeon was the only Democratic member. Democrats Hunter Gress and Chad Heimbecker both won four-year council terms last fall by defeating Republican challengers Cheyenne Reiman and Donna Louder.

In a post on her Lower Saucon Township councilwoman Facebook page Thursday, deLeon shared the statement about her resignation, which drew dozens of comments from supporters who said they are grateful for the work she has done on behalf of the township and its residents.

In addition to her government service, deLeon is a proponent of historic preservation. After helping to found the Saucon Valley Conservancy in the 1990s to help protect Lower Saucon Township’s unique links to its past, she became involved in historic barn preservation in the area. This led to her advocacy at a statewide level, where she is currently the president of the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania.

When a council member resigns, the other members of council have 30 days from the date the resignation takes effect to appoint a replacement to complete the remainder of that council member’s term or until a special election is held.

Lower Saucon Township Council’s next meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Lower Saucon Town Hall, and it is expected that council will take action to advertise the vacancy created by her resignation.

Meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the township’s YouTube channel.