Benjamin Howells

[2002]

Benjamin Howells was trained in engineering and physics. He worked for Bell Labs for 30 years, retiring in 1990.

In 1970-71, Mr. Howells served on the Mayor of Allentown's advisory committee on tax reform. He became keenly interested in tax structures and land valuation. Starting in 1974, he was elected five times to the Allentown City Council, and was several times the President. Before the end of his fifth term in 1991, he resigned from City Council to become the City of Allentown Municipal Planner, in which position he served until 1994.

Early in his tenure on City Council, in collaboration with Leo Fetzer, then business administrator for Allentown, Mr. Howells put together a proposal authorizing two-rate property taxation. The Council passed the authorization seven times, only to have it vetoed by the Mayor.

In 1994, the Council requested and the electorate approved a charter reform commission. The commission added two-rate taxation to the charter, which was passed by the electorate in 1995. The Fairgrounds Association, the largest holder of vacant land in Allentown, challenged the charter amendment by running a referendum, which was narrowly defeated. Mr. Howells believes he can already see increased economic activity in Allentown three years after the charter amendment went into effect.

Mr. Howells is currently running for Commissioner of Lehigh County, which includes Allentown. He lives in Allentown with his wife, Ellen. They have three children and two grandchildren.