The 2013 Lehigh County Executive election was held on November 5, 2013. In 2012, County Executive Don Cunningham resigned and former County Commissioner Bill Hansell was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term. Muller declined to run in the regular election, and Tom Muller, the County Director of Administration, ran for the Democratic nomination to succeed Hansell.[1] On May 17, 2013, Hansell himself resigned after being diagnosed with cancer, and appointed Muller as acting Executive.[2] The County Commission ultimately selected Matt Croslis to serve as County Executive until the election concluded.[3]
Muller won the Democratic primary unopposed, and County Commissioner Scott Ott, the 2009 Republican nominee, won the Republican nomination over former County Commissioner Dean Browning. In the general election, Muller, a former Republican, campaigned on his experience and attacked Ott as ideologically extreme.[4] Muller ultimately defeated tot by a narrow margin, winning 52 percent of the vote to Ott's 48 percent.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Tom Muller, County Director of Administration, former acting County Executive[1]
^ a bMarcus, Samantha (February 7, 2013). "Muller jumps into race as a Democrat". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. News 1. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
^ a b"MUNICIPAL PRIMARY - MAY 2013". Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration. 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
^Marcus, Samantha (January 25, 2013). "Ott announces run for Lehigh County executive". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. News 5. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
^Marcus, Samantha (January 29, 2013). "Browning running for Lehigh executive job". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. News 5. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
^"MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 2013". Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration. 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
Government