| Office | At-Large member of Allegheny County Council |
|---|---|
| Term start | January 2, 2020 |
| Predecessor | John DeFazio |
| Birth date | November 12, 1989 (age 36) |
| Party | Democrat |
| Education | Duquesne University |
| Website | https://www.bethanyhallam.com |
Bethany Hallam is an American politician. Since 2020, she has served as one of two at-large members of Allegheny County Council.[1]
Early life
Hallam grew up in Ross Township, and graduated from Duquesne University.[2]
Political career
Hallam defeated a 20-year County Council incumbent, John DeFazio, in the 2019 Democratic primary, & secured the at-large seat in the following general election, making her one of a small number of formerly incarcerated people elected to office in the United States. She was sworn in on January 2nd, 2020.[3]
Hallam has been an advocate for a number of causes including criminal justice reform, criminal justice fine & fee reform, abolition of cash bail, harm reduction, and increasing the availability of substance use disorder recovery programs.[4][5] She is known for her willingness to engage with people who disagree with her.[6]
In her position as a County Councilor, Hallam serves on Allegheny County Jail’s Jail Oversight Board, Allegheny County’s Board of Elections, & Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s board of trustees.[7][8][2]
References
- ^ "Office of the Allegheny County Council". Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Bethany Hallam - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh". Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Martines, Jamie (2 January 2020). "3 new Allegheny County Council members sworn in, new president selected". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Keppler, Nick (4 April 2019). "Drug Addiction Used to End Political Careers, but That’s Finally Changing". Vice. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Rihl, Juliette (26 May 2020). "Allegheny County selected to participate in national fine and fee reform initiative following PublicSource investigation". Public Source. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Morrison, Oliver (20 November 2024). "'People hate that about us.' Pittsburgh politician and radio host forge unlikely bond". WESA (FM). National Public Radio. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Jail Oversight Board". Allegheny County Controller. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Board of Elections - Allegheny County, PA". Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 19 November 2024.