Reading City Council President Donna Reed has announced her candidacy for re-election, citing a desire to continue providing stability and leadership within the city government.
“This was a serious decision for me,” Reed said. “In the past weeks, I’ve been approached by so many people—from city residents to state, county, and city officials, as well as professionals in law enforcement, business, and trade—urging me to run again.”
Reed, who has served on City Council for most of the past two decades, emphasized the importance of consistency and institutional knowledge in city leadership. She stated that she plans to focus on economic development, job creation, the return of passenger rail service, and efforts to improve public safety and cleanliness in Reading.
First elected to City Council in 2002, Reed has played a role in several key city initiatives, including the preservation of the Antietam Lake Watershed and Reading’s successful exit from Act 47 financially distressed status. She has also served in leadership positions on various boards and commissions, including the Reading Area Transportation Study, the Pagoda Foundation, and the America250 Committee.
Reed was appointed as Council President in January 2023 and elected to the position later that year following the passing of former Council President Jeff Waltman. She currently serves as a liaison to the Stadium Commission and BCTV and has been involved with organizations such as the Berks History Center and Crime Alert Berks County.
A longtime journalist before entering politics, Reed previously worked for The Reading Eagle for 23 years as a reporter, columnist, and editor. She has also held communications roles with the former Berks County Chamber of Commerce, the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department, and various local publications.
“I believe my long experience and connections in the community have been an asset to the work of the Council and to the city and its people,” Reed said. “I love Reading, its many cultures, and its ability to honor the past while looking to the future.”
Reed is a graduate of Muhlenberg Township High School and The American University in Washington, D.C., where she studied political science and communication. She and her husband, retired Reading Eagle news editor Tom Knause, have one son and two grandchildren.
The upcoming election will determine whether Reed continues her leadership role on City Council as she seeks another term.