Salvatore J. Panto Jr. is an American politician from Pennsylvania who is the current mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania, and has served for seven non-consecutive terms. First for two terms from 1984-1992, and another four terms from 2008 to present.[1][2]
Mayor Salvatore J. Panto Jr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Panto in 2021 | |
| Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Mitman |
| In office 1984–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Mitman |
| Succeeded by | Thomas F. Goldsmith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (Bachelor's) Lehigh University(Master's) |
| Website | www.easton-pa.com |
Early life
editPanto is an Easton native. He received a Bachelor's degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree from Lehigh University. In 2011 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Public service from Lafayette College.[3]
Political career
editFirst tenure
editPanto was elected mayor at the age of 31 in 1983 making him the youngest mayor in Easton's history. In that Democratic Primary Election he came in first against three other candidates including a former two term Mayor and the Democratic Party's designated candidate. During his first tenure he focused on making the city cleaner and safer. He expanded the city's police and fire department and hired more code enforcement officers.[1][3]
Second tenure
editWhen he returned to the office of mayor in 2008 the city of Easton was on the verge of filing for Act 47, the municipal equivalent of bankruptcy. However, Panto was able to re-organize city finances to create a surplus budget every year during his second tenure without increasing the real estate tax for sixteen years.[1] His 2007 campaign theme was "Clean and Safe. In 2007 he ran on a campaign to end the rampant drug dealing and gang violence and gun violence plaguing the city. "An advocate for public parks, Panto has expanded the city's park network and also invested $4 million in the city's waterfront parks. In 2017 he received a $850,000 subsidy from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to improve the National Canal Museum and the 520 acre park next to it.[4]
Panto was twice elected the President of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and during his tenure he founded the PennPRIME Municipal Insurance Trust and served as the fist Chairman of the Board. He is the former Chairman of the National League of Cities (NLC) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and was elected to two terms on the NLC Board of Directors. He currently serves on the NLC Advisory Board.
Panto has also been lauded for his management of the COVID-19 pandemic during which he shut down city hall, furloughed 81 city employees and had all municipal duties performed over video call.[5][6] This online municipal government system, combined with a $6,000,000 shortfall in the city's budget due to a near total loss of the city's tourism revenue for the nearby casino and the Crayola Experience. [7] Panto was able to salvage the situation by slashing the city's taxes resulting in a large influx of New Yorkers moving to the city to avoid New York City's cost of living and earning the city the moniker "little Manhattan."[8]
On May 16, 2023, Panto defeated Melan, a member of City Council, capturing 70% of the votes in the Democratic primary, and with the Republicans not being competitive in Mayoral elections since 2007, this was largely treated as the election proper. Panto has no Republican challenger on November 5, 2024. This next term will mark his 7th term as Mayor, and 5th consecutive term, making him the longest tenured mayor in Easton's history. However, he vowed this 7th term would be his last, and that he would not seek re-election to an 8th term in 2028, which would make him Mayor for 28 years, 20 of which consecutively.[9] On April 1, Panto partnered with Lafayette College during Literacy Day, reading to a elementary school class in an effort to increase children's interest in books.[10] He is also one of 6 Pennsylvania mayors to attend the 91st meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors.[11]
Panto has received many awards including the Preservation Pennsylvania Municipal Official's Award and the Governor's Local Government Official of the Year Award and was also awarded the Easton Schoolman of the Year Award and many others.[citation needed]
Panto received his Bachelors Degree form Kutztown University and his Masters Degree from Lehigh University and has an Honorary Doctorate from Lafayette College.[citation needed]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 2,982 | 95.67% | |
| N/A | Write-ins | 135 | 4.33% | |
| Total votes | 3,117 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 1,631 | 69.85% | |
| Democratic | Peter Melan | 704 | 30.15% | |
| Total votes | 2,335 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 2,839 | 81.53% | |
| Republican | Timothy D. Reilly | 628 | 18.04% | |
| N/A | Write-ins | 15 | 0.43% | |
| Total votes | 3,482 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 1,282 | 75.86% | |
| Democratic | Taiba Sultana | 402 | 23.79% | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 6 | 0.36% | |
| Total votes | 1,690 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 1,807 | 98.64% | |
| N/A | Write-ins | 25 | 1.36% | |
| Total votes | 1,832 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 1,047 | 99.71% | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 3 | 0.29% | |
| Total votes | 1,050 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. (incumbent) | 2,513 | 80.54% | |
| Republican | Mike Krill | 607 | 19.46 | |
| Total votes | 3,120 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. | 2,370 | 64.88% | ||
| Republican | Gary Bertsch | 1,283 | 35.12% | ||
| Total votes | 3,653 | 100% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Salvatore J. Panto Jr. | 914 | 60.13% | |
| Democratic | Michael P. Fleck | 606 | 39.87% | |
| Total votes | 1,520 | 100% | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr". www.easton-pa.com. Easton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Salvatore J. Panto, Jr". www.easton-pa.com. Easton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Salvatore J. Panto Jr". lvb.com. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Mabaso, Alaina. "Meet Urban Parks Champion, Easton Mayor Sal Panto". goodforpa.com. Pennsylvania parks and recreation. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Panto, Salvatore J. (30 December 2021). "Your View by Easton's mayor: City rises to meet pandemic's challenges. To assist the restaurants in the city he founded a program he called "Easton Alfresco" which provided the closed restaurants with outdoor dining. The program continues today as well. To assist small retailers he founded the "Winter Village" modeled after the Christmas Villages throughout Europe. It too continues today and has attracted shoppers from near and far". www.mcall.com. Alden Global Capital. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Easton City Hall closed to the public as part of COVID-19 workplace measures". www.wfmz.com. Maranatha Broadcasting Company. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Groppe, Maureen. "Despite federal COVID aid, some cities face hurdles bringing workers back after budget cuts". www.usatoday.com. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Caldwell, Dave. "Easton, Pa.: A Gritty River Town Being Transformed". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Myszkowski, Brian (17 May 2023). "Panto takes mayoral race for 5th term in a row, 7th overall". Lehigh Valley News. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Huth, Kelly (5 April 2023). "Lafayette's America Reads team organizes Literacy Day". Lafayette College. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "91st Winter Meeting Registered Mayors". United States Conference of Mayors. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Election Summary" (PDF). Northampton County. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Salamone, Anthony (17 May 2023). "Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. declares victory in primary election as he seeks fifth straight term". The Morning Call. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Summary Results Report 2019 Municipal Election" (PDF). www.northamptoncounty.org. Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Summary Report" (PDF). www.northamptoncounty.org. Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Results" (PDF). www.northamptoncounty.org. Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Summary report" (PDF). www.northamptoncounty.org. Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "General election 2011 results for Lehigh Valley and Northwest New Jersey races". www.lehighvalleylive.com. Advance Publications. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Municipal and county election results". www.mcall.com. Alden Global Capital. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Jordan, Tracy (16 May 2007). "It's Panto over Fleck in Easton primary ** Democratic mayoral hopeful will face Republican Gary Bertsch in November election". www.mcall.com. Alden Global Capital. Retrieved 24 January 2023.