Salvatore Panto
Easton PA Mayor Salvatore Panto, Jr.
Sal Panto Jr. | |
|---|---|
| File:Sal Panto Jr..jpg Panto at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2010 | |
| Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2008[1] | |
| Preceded by | Phil Mitman[1] |
| Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1984–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Mitman[2] |
| Succeeded by | Thomas F. Goldsmith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1951 (age 72) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Pam Panto |
| Residence | Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Notre Dame High School (Easton, Pennsylvania) Lehigh University Kutztown University |
Salvatore "Sal" Panto Jr. (born November 29, 1951) is an American politician, businessman and current Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[2] Panto is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania.[2]
Education[edit]
Panto received a bachelor's degree from Kutztown University in 1973.[2] After completing his undergraduate studies, he taught for several years in the Easton Area School District becoming one of the more popular teachers at the school. Soon thereafter, he obtained a master's degree in administration in 1980 from Lehigh University.[2] In 2011, Lafayette College awarded Panto an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service.
Mayor of Easton (1984-1992)[edit]
In 1983, Panto, already involved in local preservation,community service and civic efforts, ran for the office, winning election in November 1983.[2] Elected at the age of 31, Panto is the youngest person to be elected Mayor in Easton. He was recognized as a leader among local government officials and elected to the position of President of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM). As a Past President of PLCM, he continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Municipal League. He was defeated for re-election in the 1991 mayoral election by Republican Thomas F. Goldsmith.[3]
Private Sector Work[edit]
After his defeat, Panto entered into the private sector, enjoying considerable success and garnering credit for his role in growing several businesses. Panto served in three senior management positions: Chief Administrative Officer of the Charles Chrin Companies, Senior Vice-President of Coordinated Health, and Chief Administrative Officer of Strausser Enterprises, Inc.[4]
Return to Office (2007-Present)[edit]
Although enjoying success in the private sector, Panto entered the Mayoral race in 2007. He won the Democratic nomination capturing 81% of the vote over Michael P. Fleck.[5] His Republican opponent in the general election was Gary Bertsch, a relative newcomer to city politics who had moved to Easton in 2002.[2][5] Panto defeated Bertsch handily by a margin of nearly 2-to-1.[6] He was sworn into office on January 2, 2008.[1]
Easton re-elected Panto to a second consecutive, four-year term in November 2011, defeating Republican Mike Krill in a landslide with 2,513 votes to Krill's 607 votes.[7].
In 2007 Panto ran on a platform of "Clean and Safe" and financial stability. He immediately began working to accomplish these goals. The City was experiencing tremendous increases in property taxes each year and gangs were prevalent in the city. Violent crimes were out of control and no one was visiting or investing in Easton. Residents that could leave were leaving. Panto hired 11 additional police officers, increasing the department form 52 to 63 sworn officers. Panto's campaign rested on his promise to make Easton "Clean & Safe" and financially solvent. The last eleven years has seen a decrease in crime and gang activity each year and a bond rating that has been increased from a BBB to an A+ rating, one of the few in the State of Pennsylvania. Mayor Panto has also led an economic development program that is experiencing more than $750 million in public and private investment leading to the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the city. Major projects include the adaptive reuse of the former Pomeroy building which has been vacant more than 35 years; Lafayette College’s North Third Street Film and Media School campus; connecting and upgrading the waterfront park to the city’ many streetscape and facade restoration projects; dozens of residential rehab propjects; the intermodal project which includes a new parking deck and City Hall building as well as the LANTA transit station; and Silk: A Creative Community the $110 million restoration of the Simon Silk Mill.[4]
Today Easton's crime rate has decreased every year, property taxes have not increased since he took office (11 years)and residents look at their city with a new sense of pride.
Panto is active in the United States conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities (NLC), and recently served as Chairman of the Environmental Steering Committee; He was elected to the NLC Board of Directors in November 2017. Governor Tom Corbett recently appointed him to the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System Board of Directors and current Governor Tom Wolf re-appointed him. [4] He is currently serving as President of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.
Personal[edit]
The recipient of numerous local and state awards, Panto was born and raised in the City of Easton. Sal is married to the former Pam Searles. They have four children as well as five grandchildren. The couple lives on the city’s South Side where they were both born and raised..[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Phil Mitman Looks Back on Tenure as Easton Mayor". WFMZ. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Ford, William J. (2007-11-03). "Old hand vs. new blood in Easton". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ↑ Jordan, Tracy (2007-01-24). "Mitman says he won't seek third term as Easton mayor". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "City Government - Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr". City of Easton. City of Easton. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jordan, Tracy (2007-05-16). "It's Panto over Fleck in Easton primary". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ↑ Ford, William J. (2007-11-07). "Democrats win 3 seats, keep firm hold on City Council Dem Sal Panto Jr. reprises role as mayor by defeating Republican Gary Bertsch". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ↑ Sieger, Edward (2011-11-08). "Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. douses Republican challenger Mike Krill". Retrieved 2012-04-28.
External links[edit]
Easton PA Mayor Salvatore Panto, Jr.[edit]
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