Four Candidates Vie for Three City Council Positions

Four candidates are vying for three Democratic ballot positions in the November election. As no city council candidates are running on the Republican ticket, this is really the determining election for who will occupy the three positions for the next four years.

This Tuesday, challenger Reno Pesaresi faces three incumbents, Ken Brown, Jeff Warren and El Warner. We asked each to provide the voters with some vital statistics and a brief statement to voters, no longer than 150 words, summing up their views.

Candidates answers are in regular type, our questions (and a few additions for clarification) are in italics.

Age: 53

Neighborhood of residence and number of years here: 200 block of Reese Street— born in Philadelphia, resident of Easton since 1966.

Do you have relatives who work for the city of Easton?: No

Political affiliation?: Democratic

Education: I graduated from Easton Area High School 1976 and attended East Stroudsburg University.

Profession/Work experience: Since 1993, I have been employed by Shiloh Manor Inc. (HUD operated Senior Housing) on the South Side of Easton, as Executive Director, Public Speaker in Schools, Churches,Community, and Church Leader.

Community / Volunteer Organizations: Summer Nights Out, COPS n Community, March to mail box 2010 Census community leader for Easton, PA, PAL Advisory Board , Easton Academy Advisory Board, City-wide clean up, Community Education Form Leader etc.

Any special qualifications?: Career Institute Of Technology Chairperson 1998-1999; Easton Area School District Board Vice President 1999-2000; Easton Area School District Board President 2001-2003; First Vice-Mayor under the new Home Rule charter, 2008-2010; Easton City Council, 2003-present.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for helping me in moving Easton forward. My goal is to be an ear for the citizens of Easton. We are turning a corner, and now we can see the light. Our city is safer and our downtown is alive again. I truly believe that we can take this energy to the rest of our neighborhoods. I am humbled by the fact that so many share this same vision. One day we will be able to say that Easton, a city of diversity, has become one community.

Age:

Neighborhood of residence and number of years here?: College Hill

Do you have any relatives that work for the City of Easton or hold another elected position?

Political affiliation?: Democrat

Education: BS in chemistry, East Stroudsburg University

Profession/Work experience: Chemist for Voltaix, Inc.

Community/Volunteer Organizations: Board member of the Easton Redevelopment Authority

The most important issue in the city is holding the line on property and wage taxes. We have to be competitive with other communities, with regard to taxes, to attract people to our beloved city.

Personal behavior of our elected officials is an important issue. Public officials need to be held to a higher standard.

The Apostle Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child,I thought as a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.”

I am very fond of the city of Easton. It has three diverse neighborhoods, great history and some lovely architecture. Sure, it has some warts and scars. If nurtured properly, it could become a great city.

I think Downtown, the South Side and College Hill have been holding their own. The West Ward could benefit from some more attention from the city government.

Age: 47

Neighborhood of residence and number of years here?: College Hill (10 years)

Do you have any relatives that work for the City of Easton or hold another elected position?: No

Political affiliation?: Democrat

Education: BA, Sweet Briar College; MA, PhD University of Virginia

Profession/Work experience: Marketing consultant; founding editor/publisher, The Elucidator

Community/Volunteer Organizations: Easton Main Street; Easton House Tour; past Board Member, Easton Business Association

Any special qualifications?: Member, Easton Home Rule Charter Study Commission, 2006-2007; Easton City Councilperson 2008 – present; Vice Mayor, 2010 – present

Members of City Council have two roles. Council is our legislative body, and as such is responsible for the City’s ordinances. Council is also the elected body that reviews the administration’s budget and the administration’s proposals. I am seeking re-election to Easton City Council because I believe that over the past four years I have been an effective legislator and have effectively represented the needs and desires of the residents of Easton. I have worked with the administration to pass three budgets without property tax increases; I created the Environmental Advisory Council and authored the legislation creating our Board of Ethics. More importantly, I have been an independent voice on Council, trying to do what is right rather than what is politically expedient. I've been proud to represent the residents of our city, and I hope to continue to represent them for another term.

Age: 33

Neighborhood of residence and number of years here: College Hill. Been a resident at our current home for 4 years, been a College Hill resident for a total of 7 years.

Do you have any relatives that work for the City of Easton or hold another elected position?: No.

Political affiliation: Democratic Party

Education: Graduate of Easton Area High School (1995); B.A. Penn State University (1999); M.S. Kutztown University (2010).

Profession/Work experience: Chief Legislative Assistant to state Senator Lisa M. Boscola.

Community/Volunteer Organizations: 2003 to present, board member of Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley: past board member, Boys & Girls Club of Easton.

Any special qualifications?: Current member of Easton City Council, elected in 2007; past member of Easton Zoning Hearing Board.

We must continue to reinvent the Easton and keep moving our city forward. Significant progress is being made on many fronts, however, there is much more work to be done. Working together with the Administration to continue enhancing our quality of life and to craft balanced budgets in the future that do not raise taxes is my priority. There have been no tax increases over the past two years due to strong, fiscal discipline and we must work hard to ensure this trend continues for many years to come. I will continue to promote and support responsible economic development projects that expand our tax base and create jobs city-wide. For years, I have been an independent voice on council and will continue to carry that philosophy with me well into the future on behalf of the residents of the City of Easton.