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Matches in DBpedia 2014 for { ?s ?p Salvatore "Sal" Panto Jr. (born December 11, 1951) is an American politician, businessman and current Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Panto is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor's degree from Kutztown University in 1973. Panto obtained a master's degree in administration in 1980 from Lehigh University.In 1983, incumbent Republican Mayor Phil Mitman decided not to seek re-election. Panto was elected to succeed Mitman in November 1983. He would serve as Mayor to two consecutive from 1984 to 1992. He was defeated for re-election in the 1991 mayoral election by Republican Thomas F. Goldsmith.Incumbent Mayor Phil Mitman once again decided against running for another term in 2007, just as he had in 1983. Once again, Panto entered the race to succeed Mitman. Panto won the Democratic nomination over Michael P. Fleck. He $40,000 for his campaign between June and October 2007. His Republican opponent in the race was Gary Bertsch, a relative newcomer to city politics who had moved to Easton in 2002. Panto defeated Bertsch handily by a wide margin of nearly 2-to-1. He was sworn into office on January 2, 2008.In 2010 Mayor Panto promoted the restoration of passenger rail service to Easton or Phillipsburg and possibly Allentown or Bethlehem, extending existing NJ Transit service from the Raritan Valley Line.He was re-elected to second consecutive, four-year term in November 2011, defeating Republican Mike Krill in a landslide with 2,513 votes to Krill's 607 votes.Subsequent to his 2011 reelection, Mayor Panto faced strong criticism for frequent obstruction of citizen advocacy and involvement. On, February 22, 2012, residents opposed Panto's attempt to ax the city's Home Rule Charter mandated Ethics Board at an off-site location out of view from the public.Citizens forced Panto to honor the charter and form the board. In June of 2012, residents living in one of the most troubled neighborhoods of Easton, organized a "walk through" designed to bring attention to comprehensive methods to reduce crime where law-enforcement had failed. Panto along with city department heads were invited to attend. Panto seized the opportunity to conduct his own walk through in the same neighborhood, undermining and angering organizing residents.In February of 2013 Panto attempted to eliminate the funding of a citizen-created news paper in the West Ward of the city. His effort was met with strong reaction and opposition from citizens, concerned about the mayor's attempt to commandere a privately owned and operated publication and infringe upon the First Amendment.Panto's campaign planks were summed up in his promise to make Easton "Clean & Safe." During his tenure, despite recommendations from citizen advocates promoting successful comprehensive crime-reduction strategies built on a community infrastructure, he emphasized tactical law-enforcement engagement to reduce violent crime including the creation of a quasi-military unit. Despite the tactical unit and richly resourcing the Easton Police Department, in 2012 Easton suffered the highest homicide rate in a decade.In April 2012, it was reported that Panto was considering a candidacy for Northampton County executive in 2013. Incumbent County Executive John Stoffa had announced that he would not seek re-election. If Panto entered the race, he would face a crowded field, which could possibly include Bethlehem Mayor John B. Callahan and Former Pennsylvania state Rep. Rich Grucela.. }

• Sal_Panto_Jr. abstract "Salvatore "Sal" Panto Jr. (born December 11, 1951) is an American politician, businessman and current Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Panto is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor's degree from Kutztown University in 1973. Panto obtained a master's degree in administration in 1980 from Lehigh University.In 1983, incumbent Republican Mayor Phil Mitman decided not to seek re-election. Panto was elected to succeed Mitman in November 1983. He would serve as Mayor to two consecutive from 1984 to 1992. He was defeated for re-election in the 1991 mayoral election by Republican Thomas F. Goldsmith.Incumbent Mayor Phil Mitman once again decided against running for another term in 2007, just as he had in 1983. Once again, Panto entered the race to succeed Mitman. Panto won the Democratic nomination over Michael P. Fleck. He $40,000 for his campaign between June and October 2007. His Republican opponent in the race was Gary Bertsch, a relative newcomer to city politics who had moved to Easton in 2002. Panto defeated Bertsch handily by a wide margin of nearly 2-to-1. He was sworn into office on January 2, 2008.In 2010 Mayor Panto promoted the restoration of passenger rail service to Easton or Phillipsburg and possibly Allentown or Bethlehem, extending existing NJ Transit service from the Raritan Valley Line.He was re-elected to second consecutive, four-year term in November 2011, defeating Republican Mike Krill in a landslide with 2,513 votes to Krill's 607 votes.Subsequent to his 2011 reelection, Mayor Panto faced strong criticism for frequent obstruction of citizen advocacy and involvement. On, February 22, 2012, residents opposed Panto's attempt to ax the city's Home Rule Charter mandated Ethics Board at an off-site location out of view from the public.Citizens forced Panto to honor the charter and form the board. In June of 2012, residents living in one of the most troubled neighborhoods of Easton, organized a "walk through" designed to bring attention to comprehensive methods to reduce crime where law-enforcement had failed. Panto along with city department heads were invited to attend. Panto seized the opportunity to conduct his own walk through in the same neighborhood, undermining and angering organizing residents.In February of 2013 Panto attempted to eliminate the funding of a citizen-created news paper in the West Ward of the city. His effort was met with strong reaction and opposition from citizens, concerned about the mayor's attempt to commandere a privately owned and operated publication and infringe upon the First Amendment.Panto's campaign planks were summed up in his promise to make Easton "Clean & Safe." During his tenure, despite recommendations from citizen advocates promoting successful comprehensive crime-reduction strategies built on a community infrastructure, he emphasized tactical law-enforcement engagement to reduce violent crime including the creation of a quasi-military unit. Despite the tactical unit and richly resourcing the Easton Police Department, in 2012 Easton suffered the highest homicide rate in a decade.In April 2012, it was reported that Panto was considering a candidacy for Northampton County executive in 2013. Incumbent County Executive John Stoffa had announced that he would not seek re-election. If Panto entered the race, he would face a crowded field, which could possibly include Bethlehem Mayor John B. Callahan and Former Pennsylvania state Rep. Rich Grucela.".