EASTON, Pa. — The primary election for Easton City Council is heating up, as seven candidates compete for three open positions with their eyes focused on affordable housing, neighborhood development, and addressing community concerns at large.
But the heat is all on the Democratic side, as no Republicans are running.
- The primary election for Easton City Council will feature seven candidates, all Democrats, squaring off for three open positions
- Key issues in the race include affordable housing and neighborhood development beyond the Downtown area
- A few longtime council members, in addition to some newcomers, are vying for the open seats
Incumbents Ken Brown and David O’Connell are joined by Kurt Carlson, Ken Greene, Frank Pintabone, Crystal Rose and Frank Wheeler, who will face off in the primary on May 16.
Despite varying opinions on exactly how to address them, the candidates have generally agreed on certain priorities for 2024: affordable housing; promoting further development and investments in the West Ward, South Side and College Hill; and promoting community engagement with citizens.
Thanks to inflation, Easton residents — as with many people across the country — are feeling the squeeze of elevated rental prices eating up more of their budget.
Rent.com shows the average one-bedroom apartment in Easton goes for $1,712. Zillow says the average Easton home is valued at $305,869, up 6.8% over the previous year.
As for the issue of promoting further projects outside of the Downtown area, just about every candidate is on board to inject funding into those communities, especially in regard to fresh food, banking and small businesses.
Here's a look at the candidates:
Ken Brown
Brown started his political career by attending board and commission meetings, eventually campaigning for a school board seat.
He lost his first election, but later secured the role and became board vice president.
Following that, Brown was encouraged to join the Easton City Council, and since has served for more than 20 years.
"But I think we're going to help enhance that by writing grants for nonprofits and help combat the problem. One thing we do know, it’s not an Easton problem, it’s a national problem."Easton City Council candidate Ken Brown
“More than anything, I want to address the unsheltered homeless," Brown said. "That's one of my things that I think we can do. I think we can help out, [but] I don't think the city should run it, because there's other agencies out there that can do a much better job than we could ever do.
“But I think we're going to help enhance that by writing grants for nonprofits and help combat the problem. One thing we do know, it’s not an Easton problem, it’s a national problem.”
Kurt Carlson
Kurt Calson was born and raised in Northern Illinois, attended Butler University and got a Fulbright Scholarship in Austria. Following his return to America, Carlson taught at Florida State University for three years before making his way to the Lehigh Valley with his wife.
After buying a fixer-upper house in College Hill, Carlson became heavily involved in civic engagement, attending council and school board meetings, and working with the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children.
"There is still a future where we can bridge the gap, that we can help people in various sorts of economic and housing ways to get out of Section Eight if they choose to."Easton City Council candidate Kurt Calson
Calson said he is fundamentally concerned with addressing the gap between Section Eight housing and luxury properties in Easton — prioritizing affordable accommodations for all.
“There is still a future where we can bridge the gap, that we can help people in various sorts of economic and housing ways to get out of Section Eight if they choose to,” Carlson said.
“But it's going to take someone so deep in the data, and so dialed into block-by-block development, that we can't have 'yes men' or passersby anymore. It's going to it's going to take a lot of work.”
Ken Greene
Greene is a retired educator who served 13 years as a schools superintendent.
Working with his wife, he has volunteered with Friends of Easton, which has done community work including setting up lights in Centre Square, as well as providing donations to Easton Ambassadors and the Easton Block Watch.
Greene was chosen Easton’s Volunteer of the Year in 2022. Over the past four years, he has served on the Easton Planning Commission, including two years as chairman.
Greene said his top priorities are to keep Easton “safe, clean, and accessible” for all citizens.
“I want to make sure that our downtown continues to grow and prosper, because that's the engine that has driven our city," he said. "But I think we're at a point of order to move from good to great, where we need to extend our work out into the neighborhoods.
“So looking at neighborhood-specific plans for South Side, College Hill and West Ward, and developing those [plans]. The mayor and council have recently announced neighborhood task forces, which I think would be along the lines of the kind of thing I would like to make sure that we do, to gather with folks and get those points of view so we can really put together neighborhood specific plans.”
David O’Connell
O’Connell is rounding out the last year of his second term on Easton City Council. Currently retired, O’Connell previously managed condominium associations.
"I’m focusing on getting more affordable housing for the for the city, and also really trying to bring back small businesses to all of the neighborhoods, not just the Downtown."Easton City Council candidate David O'Connell
He has worked on the board of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, in addition to serving on the board of the Easton Neighborhood Center, and has served on council committees for planning and economic development.
In an initial campaign announcement release, O’Connell emphasized Easton is a “city of four distinct neighborhoods,” but “one united city,” the residents of which deserve an equal opportunity for development and success.
“I’m focusing on getting more affordable housing for the for the city, and also really trying to bring back small businesses to all of the neighborhoods, not just the Downtown,” O’Connell said.
Frank Pintabone
Pintabone is a born-and-raised, fourth-generation Eastonian.
Since kicking off his engagement in the community by working with the Easton Boys and Girls Club board, he has worked on the Neighborhood Center Board in South Side Easton, and the Career Institute of Technology’s board.
In 2011, he joined Easton Area School Board, assuming the title of president from 2013-17. In that position, Pintabone was able to turn a $10 million deficit into a surplus that allowed for school development and the rehiring of laid-off teachers.
Pintabone also has served on Northampton County General Purpose Authority, and now is on Easton Planning Commission. He has also coached wrestling and operated a boxing gym.
Pintabone said the biggest issues for his campaign include affordable housing, improving public transportation and bringing small businesses back to the neighborhoods outside of Downtown.
“I've been working and volunteering in the city since I was 19, and now I'm going to run for city council to again focus on our neighborhoods — the South Side, West Ward and College Hill areas,” Pintabone said.
“Now it's time to focus on our neighborhoods, focus on our youth, focus on our elderly, and just the people, and make sure they have quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
Crystal Rose
As a fourth-generation Eastonian, Rose lives in Easton’s Downtown with her husband, Nick, and their dogs Betty and Archie.
Rose has been first vice president/marketing director of Unity Bank for 12 years.
Rose has served on the Easton Civil Service Board, the Affordable Housing Task Force and the board of trustees for America’s Grow a Row — a local nonprofit focused on providing fresh produce to food banks and homeless shelters.
She also is a Downtown section leader for the Easton Block Watch. Previously, she worked with the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children, and worked as an organizer for the Karl Sterner Arts Trail.
Rose said her top priorities include the fight against blight, absentee landlords, crime, food insecurity, the lack of affordable housing and homelessness, in addition to addressing coding issues and creating a small business liaison.
“They're all big challenges,” Rose said. “I'll also fight for the quality-of-life issues, even the little ones that are brought to my attention, because I know fixing a little things make a big impact."
"That's what I'm hearing the most, when I'm knocking on doors right now.”
Lance Wheeler
Wheeler is a longtime community activist in Easton's West Ward.
A graduate of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Academy and the State Constable Academy, Wheeler was appointed constable and later elected to the position.
From 1998 to 2000, he was a sheriff’s deputy, after which he was elevated to Judge Robert Freedberg’s court staff and in 2008, to the lead court administration officer position.
He left the courthouse in 2011 to devote his energies to his constable position and his family.
Wheeler said he is prioritizing a mission to “put some more energy into getting things done in the West Ward.”
In particular, Wheeler has said his neighborhood is in need of a supermarket, more affordable housing, and more activities intended to improve residents’ quality of life.
In addition, he has spoken of familiarizing the police with the local community to foster a better environment, and to promote further economic development in the West Ward.
Wheeler even has pledged to use any money received from his council position for the West Ward, which he said he has done for years.
“When I win, I will show the people of the West Ward of Easton ‘Here's what I've been working for, I won't stop working for this because it's time for change,'" Wheeler said. "It's time to give back.”
