EASTON, Pa. — Two Democrats on Easton City Council who sought re-election this year instead will serve their last few months in office.
Incumbents Taiba Sultana and Roger Ruggles were defeated in Tuesday night’s primary election, according to unofficial Northampton County returns.
Ruggles lost on the District 1 Democratic ticket to Frank Graziano III; Sultana was defeated in the District 3 Democratic primary by Susan Hartranft-Bittinger.
Ruggles, a retired Lafayette College professor, has been a councilman since 2008. Sultana is in the final year of her first term.
Graziano, 45, is a member of the city planning commission and works for Tower Products, a maker of specialty products for commercial printing.
District 1 covers College Hill, the Downtown area and a corner of the West Ward.
"I’m feeling really good about it now. It’s a bit humbling.”Frank Graziano, Easton City Council candidate
He celebrated Tuesday night with his wife Kelly — they marked 21 years of marriage Monday — and supporters at the College Hill Tavern.
"I’m feeling really good about it now. It’s a bit humbling,” he said. “I feel extremely honored that the voters put their trust in me. I’m kind of processing it right now.”
Hartranft-Bittinger is in the final year of her second term on Easton Area School Board. She’s a lifelong resident of the South Side, which District 3 encompasses.
“I think that being a South Side girl, born and raised, made the difference,” said Hartranft-Bittinger, 60, who lives in the house where she grew up.
“Also, my last eight years on the Easton Area School Board, showing that I care about my community and those kids, and having all those people who supported me.
“It’s just a beautiful thing, it really is. I’m so excited.”
She also gathered with supporters as results came in at College Hill Tavern.
No Republicans ran on the Republican ticket in the primary for District 1 or District 3, which means Graziano and Hartranft-Bittinger are all but assured winning election in the fall.
According to incomplete county returns, each garnered 60% of the vote over their opponents.
There will be a race in November for Easton’s District 2 council seat. That is open because Councilman Jim Edinger is not seeking re-election.
While the primary was not contested, Democrat Julie Zando-Dennis will face Republican Sharbel Koorie in the general election in District 2, which represents much of the West Ward.
Northampton County’s unofficial election results will not include write-in candidates’ totals until the canvass is complete.
Election results are considered official only after they are certified by the Northampton County Election Commission during a public meeting on June 3.
