Two Easton City Council seats have Democratic primary battles Tuesday, while candidates for a third position are unopposed.
In District 1, Frank Graziano III, a member of the city planning commission, and incumbent Roger Ruggles will face off. The district includes Easton’s Fourth Ward, College Hill and downtown.
In District 3, Taiba Sultana, who is seeking reelection to a second four-year term, faces a challenge from Easton Area School Board member Susan Hartranft-Bittinger for the seat that covers Easton’s Southside.
District 2, which covers most of the West Ward, has a vacancy because Councilman Jim Edinger is not running for reelection. There is no primary contest, however, as Democrat Julie Zando-Dennis and Republican Sharbel Koorie are unopposed and likely will face each other in November.
City council has seven elected members: Mayor Sal Panto Jr., and at-large members Ken Brown, Frank Pintabone and Crystal Rose, who are not up for reelection this year.
DISTRICT 1
Frank Graziano III
Frank Graziano, whose family has lived in Easton for six generations, has worked at Palmer Township’s Tower Products, a company specializing in print pressroom chemicals, for 18 years.
Graziano currently lives in the West Ward, but said he has also lived downtown and on the Southside. He and his wife raised three children in Easton, all of whom now have military ties.
In addition to his time on the planning commission, Graziano is a part of Easton Block Watch, the Clean and Safe Committee, and the West Ward Holiday Committee. He has also served on the Steering Committee for the West Ward Neighborhood Plan and volunteers with the Greater Easton Development Partnership and community clean-ups.
“I’m running for City Council because I believe in the power of community and the importance of fresh perspectives,” he said. “Together, we can build a brighter, more inclusive future for Easton.”
Graziano lists his priorities as transparent governance, affordable housing, enhancing community spaces, and supporting small business.
“Residents deserve full transparency into how city decisions are made,” he said. “If elected, I will push for live-streaming of all public meetings, including zoning board and planning commission sessions. I’ll also host regular neighborhood-based listening sessions and advocate for earlier and broader public notice about major developments, ensuring residents can weigh in before decisions are finalized.”
Graziano stated that affordable housing is a growing challenge across the country, “and Easton is no exception. I’m committed to advancing policies that ensure new housing is genuinely affordable, using benchmarks that reflect Easton’s actual income levels, not just regional averages.”
He supports Easton Redevelopment Authority’s work to build affordable, ADA-accessible homes on vacant lots, creating pathways to housing stability. He would advocate for deeper collaboration with community organizations turning underutilized properties into affordable rental and for-sale homes.
He believes parks and public spaces are essential. “I will continue to support the revitalization of pocket parks until every one is a clean, safe, and welcoming space.”
Graziano would also support expanding the city’s bike lane network to promote safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation.
“Investing in cycling infrastructure encourages healthy living and connects communities throughout the city,” he said.
Equally important is the creation of inclusive spaces for adults and seniors, Graziano said. “By investing in community areas that foster recreation, connection, and well-being at every age, we strengthen the social fabric of Easton.”
He refers to Easton’s small businesses as the “backbone of our local economy” and “a big reason our city is thriving.”
“I’ll advocate for initiatives that provide hands-on support, such as marketing guidance and financial planning resources,” he said. “I also support connecting entrepreneurs with established organizations like the Easton Business Association and the Greater Easton Development Partnership, which offer vital tools, mentorship, and networking opportunities.”
Roger Ruggles
Roger Ruggles, a retired Lafayette College engineering professor who has served on Easton Council since 2008, lives on College Hill.
Ruggles made a run for Congress in 2018 receiving 5% of the primary vote against Susan Wild.
He received his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in engineering from Clarkson University. Ruggles could not be reached for comment.
DISTRICT 3
Taiba Sultana
District 3 council incumbent Taiba Sultana, who joined council in 2022, worked as a substitute teacher before running for public office. She has also owned and administered a small business and restaurant in Phillipsburg, N.J.
She challenged state Rep. Robert Freeman for his seat in the state House last year. She lost the primary with 22.5% of the vote.
Last year, a Northampton County judge placed Sultana on probation through the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program after being charged with harassment and simple assault in a domestic incident at her home in 2023. Her record was cleared after completing her probationary program.
Sultana studied at Northampton Community College (political science) and then East Stroudsburg University (pre-law).
Sultana was born in Pakistan but emigrated to the United States as a teen. She has lived in Easton since 2010 and raised her children here.
She said has experienced homelessness for nine months after escaping an abusive relationship and lived in public housing for three years.
“Easton welcomed my family and provided us a home to rebuild our lives,” she said.
Sultana has served on the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and is vice chair of HOME, a nonprofit formed in 2024 to create affordable housing opportunities in Easton. She has also participated in the county and local Democratic committees.
She lists several community efforts that she has been involved in: a giveaway of new shoes for children and adults, a backpack distribution, and monthly hot meal service.
In her press release, Sultana talked about initiatives she introduced in her first term as a “steadfast advocate for social justice and community well-being.”
She introduced a policy granting six weeks of paid parental leave and five days of bereavement leave for city employees and two resolutions that passed unanimously dealing with personal rights – one against the Supreme Court’s decision upending Roe vs. Wade and another supporting LGBTQ+ community rights.
“I came to the council not to represent politicians or those in power, but to represent the residents of our wonderful city. I am proud and honored to have the support of many,” she said recently on her Facebook page.
Her original priorities during her first campaign were a better quality of life, equality, affordable housing and the unhoused, public engagement, community policing, transparency, and economic fairness.
“As I seek re-election, I am energized by the support of our community. Let's keep this energy going! We can continue to drive real change, uplift our working-class families, and create a more inclusive and equitable Easton for all,” Sultana said.
Susan Hartranft-Bittinger
Susan Hartranft-Bittinger, a current member of the Easton Area School Board, has worked in the insurance industry for 37 years. She currently works as a senior claims adjuster at Alero Group, formerly HMK Insurance.
Her professional life has prepared her for her role-s in public service, both on the school board and in a potential council seat.
“I have learned how to support people, listen generously, and navigate to find solutions,” she said. “I only want the best outcome for people, not for myself.”
She is a graduate of Easton Area High School who has lived on the Southside for all 60 years of her life.
“I and others believe that our side of town has not been represented properly and in our best interest for the last four years,” Hartranft-Bittinger said in an interview about her decision to run for council.
When approached by community leaders about challenging Sultana, she decided her school board experience gives her the skills to serve the city.
“With truth, safety, and reliable actions, I will always follow through,” she said. “I know how to help my community, so here we are, and I hope my neighbors will vote for me.”
Hartranft-Bittinger has seen too many instances where politicians don’t show up for the Southside, from community meetings about local parks to miscommunications and lack of follow-through about getting resources – like tables – for public spaces in the district. These issues delay projects and impede progress, she said.
“I promise to work tirelessly for, to enhance the lives of everyone in our Southside neighborhood,” she said. “I am here to stand up for our area and bring about positive, impactful changes that we all long to see.”
Hartranft-Bittinger lists the biggest citywide issues as affordable housing, safe streets and parks, fiscal responsibility, small business development and transparent and accessible leadership.
She would continue the push for affordable housing and look for resources to make sure the unhoused have a dry, safe space to stay.
One inexpensive way to improve safety would be to paint the corner curbs at busy intersections yellow to improve visibility. That will further restrict parking, but it would reduce accidents, she said. Also, pedestrians would be well-served by better maintenance of the crosswalk lines.
As a next step, Hartranft-Bittinger would like to find grants to pay for better lighting and security camera installation. She would also push for more police patrolling near playgrounds and known trouble spots.
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