- The district attorney races in both Lehigh and Northampton counties weren't contested this fall
- Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., seeking a seventh term, also had no competition
- Uncontested candidates are all but assured victory heading in to Election Day
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Not everyone on the ballot Tuesday was settling in for a long night of tracking results. Some candidates knew heading into Election Day that they were virtual shoe-ins for victory.
As the polls closed across Pennsylvania at 8 p.m., there was little suspense as the outcome in some specific Lehigh Valley races.
Several of the county and municipal races in Lehigh and Northampton counties were uncontested. Among them were the two district attorney candidates in each county.
District attorneys
Gavin Holihan, currently the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County, was all by himself on the ballot in the race for district attorney.
He entered the race as the only Republican and won the open Democratic primary in May, too.
Holihan likely will replace longtime district attorney Jim Martin — he’s been DA for 25 years — when Martin’s current term expires at the end of the year.
Stephen Baratta is in line to be Northampton County’s new district attorney. He defeated incumbent Terry Houck in the Democratic primary in the spring.
Houck, a former longtime assistant DA who is wrapping up his first term leading the office, mounted a successful effort to get on the ballot as a Republican this fall.
But he ultimately decided in August to drop out of the race. As a result, Baratta, a former first assistant district attorney and county judge, should cruise to victory Tuesday night and take office in January.
Easton
Easton was another place where the drama of Election Night was over long ago.
Longtime Mayor Sal Panto Jr. was on the ballot Tuesday but faced no Republican challenger. That means he’ll begin his unprecedented seventh term as mayor in 2024, barring anything shocking.
Easton City Council races also were uncontested Tuesday. Voters had three choices on the ballot for three seats, all Democrats: incumbent Ken Brown, Crystal Rose and Frank Pintabone.
Allentown
The same is true for Allentown, another Democratic stronghold.
Just three candidates were on the ballot in the region’s biggest city for three open council seats, all incumbent Democrats: Ce Ce Gerlach, Candida Affa and Santo Napoli.
