Luis Campos, Administrator or Panto's New Fall Guy?

Luis Campos

When Luis Campos was confirmed as Northampton County's Director of Administration in July 2014, his salary was set at $87,838. Now, just two years later, he'll be making $108,000, about 23% more. He abruptly "resigned" on June 8 amid numerous rumors that it was either that or be fired. Though the reasons for his sudden departure appear murky, Allentown was after him to take over as Managing Director. And now, after a special meeting of Easton City Council yesterday afternoon, The Express Times reports that Campos has been unanimously confirmed as Easton's new city administrator.

He follows the footsteps of Glenn Steckman, who also abruptly resigned in January.

Steckman's resignation was the result of friction with Mayor Sal Panto. That point is driven home by comments posted at by Panto in a kooky conversation with himself at The Express Times comment board, posing under pseudonyms tom18017 and roverfan73.

Panto disguised as Tom18017: "He needs some humility like the mayor and thank everyone and share the credit. No one person turned this city around and as k remember it the mayor worked for over a year without him and many many good things happened in the first year of this administration that kept us out of bankruptcy. The first budget of this new administration that hel taxes was without him. He wasn't even in Easton. Also insiders have told me that it is. Very possible that the resignation of The finance director was due to this guy as well. Too bad heagle left although he did get a better paying position."

Panto disguised as roverfan73: "Yes this is good for Easton. I had several dealings with this guy and he was rude and nasty."

Panto disguised as Tom18017: "I know a lot of the city employees and I am sure they are celebrating tonight. My few dealings with him didn't give me s good feeling about the city or The adminstration. Given the fact that it was a unanimous decision I'd say my feelings were correct. In the article he takes a lot of credit and doesn't seem to share any of the success."

Panto disguised as roverfan73: "The Mayor doesn't get paid anything extra and the still will do both jobs like he did for all of 20018 before Steckman was hired. And I am sure he will do the Administrator's job better."

Panto disguised as roverfan73: "I found out today that one of the things he and the mayor constantly argued about was the parking meters and tickets. Seems the guy was the one that kept lacking up the price and the number of parking officers against the mayor's wishes. I'll try to get more of the reasons and what they disagreed on."

Panto disguised as roverfan73: "Now I learned that the Mayor extended an offer to all city employees to meet yesterday. Two meetings were held and my source said that the meeting was very good and the mayor was very open and honest about the situation. I learned that another bit of difference they had was that Steckman wanted to close both the South Side and College Hill fire stations and that the mayor was vehemently opposed and it was the mayor that wen to the Lafayette president to make the ask for a fire pumper. The college has committed to paying $550,000 for a new pumper. Other things were said but he would not elaborate. He said the mayor also map out goals for 2016 and priorities for the next four years. The employee said it was the best employee meeting he ever attended."

In Northampton County, Campos was the victim of a Deputy Administrator who wanted his job. In Easton, he'll have to deal with a surprisingly thin-skinned and egotistical Mayor who is just not that smart. He would later get mixed up and start posting comments as himself, even though he was still using fake names.

Oopsie!

I question whether Campos is being brought on board as Administrator or fall guy.

But Easton is a great city and Panto has done good things when he's not patting himself on the back. The 27,000-person metropolis is mired in poverty, with 22.6% at or below the poverty line. But though the per capita income is just $19,100, it is working poor. Fifty-nine per cent of the City works. The main problem and reason for crime is not those evil immigrants, but people coming to Easton and other parts of the Lehigh Valley from New York City.

Northampton County, incidentally, now has no Directors for DCED, Emergency Management  or Administration. Executive John Brown is working on his second Solicitor, third Human Resources Director and second Public Works Director.

The important EMS position has been vacant for over a year, and Brown is playing a very dangerous game in failing to fill it. The Administrator position is even more critical.