Easton's Former Finance Director Running for Controller

Easton's former finance director, Chris Heagele, announced his candidacy for Easton Controller late yesterday afternoon. He is running for the seat currently held by Tony Bassil. Tony is giving that up to run for NorCo Controller.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend yesterday's announcement. I was on my way to a DeSales basketball doubleheader (men and women teams both won!). Heagele was kind enough to send me some information about himself.

Heagele, an Easton resident since 2002, was appointed Easton Finance Director in 2008, and served in that capacity until 2015. During his tenure, the City has had an operating surplus each year. In 2014, Lehigh Valley Business Journal named Heagele one of the Lehigh Valley Chief Financial Officers of the Year as well as Best Turnaround Specialist or his work at the City of Easton.

Heagele is currently the School Business Administrator at North Warren Regional School District in Blairstown, NJ where he is responsible for an $18 Million budget. Prior to joining the City of Easton in 2008, Mr. Heagele was a Vice-President at the Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.

Heagele also does have a very impressive education background. He's a 2001 grad of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he earned his Master of Public Policy. He's also a 1994 magna cum laude grad of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Economics with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School of Business; and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

That's highly unusual.

Heagele is also active in the Easton community as both a Scout leader and as an Elder at his church. He's an Eagle Scout himself.

He resides on College Hill with wife Donna and sons Zachariah and Alexander.

According to his statement,

"Mr. Heagele pledges to become the City watchdog in the area of fiscal responsibility. Mr. Heagele not only plans to build on the successes of the current City Controller, but also raise the exposure of the City Controller position, which is clearly important to good government, but is often underneath the radar. Mr. Heagele intends to implement a communications strategy which will elevate the position via periodic reports to City Council and periodic meetings of the Audit Committee. Easton’s future is very bright; Mr. Heagele looks forward to the opportunity to make it just a little bit brighter by providing more transparency after he is elected City Controller."

I am unaware of anyone else seeking this position.