Tony Dastra Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Lancaster

A Civic-Minded Vision Rooted in Public Service and Municipal Experience

A photo of Tony Dastra wearing his iconic hat

LANCASTER, PA – Tony Dastra, a longtime civic advocate and public servant, has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Lancaster. With years of hands-on municipal experience and a deep connection to Lancaster’s neighborhoods, Dastra promises a new era of people-powered government rooted in transparency, accessibility, and common sense reform.

“I'm running for mayor because I believe Lancaster is ready for a civic-minded leader—someone who understands the full depth of how a municipality can operate and who puts public service before politics,” says Dastra. “My strength comes from the People of Lancaster that I’ve served, the People I’ve worked with, and the belief that we must run government like a government, not like a business.”

Dastra has applied himself in recent years as an employee at Lancaster Township, not only assisting the Public Works Department—getting hands on with Communications, MS4, Traffic Data, GIS Mapping, and Grant Writing, but Dastra has also aided the Township in assembling the first single-use plastic regulations in Central Pennsylvania. He has served on the Home Rule Study Commission and remains a member of the Planning Commission, having both helped to draft our City Charter, and Comprehensive Plan. A tireless advocate for infrastructure reform, public access to information, and municipal strength. His campaign platform emphasizes housing equity, ethical policing, environmental stewardship, and transportation.

“I’m not entering this race because I think I might be a better option,” says Dastra. “I’m running because I know I’m the most qualified person to lead Lancaster into its next chapter. I’ve walked these streets, listened to families, and worked hard to understand the municipal organism. I’ve made so much impact here in Lancaster City through sheer force of will and sacrifice. Imagine the magnification of that work when I serve the People in the city’s highest role; when that work becomes my job.”

Among Dastra’s bold policy ideas are establishing a civilian aid program to address community concerns and traffic control without over-reliance on armed policing or having staffing issues for crossing guards; evaluating the role of the Lancaster Parking Authority to determine if it would be better if reintegrated to City operations; and exploring tech-forward innovations like a municipal stable token to reduce transaction fees that leave the City and give residents an option to save with municipal bills, and potentially eliminate credit card fees generally in the City of Lancaster through broader adoption amongst the business community. 

Dastra, who is running as a Green Party Candidate, says his campaign will remain focused on elevating voices across Lancaster, especially in under-represented neighborhoods. “This isn’t about party lines—it’s about people. It’s about ensuring that the power of government always stays with the whole public. I’m asking the people of Lancaster City to lend me their power.”