Dan Pastore: Erie lawyer, businessman
Dan Pastore grew up working in his family's construction business, became a lawyer and went on to run a national online fishing tackle business and retail shop near Erie's vaunted steelhead alley.
His next challenge is seeking the Democratic party nomination to run in this year's election against U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, to represent the 16th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district contains all of Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and part of Butler County.
This is his first time seeking an elected public office, but he has served as an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission representing District 1, which includes Butler, Clarion, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, Erie, Forest and Warren counties, since 2019. Commission appointments are made by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
“I've really been a student. I've been following federal politics for decades. I've been growing concerned over polarization and division in Washington and the region after watching the events of Jan. 6 of last year, and our current representative's attack on our electoral system, including the lawsuit he brought personally to disenfranchise his own constituents.“The objective of the suit was to throw out all votes and have legislators select the president. That was concerning to me. As an American, I was concerned about that approach. I felt compelled to get off the sidelines and get involved. I think I can bring a much more bipartisan, inclusive approach to representation in our district,” Pastore said.Kelly was among the representatives who voted against certification of the 2020 presidential election. Certification of the election results that put President Joe Biden in office were disrupted Jan. 6, 2021, by the riot at the Capitol. The results were certified later. He also filed a state lawsuit to have 2.5 million mail-in ballots thrown out, arguing that the state legislature did not have the authority to expand mail-in voting.
If elected, the 62-year-old said he would focus his attention on retaining existing jobs, developing jobs in new and emerging industries in the region, providing access to health care, being available to constituents and providing education opportunities in trade schools, colleges and community colleges.“I want to focus on issues that are not partisan and that benefit everyone in our region,” Pastore said. “I've owned and created businesses, so I understand the impact government regulations have on businesses and workers. I bring a diverse range of experience from working in construction to being a lawyer, job creator and entrepreneur.”Pastore Builders, founded in the 1950s by his late father and uncles in Erie, was one of largest contractors and property owners in Erie, he said. Pastore said he worked for the company while he attended college. The business closed three years ago, he added.After law school, he said worked for a law firm in Erie practicing mostly civil litigation in state and federal courts. He said he also represented a wide variety of clients and served as solicitor for several municipal entities.In 1994, Pastore said he and three others started Erie.net, the first internet provider in Erie, in a “tiny” building.Six years later, he and his brother started FishUSA as an online tackle business.“It was one of the first e-commerce businesses in Pennsylvania. We started in my garage literally. I did that and worked as a lawyer until 10 years ago. FishUSA got too big to do both at same time, so I winded down the law practice and I've been doing this full-time ever since,” he said.The business, which now includes a retail store, employs more than 60 people, he said. The business is located in Fairview, about a mile from Lake Erie and its tributary streams, which are destinations for steelhead fishing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the staff has been working remotely, including some who live in Pittsburgh, he said.He said he has been married to his wife, who is also from Erie, for 35 years. They have two grown children and a grandchild.
