Fred L. Ashton Jr. was elected to the Easton city council from 1963 to 1967. displacing a large number of businesses operated by the
Lebanese American and
Syrian American communities. Numerous historic buildings, including older colonial and pre-revolutionary structures were demolished and replaced by a
fast food restaurant,
movie theater,
hotel, and
gas station, which were constructed on the site. Years later, during a 1987 mayoral election campaign, Ashton defended his decision to tear down the historic buildings, arguing that the neighborhood had been blighted and, in his opinion, could not have been restored. Ashton lost his bid for a third term in November 1975 and left office in January 1976. He was succeeded by Mayor
Henry J. Schultz. He ran again for mayor in 1983, but lost that election. (Incumbent Republican Mayor
Phil Mitman won re-election). Ashton announced his candidacy for mayor again in 1987, but dropped out of the race due to a conflict with his business schedule. In total, Fred Ashton ran for mayor during five different elections: 1967, 1971, 1975, 1985, and 1988. Ashton lived in
Seaside Heights, New Jersey, after leaving local politics. He and his wife were licensed brokers at Crossroads Realty in
Lavallette, New Jersey, before his retirement. ==Death==