Dante Santoni, Jr.
Commissioner
A Berks County native, Dante was born in West Reading and grew up in the South Temple part of Muhlenberg Township. His first jobs were working on the road crew for Muhlenberg Township in the summer and on his father’s mushroom farm.
Graduating from Muhlenberg High School in 1978, Dante attended Villanova University and earned a degree in Accounting. He started as the Muhlenberg Township Secretary/Finance Director soon after completing college.
His first foray into politics and government came in the 1980s when he took a role as the secretary and finance director for Muhlenberg Township. This experience propelled him into working on local political campaigns, eventually making his first run for state representative in 1992. Dante won the seat for PA’s 126th legislative district and served for 20 years.
Dante retired from state government in 2012 and worked as a lobbyist with Purple Strategies for five years. He returned to government work as a Commissioner for the PA Gaming Control Board in 2017 and ultimately to the Berks County Board of Commissioners.
"I like to serve the community and I like politics," Dante explained. “When I retired from the legislature, I didn’t have any plans to get back into the political world. But when the opportunity arose to run for Berks County Commissioner, it fell right into my wheelhouse," he said.
Dante’s wife, Sharon, is a Reading High School alumna. Dante and Sharon were married at the Capitol Rotunda at the State Capitol in Harrisburg in 1996. They have two grown daughters, Emma and Lia. Dante is a big sports fan, playing high school and college baseball and fast-pitch softball. He is also a PIAA basketball official.
Graduating from Muhlenberg High School in 1978, Dante attended Villanova University and earned a degree in Accounting. He started as the Muhlenberg Township Secretary/Finance Director soon after completing college.
His first foray into politics and government came in the 1980s when he took a role as the secretary and finance director for Muhlenberg Township. This experience propelled him into working on local political campaigns, eventually making his first run for state representative in 1992. Dante won the seat for PA’s 126th legislative district and served for 20 years.
Dante retired from state government in 2012 and worked as a lobbyist with Purple Strategies for five years. He returned to government work as a Commissioner for the PA Gaming Control Board in 2017 and ultimately to the Berks County Board of Commissioners.
"I like to serve the community and I like politics," Dante explained. “When I retired from the legislature, I didn’t have any plans to get back into the political world. But when the opportunity arose to run for Berks County Commissioner, it fell right into my wheelhouse," he said.
Dante’s wife, Sharon, is a Reading High School alumna. Dante and Sharon were married at the Capitol Rotunda at the State Capitol in Harrisburg in 1996. They have two grown daughters, Emma and Lia. Dante is a big sports fan, playing high school and college baseball and fast-pitch softball. He is also a PIAA basketball official.
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