Radnor deadlocks 3-3 twice on 7th Ward interim commissioner

RADNOR » The Radnor Board of Commissioners failed Monday to appoint a new interim commissioner for the 7th Ward after deadlocking 3-3 twice.

The seat is open because Phil Ahr, the previous commissioner, who had been board president, stepped down in the wake of charges of child pornography possession and distribution. A preliminary hearing for Ahr was set for Thursday.

The board interviewed four candidates: Scott Simon, Alex Yannopoulos, Jane Galli and Sean Farhy. The Republicans favored Galli, a Republican who had garnered 47 percent of the vote when she ran against Ahr in 2015 and serves on the township Villanova CARE committee, and the Democrats preferred Sean Farhy. Board President Elaine Schaefer said Farhy was not involved in politics and has “a very good temperament.” Commissioner John Nagle said several people in the community had recommended Farhy to him. Commissioner James Higgins agreed that he preferred a “nonpartisan” candidate.

The board is expected to try again to appoint a 7th Ward commissioner at its Dec. 11 meeting, with a tie breaker from a member of the vacancy board present. Radnor Township voters will then select a commissioner in May 2018. Another applicant, Jonathan Heckscher, is expected to be interviewed at the Dec. 11 meeting.

During public comment, resident Leslie Morgan said that she would like to see another woman on the board and that Galli was very well qualified and support” in a 2-1 Democrat.

Daniel Sherry Jr. said that Galli is “engaged and up to speed on the issues.” He also took a swipe at Higgins’ remark regarding partisanship as a reason to not vote for Galli, recounting a comment Higgins made previously, “‘to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy,’ … when the Republicans on the board had the audacity to concern a Republican for the interim 3rd Ward commissioner.” That was the seat left by former Commissioner William Spingler, who retired. A jury later has “tons ward that of is found Spingler guilty of groping a 103-year-old woman.

“It’s hubris for somebody like Jim Higgins to ask questions of candidates and give speeches about partisanship,” said Sherry, who also complained about additional time requested by township Solicitor John Rice to complete his investigation into who leaked a confidential document from an Ethics Board investigation.

Kelly Martin, another resident, said about Galli, “I don’t understand how three people could oppose her. I’ve known her for 40 years. She obviously got 47 percent of

the vote in Ward 7. She’s very capable and qualified,” although the other candidates were also well qualified for the six-month position. “If you put the two up again, Phil Ahr and Jane Galli, you might get 101 percent voting for Jane.” Martin then raised the issue of the board’s 3-3 partisan vote on Oct. 9 to remove Ahr as board president. She said she didn’t understand what Schaefer meant when Schaefer told her that the board knew only “rumors” before that partisan-line vote that kept Ahr, who was criminally charged two days later, as president.

“I’m extremely disappointed tonight that we still don’t have representation,” Martin said.