Voters to elect county officials

NORRISTOWN >> Fighting to retain their seats during the Nov. 5 general election, the three incumbent Montgomery County commissioners face a challenge from a Whitpain Township Republican for the three seats up for grabs on the county board.

Democrats Val Arkoosh, of Springfield Township, and Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., of Plymouth Meeting, and Republican Joe Gale, of Plymouth, all incumbents, face a challenge from Republican Fred Conner, of Whitpain. The top three vote-getters will take the seats.

The Democrats have held the majority seats on the three-member board since 2012 when they defeated the GOP leadership for the first time in more than 100 years.

The commissioners manage the county and set policies and set real estate taxes and are elected to four-year terms. They are responsible for the preparation, adoption and execution of the annual budget, have jurisdiction over county maintained roads and bridges and the supervision of the courthouse and other county-operated facilities.

Municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. All voters in line by 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote.

Typically, the largest crowds show up at the polls before work, between 7 and 9 a.m. and after work at 5 p.m., officials said. By law, polling places must stay open to accommodate voters in line by 8 p.m., whether they’re inside or outside the polling place.

On Tuesday, voters also will cast ballots for nine county row office posts that are up for grabs.

Incumbent District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, a Democrat, also won a GOP nomination during the May primary and will also

appear on the Republican ballot. As he faces no other competition, he will easily ride to his second term.

The other county row office contests are:

• Sheriff — Incumbent Democrat Sean P. Kilkenny faces a challenge from Republican Melissa Bowers Palmer.

• Clerk of Courts — Democrat Lori Schreiber faces Republican Tracy MossCarfagno. The winner will replace current Clerk of Courts Ann Thornburg

Weiss, a Democrat, of Fort Washington, who is not seeking re-election.

• Controller — Incumbent Democrat Karen Geld Sanchez faces a challenge from Republican Stan Casacio.

• Coroner — Incumbent Democrat Michael Milbourne faces a challenge

from Republican Annamarie Scannapieco.

• Prothonotary — Democrat Noah Marlier will face off against Republican Nancy Quinn-Marsden. The winner will replace current Prothonotary Mark Levy, a Democrat, of Plymouth Meeting, who is not seeking re-election.

• Recorder of Deeds — Incumbent Democrat Jeanne Sorg faces a challenge from Republican Vicki J. Lightcap.

• Register of Wills — Incumbent Democrat D. Bruce Hanes faces a challenge from Republican John Trigg.

• Treasurer — Incumbent Democrat Jason E. Salus faces a challenge from Republican Tim Mahon.

Seven county judges also are facing retention elections for new 10-year terms. They are: Garrett D. Page; Lois Murphy; Wendy Demchick-Alloy; Patricia E. Coonahan; Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio; Gary Silow; and Kelly C. Wall.