Democrats score big in elections

NORRISTOWN»It was an unexpectedly good election year for Democrats in Montgomery County.

“Montgomery county Democrats certainly did very in the 2017 election, and we won in areas that we never would have anticipated winning,” said Joe Foster, Chairman of Montgomery County Democratic Committee. “In some areas, Democrats turned out where they traditionally have not voted in these kinds of elections. So that was significant too. Normally, we get 18 to 22 percent

turnout for these elections, but we had on average 31 or 32 percent turnout, and some areas were 44 and 45 percent. All in all this was an astonishingly good year for the Democratic Party in the county, as it was throughout most of the state, as it was throughout most of the nation. Its part of the bigger picture, and there are some amazing stories within the larger scope of things.”

A sampling of area Democratic victories includes the Bridgeport Borough triumph of Democrat Mark Barbe, elected as the next mayor by a majority of more than 50 percent over two opponents. In council races, Democrats Beth Jacksier (Ward 1), and incumbent Tony Heyl (Ward 3) also proved to be victorious. Democratic candidate Kyle Shenk edged out at-large council member Nicole Pierce for a two-year term, while council member William Lawless and tax collector Doris Frymoyer ran unopposed.

In East Norriton, Democratic Supervisor Kevin McDevitt received nearly 61 percent of the vote to extend his tenure another four years, while Democratic candidate Joseph Gavanus earned a twoyear term as supervisor.

Democratic primary winner Ashley DiPiero was also re-elected to the board of supervisors and will serve with Democratic newcomer Amanda Cappeletti. The pair edged out Republicans Ken Chistovich — a former candidate for Norristown Area School Board — and Barry Papiernik in a tight fourway contest that saw a difference of less than 9 percentage points between the top and bottom vote getters.

Also in East Norriton, Democratic primary winner Kate Gillen unseated current tax collector Ken Lahner, and Steven Goldblatt rode the Democratic wave to prevail in the race for auditor.

“We flipped (took control) of five councils …. Collegeville, West Norriton, Hatboro, Upper Moreland, which was a terrific win. Those places, in retrospect I suppose all were for the taking but I also feel the (tide) was with us,” Foster said. “We flipped North Penn School Board, and several mayor seats. We took three out of four council seats in Conshohocken, so that was a nice surprise. District judges is another area where we did really well, in East Norriton, Whitpain, Limerick, and it’s very difficult to defeat district judges.”

In the race for District Judge in the region that covers East and West Norriton, Democrat Marc A. Alfarano, an East Norriton Township supervisor, edged out Republican primary winner and Montgomery County Detective Michael Altieri. Alfarano will be taking over for departing District Judge Ester J. Casillo.

“The Democratic sweeps of school boards was pretty amazing,” Foster said.

In the Norristown Area School District, where seven candidates competed for four open seats on the school board, Democratic primary winners Shae Ashe, Jamila Winder, incumbent Matt Rivera and board President Turea Hutson ran as a slate against Republican primary finalists Kathleen Bello, John C. Holland and John Maxey, who ran as a Democrat but won enough votes through cross-filing to appear on the Republican ballot in the general election. The Democratic team of Hutson, Rivera, Ashe and Winder were the top for vote getters in each of the district’s townships.

In Methacton, eight candidates competed for four seats on the school board. Republicans Candy Allebach, Karen S. Vavra and incumbents Herb Rothe III and Brenda Hackett were ultimately defeated by Democrats Liz Drummond, Mary Hull, Ralph Navarrete and Jennifer Cancro, a Republican who was one of the top four vote getters in the Democratic primary and ran on a slate with the Democrats.

“The mood of the nation is certainly reflective of what we saw in Montgomery County,” Foster said. “I think there was a definite message to be had.”