County official enters commissioners’ race
Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier has announced his candidacy for Montgomery County commissioner.
The announcement came by way of a statement released by the Friends of Noah Marlier. The primary election is scheduled for May 16.
Marlier has served his current role since he was first elected in 2019. The Democratic candidate is joining a race to fill two seats up for grabs on the three-member board.
The spaces were made vacant following the departure of former Chairwoman Val Arkoosh, who resigned from her post in January to serve as human services secretary in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration. Current Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. also announced earlier this year he wouldn’t seek reelection.
Marlier’s name was included among the 22 applicants vying for an appointment to complete the remainder of Arkoosh’s term. Jamila Winder was selected by county judges to fill that vacancy.
Previously expressing her intentions to run for county commissioner, she was endorsed by Montgomery County Democratic
Committee members. Nominations were also proposed at the Feb. 16 convention for state Rep. Tim Briggs, D-149th Dist., and Penn Valley resident Neil Makhija. Ultimately, the endorsement resulted in an open primary decision.
“I have always been driven by a desire to serve and, specifically, to serve the county I was raised in,” Marlier said in a statement. “I am committed to a more effective and efficient government that works for all of the residents of Montgomery County including the most vulnerable in our community.”
As prothonotary, Marlier’s public service responsibilities included working “with domestic violence prevention groups in the county to make it easier for survivors to receive protection from abuse orders,” as well as collaborating with “the courts and the county to open an office to allow people to file eviction appeals” and partnering with “LGBTQ+ advocates to streamline the name change process,” according to a campaign spokesperson.
Marlier previously served as a Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney and provided legal counsel to several municipalities. Born in Jenkintown, Marlier, his wife, Lindsay and two sons now reside in Springfield.