NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — This year’s election will bring changes to Montgomery County. The three county commissioners who won the election four years ago are not on the ballot. One is not seeking re-election, another lost in the primary, and the third stepped down earlier this year.
Four candidates are vying for those three seats. It’s the first time any of them has run. Of the four, the top three vote-getters will win.
The Montgomery County board of commissioners has been under Democratic control since 2012.
Republicans Liz Ferry and Tom DiBello hope to change that, both pointing to their work to balance budgets and lower taxes, Ferry as Upper Dublin Township commissioner, Dibello on the Spring-Ford School Board.
Ferry was with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and has been the lone Republican on Upper Dublin’s seven-person board of commissioners.
“And I've been able to get things done. I've been able to pass budgets with no tax increases, and I've been able to provide innovative ways of providing services," Ferry said.
DiBello, an entrepreneur, points to his time as president of the Spring-Ford School District’s board of directors.
“We eliminated a $15 million spending deficit, reduced the district debt by over $200 million. I reduced the annual average tax increase from five and a half percent on one and 1.8%, including a 0% tax increase in 2017.”
Democrats Neil Makhija and Jamila Winder stress a message of inclusivity. Makhija worked in the U.S. Senate and the Obama White House and led a national South Asian civic organization.
“I've seen the promise of what happens when we commit to the American ideals of multiracial, inclusive democracy," Makhija said.
He points to his work on the successful opioid lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies:
“Now billions of dollars of those funds are coming back to counties like Montgomery County. So one of the challenges that we're going to face is how do we administer those programs?”
Winder was appointed to the board earlier this year to replace Val Arkoosh, who stepped down to join Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
“I've been hard at work to make our community one where everyone from our determined seniors, to our innovative small business owners is celebrated and uplifted,” Winder said.
“What you'll get in me is truly a commissioner that will fight for all residents of Montgomery County.”