Government & Politics
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Montco Commissioner Chair Ken Lawrence to Focus on This Key Issue for Remainder of Term
Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. plans to focus his attention on tackling homelessness for the remainder of his term. Rachel Ravina reported his decision in The Pottstown Mercury. “We’re the third largest county,” said Lawrence. “We’re the second wealthiest county. I think we can do more for the people who have the least,…
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Gov. Shapiro Did Something This Morning That Only Two of His Gubernatorial Predecessors Have Done
Early this morning, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro took action on a high-profile matter that every single former Commonwealth governor has sidestepped but two. Ryan Deto explained in Trib Live. Gov. Ed Rendell did it in 2003, the first sitting Pa. governor to do so. Gov. Tom Corbett rose to the occasion in 2012. Where was…
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Mobile IDs Could Be Coming to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians could soon get the option to use mobile IDs on their phones, writes Henry Savage for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pennsylvania State Representative Dan Miller is planning on re-introducing legislation that would allow residents to download a digitized version of their state driver’s license using a phone app. Miller introduced this bill previously but it…
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For Republicans, Figuring Out Suburbs Key to Winning Elections
Pennsylvania is rated among the swing states by pundits, with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh standing as Democratic strongholds while rural Pennsylvania is almost exclusively Republican, writes Guy Ciarrocchi for Real Clear Pennsylvania. As a result, the critical battle is being waged in Philadelphia’s suburbs, which constitute around 22 percent of the Keystone State’s registered voters and…
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First Black Female Commissioner: ‘I Haven’t Seen a Lot of People Who Look Like Me in Key Leadership Roles’
A Jan. 30 order from Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Carluccio has appointed Jamila Winder to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Andrew Seidman reported the replacement for Valerie Arkoosh in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Winder’s career move is historic; she becomes the county’s first Black, female commissioner. Propelling her self-nomination was her perceived need “……
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22 Residents Toss Hats into the Ring, Seeking to Join Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
Local Democrats — 22 of them — have submitted their names and résumés in seeking to become the newest member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Rachel Ravina reported on all the hats in the ring for The Pottstown Mercury. The hopefuls seek the slot vacated when former commissioner Valerie Arkoosh vacated her seat…
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Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order, Creating New State Office to Spur Economic Growth and Foster Innovation
Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity within the Governor’s Office and the Economic Development Strategy Group. This newly created office will be a one-stop-shop for businesses looking to grow and will work to aggressively reignite Pennsylvania’s economy — fostering innovation, supporting transformational economic development, and…
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Civil Rights Advocate from Penn Valley Could Make Montgomery County Political History
Penn Valley civil rights advocate and law professor Neil Makhija might be on the path to making Montgomery County history. Keya Vakil explained in The Keystone. As Valerie Arkoosh moved on to her next venture as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, her spot on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners has…
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Montco State Senator Currently Hosts a Very Special Constituent
State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti is set to become the first woman to give birth while serving in Harrisburg. Her distinction highlights the overall advancement locally and nationally of women in politics, as reported by Julia Terruso and Anna Orso in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Cappelletti’s daughter is due in March. Her District-17 service encompasses the Montgomery…
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Montgomery County Commissioners: Three, Down to Two; Back to Three; Back to Two; Back to Three
The current Montgomery County Board of Commissioners vacancy — created when Valerie Arkoosh joined the Shapiro administration — is heading toward being filled. Emily Rizzo, WHYY, detailed the process. Soon after the Arkoosh exit, the county court administrator’s office began taking candidate applications; this process closes Jan. 23. This much is known about Arkoosh’s replacement:…
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Upper Pottsgrove Residents Protest to Save Smola Farm
Upper Pottsgrove residents are up in arms regarding a plan to build $5.5 million municipal buildings on the former Smola Farm. On Jan. 17, a crowd of protestors spilled out of the room holding a public meeting with the township commissioners, reported Evan Brandt for The Mercury. Residents who oppose the plan say that the land…
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Montgomery County Officials, Residents Witness Gov. Shapiro Taking Oath of Office
Montgomery County officials and residents came out in droves on Tuesday to witness Governor Josh Shapiro take the oath of office in Harrisburg, reported Rachel Ravina for The Reporter. This was not surprising, considering Shapiro’s deep roots in Montgomery County. He grew up in Dresher and will depart for the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg from…
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Gov. Josh Shapiro Takes Oath on ‘Hershman Bible,’ WWII Artifact from His Elkins Park Synagogue
Gov. Josh Shapiro took his oath of office today, becoming the commonwealth’s 48th governor. The swearing-in ceremony included the use of a historic Bible with a long-ago connection to Shapiro’s hometown place of worship, Beth Shalom Synagogue, Elkins Park. The book on which Shapiro laid his right hand is an American Jewish artifact from Philadelphia’s…
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Ken Lawrence, Jr., Departing Montgomery County Board of Commissioners: ‘Four More Years Is Too Long’
Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence, Jr., has announced he will not seek another term. Kevin Tierney carried the news of his decision in More Than the Curve. Lawrence’s withdrawal comes just days after fellow commissioner Valerie Arkoosh was chosen by Gov.-Elect Josh Shapiro to serve in his Harrisburg administration. Lawrence, a Plymouth Meeting resident, issued…
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On the Cusp of Montco-Raised Josh Shapiro’s Inauguration, Local Former Colleagues Share Memories
As the Jan. 17 gubernatorial inauguration of Abington’s Josh Shapiro approaches, former colleagues — who knew him personally and professionally — send him to Harrisburg with fond memories. Rachel Ravina collected their assessment of the next governor in the Reading Eagle. One of Shapiro’s deepest local connections is with Marcel Groen, chair of the Montgomery…
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Gov-Elect Shapiro Taps Former Colleague Valerie Arkoosh to Head Department of Human Services
Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners since 2016, has been picked by Governor-elect Josh Shapiro to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Abraham Gutman covered her upcoming new role in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Arkoosh and Shapiro have been collaborators since his service as a Montgomery County Commissioner. She was selected…
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Former Philadelphia Election Official, Republican Al Schmidt, Shapiro’s Nominee for Secretary of State
Former Republican Philadelphia election official Al Schmidt will be nominated by Governor-elect Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania’s secretary of state position, according to a staff report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The nomination is setting Schmidt up to oversee the 2024 election which is expected to be a hard-fought one in the critical presidential battleground state. Schmidt…
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Ambler Savings Bank President, CEO Roger Zacharia Named to Governor-Elect Shapiro’s Transition Advisory Committee
The Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers (PACB) congratulates Roger Zacharia, President and CEO of Ambler Savings Bank, on his appointment by Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro to the Transition Advisory Committee for Consumer Protection. Zacharia is the immediate past chair of the PACB. Governor-Elect Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Davis have assembled a diverse and experienced team of…
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