Haverford Twp. Leader Elected To State House: What Happens Next For The Township

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — The president of Haverford Townships's Board of Commissioners has been elected to Harrisburg. That will lead to changes in the town's governing body.

Judy Trombetta, a Democrat, defeated Republican Joe Walker by a 2-to-1 margin in the 166th district election for state representative.

In the Democratic primary, she defeated State Rep. Greg Vitali, who has held the seat since 1993. Vitali endorsed Trombetta in the General Election.

Trombetta said she and Vitali have similar political views. But she said it was time for a change in Harrisburg and claimed that Vitali had limited success in getting his legislation passed.

In a questionnaire with Patch, Trombetta said she doesn't think term limits would be the solution for Pennsylvania state legislators. But she said longevity "should never be viewed as an entitlement."

• See where Trombetta stands on the issues.

"Communities change over time, and leadership must change with them," Trombetta said. "If a legislator becomes stagnant, complacent, disconnected from constituents, or unwilling to evolve with changing circumstances, then it may be time for new leadership and fresh perspectives."

What Happens In Haverford Twp.?

Trombetta currently serves as Haverford Township's 4th Ward commissioner and president of the Board of Commissioners.

Her term as state representative will begin Dec. 1. So starting around that time, the commissioners will have 30 days to appoint a 4th ward commissioner.

A 2027 election will determine who fills the vacancy for the remainder of Trombetta's commissioner term, which runs until the end of 2029.

Every January, the Board of Commissioners elects two of its members to serve as president and vice president for the calendar year.

The board president presides over commissioner meetings. When Trombetta steps down, Board Vice President Kevin McCloskey (3rd Ward commissioner) will assume that responsibility.

By that point, it'll be December. It's unclear whether the board elect a new president to finish out the calendar year, or whether they'll just wait until the annual vote in January.

Election Results

Here are the results for the 166th district race in the State House of Representatives as of this writing:

District 166 General Election

99 percent of votes counted

• Judy Trombetta (D): 21,676 (67.5 percent)
• Joe Walker (R): 10,424 (32.5 percent)

Election results are unofficial until certified on a later date.

District 166 includes Haverford Township and part of Marple Township.