Politics & Government
Ex-State Rep. Stephens Resurfaces As Hatboro-Horsham Judge
The longtime legislator lost last November's election. He was unopposed in Tuesday's election to serve as judge for Hatboro and Horsham.
HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Longtime legislator Todd Stephens is resurfacing for the next chapter of his political career: Judge.
Stephens —a Republican who lost his re-election bid last November to Democratic newcomer Melissa Cerrato —ran unopposed in Tuesday's general election as magisterial district justice representing the upcoming combined court of Hatboro and Horsham Township.
Stephens has not commented on his new career path and did not face any opposition in the May 16 primary election. He did not return several requests to comment from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Stephens lives in Horsham Township and served for 12 years as state representative for the 151st Legislative District.
Horsham Township officials recognized Stephens for his contributions with a proclamation at the end of the year.
Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Stephens was instrumental during the PFAS contamination development and within the Military Installation Remediation and Infrastructure Authority (MIRIA), an authority formed under Act 101 of 2019, township officials said.
The former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove is one of three former and active military bases that in 2016 showed extremely high levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
Stephens also assisted with funding for the Miracle Field of Horsham and the Horsham Soccer Association's Turf field.
The judgeship became available with the upcoming retirement of Hatboro Magisterial District Justice Paul Leo and the term expiration of Horsham Township Magisterial District Justice Harry J. Nesbitt at the end of the year.
Montgomery County has also decided to consolidate the two courts, eliminating Hatboro as part of a county magisterial district realignment.
The plan states that Montgomery County has 30 Magisterial Districts while others such as Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Lancaster counties average 21 districts.
The plan calls for boundary realignment of 12 districts while 17 others remain the same with one the Hatboro court being eliminated.
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