Meet Horsham Township's New Councilwomen

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —They took their seats, one near the township manager and the other next to the township solicitor.

Democrats Ellen Zschunke and Samantha Slaff participated in their first full meeting on the Horsham Township Council on Wednesday night.

The two were sworn in at the township's Jan. 2 reorganization meeting when Horsham Township named a new council president and vice president.

Slaff was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 7 general election while Zschunke beat out Council President Mark McCouch, who served 20 years on the council, by 11 votes.

Zschunke told Patch Friday that she and Slaff have hit the ground running.

"Since being elected to Horsham Township Council, Sam and I have immersed ourselves in learning every aspect of good governance, meeting with our Township Manager, Solicitor, and Engineer to be caught up on any current projects in process and those anticipated in coming months, years, and even decades," Zschunke said. "As with any role, there is always more to learn and we are eager to do so to ensure we are doing our due diligence to represent the people of Horsham. We look forward to the opportunity to work together with our fellow council members in advocating for residents while we weigh decisions facing our township."

Zschunke, 42, a school library media specialist, said in her Patch election profile that she and Slaff hoped to bring a balance to the 3-2 Republican-led council and ensure that residents are represented, well-informed, and respected.

"In meeting with countless Horsham residents, while going door to door throughout the community, they've stated that they don’t have a voice in decisions being made that impact their day-to-day lives in our community," she said during the campaign.

Slaff, 37, who does health economics and outcomes research in the pharmaceutical industry, said in her election profile that she was campaigning for the township to have more representation than just the Republican party on the council.

"Council also appoints all seats for our 12 Boards and Commissions, of which currently 63 of 70 seats across all 12 Boards and Commissions are Republicans," Slaff said. "The township is heavily skewed and lacks the diversity and representation that reflects the makeup our wonderful community."