Delaware County Council Swears In First Democrats In Decades​

MEDIA, PA – The Delaware County Council swore in its first Democratic council members in more than 30 years, as well as newly elected officials in various county positions, on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Newly-elected Democratic council members Brian P. Zidek and Kevin M. Madden – along with the newly elected Delaware County Sheriff Jerry L. Sanders, Jr., Register of Wills Mary J. Walk, and Controller Joanne Phillips – were sworn in to their terms at an induction ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media.

Zidek and Madden are the first Democrats to win seats on the council since 1980.

President Judge Kevin F. Kelly presided over the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the council held its reorganization meeting where Chairman John P. McBlain was elected as Chairman and Vice Chairman Colleen P. Morrone was reelected to her position. Marianne Grace was reappointed executive director for another two-year term.

At the Induction Ceremony, Porter was administered the Oath of Office by United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Luis F. Restrepo; his introduction was by his wife, Katherine Zidek; the presentation of the Certificate of Election was done by daughter Caroline Zidek, and the Bible was held by his children Milo and Audrey Zidek.

Madden was administered the Oath of Office by Court of Common Pleas Judge Nathaniel C. Nichols. His introduction was by his mother-in-law, Cynthia O. Knudson; the presentation of the Certificate of Election was done by his niece, Lucy H. Knudson; and the Bible was held by his wife, Katherine L. Parkhill.

Sanders was administered the Oath of Office by the Court of the Philadelphia County Common Pleas Orphans Court Division Administrate Judge Matthew D. Carrafiello. His introduction was by daughter Janeen N. Sanders; the presentation of the Certificate of Election was done by his daughter, Jasmine C. Sanders; and the Bible was held by his son, Jerry L. Sanders, III.

Walk was administered the Oath of Office by President Judge Kevin F. Kelly. Her introduction was by her husband, R. David Walk, Jr., Esq.; the presentation of the Certificate of Election was done by Robert W. Scott, Esq.; and the Bible was held by her children, Elizabeth L. Walk, and Richard D. Walk, III.

Phillips was administered the Oath of Office by Judges of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania Maria McLaughlin. Her introduction was by Michael Sklaroff, Esq.; the presentation of the Certificate of Election was done by Christine A. Reuther, Esq.; and the Bible was held by her husband, Wade Z. Phillips.

For the Induction Ceremony, the invocation was given by Dr. James R. Hallam, retired Pastor of Valley Forge United Methodist Church and the benediction was given by Pastor Curtis Morris of Bethany Baptist Church in Chester.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sgt. Bradford Bitting of the United States Army, and the National Anthem was sung by Tom Geiger of Upper Darby High School.

An induction ceremony for two judges retained on the Court of Common Pleas, Judge George A. Pagano, Mary Alice Brennan and newly elected Judge John J. Whelan will be held Jan. 3.

Image via Delaware County