Newtown GOP Makes Municipal Election Endorsements, Declines To Weigh In On Borough Mayoral Race

The Newtown Republican Committee has made its endorsements for the upcoming election.

The endorsements were decided upon following a meeting Sunday, Feb. 26. The c

Here are the candidates selected:

• For the position of School Director in region nine of Council Rock School District, the incumbent Director, Kyle McKessy was unanimously endorsed. Region nine consists of Wrightstown Township and 2 voting districts of Newtown Township.
• In Newtown Borough, incumbent Chris Gusty was selected for Council, Ward 2 and incumbent Judy Musto was endorsed for tax collector.
• Also in Newtown Borough, two candidates for mayor were screened: incumbent Charles “Corky” Swartz and Bernie Sauer. The committee did not endorse in the mayoral race.
• In Newtown Township, incumbent Tax Collector Tammy Sutton and incumbent Auditor Alexandra Gallagher screened for their current positions. They were both endorsed unanimously.
• In the race for Newtown Township Supervisor, there are three seats up for election in 2017. The vacancy left by Mike Gallagher when he became Bucks County Controller has been filled by Gerry Couch, and that seat is up for a two-year term. The seat was originally scheduled to expire in 2019, but Pennsylvania law requires it to be on the next municipal election. Also on the ballot in 2017 are the two seats currently held by Ryan Gallagher and Phil Calabro. Couch screened for the two-year position. Jerry Festa, an executive with Teletronics Technology Corporation in Newtown, was also screened, citing his planning commission experience. Laure Gensbauer cited her lifelong residency and love for Newtown, as well as her managerial, small business, and planning experience. All three were endorsed by the committee unanimously.