Completely New Montco Board Of Commissioners Set To Take Office

NORRISTOWN, PA — The new cadre of Montgomery County Commissioners will be officially sworn in to their new positions at a special ceremony early next year.

The swearing-in for incumbent Democrat Jamila Winder, as well as Neil Makhija, and Thomas DiBello, will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 11 a.m.

Officials will gather at Montgomery County Community College's Science Center Theater in Blue Bell for the event. The county's various row officers will also be sworn in during the event.

The ceremony will mark an entirely new board from a year ago, and the beginning of a new chapter in Montgomery County politics.

Winds of change came with Gov. Josh Shapiro's appointment of former chair Val Arkoosh to secretary of the state Department of Human Services. Arkoosh was replaced by a temporary appointment for 2023, Jamila Winder, the former chair of the East Norriton Township Board of Supervisors.

Shortly thereafter, the board's other long-serving Democrat, Ken Lawrence, announced his retirement.

Meanwhile on the Republican side, Joe Gale, the MAGA-style Republican who has been as vociferous in his frustrations with his county GOP establishment as with those on the left, will not appear on the general election ballot for the first time in six years. He was finally defeated by a party establishment that had rejected him from the beginning of his career back during this spring's primaries.

Winder and Makhija won the two Democratic seats by a huge margin, with Limerick Township Supervisor DiBello sneaking by Upper Dublin Commissioner Liz Ferry for the final spot.

The Science Center is at 1313 Morris Road in Blue Bell. The event is open to the public and free registration is available online.