Party Lines Keep Radnor's Ward 7 Seat Vacant

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – Party lines prevented the Radnor Board of Commissioners from appointing a resident to fill the empty Ward 7 seat, as the board split its votes for two potential appointees at Monday's meeting.

Weeks ago, the board put out a call for residents to submit applications to fill in the seat vacated by Phil Ahr, who is facing child pornography related charges and subsequently resigned his role as the board president and later as the Ward 7 representative entirely.

Monday's meeting potentially included the appointment of an interim commissioner, but with the board split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, no applicant earned a majority of votes.

>>>RELATED: Radnor Township Commissioner Charged With Child Porn Possession: DA

Four residents who applied to the seat spoke to the board, making case as to why they should be appointed in short interviews with the board. Those residents were Jane Galli, Alex Yannopoulos, Scott Simon, Sean Farhy. A fifth potential appointed, Jonathan Heckscher, was not present and will be interviews Dec. 11.

Commissioner Don Curley nominated Galli, then Commissioner John Nagle nominated Sean Farhy for the seat.

All Republican board members voted for Galli, while all Democrats voted for Farhy, thus putting off the appointment to a later date.

>>>RELATED: Ahr Resigns Radnor Board Seat, More Charges May Be Filed

The board will again hear from potential appointees at the Dec. 11 meeting and vote on a replacement.

Residents interested in filling the empty seat are still able to submit their names for consideration. Those who have submitted and plant to submit applications will have a chance to stand before the board at the Dec. 11 to make a case for themselves.

RELATED: Radnor Commissioner Mentored Kids Before Child Porn Charges

Anyone who wants to be considered for the interim commissioner role should send in a letter of interest to Radnor Township Manager Robert Zienkowski at the Radnor Township Building, 301 Iven Ave., Wayne, PA 19087.

Interested Ward residents need to have lived in Ward 7 and have been a registered voter for one year.

Acting board president Elaine Schaefer said by Dec. 6, the township will have established its vacancy board, giving the board a seventh vote in appointing a replacement.

You can watch the Ward 7 appointee discussion, interviews, and voting online here.

See more Patch coverage of the Phil Ahr scandal below:

Radnor Commissioners Fail To Elect New President After Ahr Resigns

Radnor Twp. Board President Steps Down In Wake Of Child Porn Charges

Radnor Commissioner's Child Porn Hearing Pushed Back

Commissioner Phil Ahr Under Investigation: Radnor Township

Image via Radnor Township