There were a lot of smiles at Madeleine Dean’s house following the close of the polls.
The Abington Democrats gathered at the home of Dean. There, they learned that the Democrats picked up a seat on the Abington Board of Commissioners; the Republicans still control the board by an 8-7 margin.
Dean won her election for Ward 7, defeating Republican Matthew Willis.
Abington Commissioner Steven Kline, who defeated his opponent James Reeves, said he hoped the Democrats would pick up the majority, but added that he was looking forward to working with everyone on the board.
On the 8-7 Republican-Democrat split on the board of commissioners, Kline said, “It’s a tighter spread. I hope things change for the better.”
Kline said he’d like to see an anti-discrimination ordinance pass, and he said the new board will work to keep the “township fiscal house in order.”
Abington Rockledge Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Barbiero said Josh Shapiro stumping in the area helped the Abington Democrats.
Abington Board of Commissioners President Carol DiJoseph said earlier in the evening: “I think it’s hard to speak on losing a seat [but] the residents spoke and this is why we have elections … We’ll welcome the new members aboard and we'll carve out a working relationship with everyone, and I’m sure the new members will be eager to learn.”
Unofficial results from the Montgomery County website:
Race CandidateVotes Percent Ward 1
(R) James Reeves 442
31.30
(D) Steven Kline
970
68.70 Ward 3
(R) Richard Gaglianese 802
59.85
(D) John Swanson
538
40.15 Ward 5
(R) n/a
n/a
(D) Wayne Luker
796 100 Ward 7
(R) Matthew Willis 431
35.30
(D) Madeleine Dean
790
64.70 Ward 9
(R) Dennis Zappone
572
56.13
(D) Dan MacLauchlan 447 43.87 Ward 11
(R) Diane Misko
407
36.54
(D) John Spiegelman 707
63.46 Ward 13 (R) Carol Gillespie 659 57.01 (D) Ralph Giguere 497 42.99 Ward 15 (R) Matthew Brigidi 419 46.56 (D) Thomas Bowman 481 53.44
