Meet the New Commish

The Abington Board of Commissioners at a special meeting last night elected a commissioner to replace .

The Board elected Thomas John Farren Sr., a Louise Road resident, by a vote of 9-5. 

There were two nominations for DiJoseph’s replacement: Commissioner Dennis Zappone nominated Farren and commissioner John Spiegelman nominated Joe Smith. The vote went to Farren first, and he got the majority. The vote went down party lines with all of the Republicans supporting Farren.

District Justice Juanita Price swore in the new commissioner, who stood with his wife and children, and then Farren quickly got to work, sitting in on the public works and code enforcement committee meetings. Farren is a now a member of the public safety and public works committees. 

Farren, who has never held public office, said after the meeting that he reached out to DiJoseph when he heard that she was stepping down. A member of the Glenside Gardens Civic Association, Farren said that he wanted to get more involved with the community. He had a meet-and-greet with the Abington Township Rockledge Borough Republican Organization, was interviewed and ultimately got the nod.

Farren has an MA from LaSalle University in bilingual and bicultural studies and attended St. Joseph’s Prep High School — where he is now a Spanish teacher. 

After the meeting, board president Peggy Myers and township manager Michael LeFevre said jokingly that it was a tough first meeting for Farren, as the meeting lasted almost four hours. 

"I told him usually we're out of here by 9:30 or 10 o'clock!" Myers said.