PA: Bucks commissioner candidates spar ahead of election season as county government at stake
When the Bucks County Salary Board and Sheriff Fred Harran decided to provide Central Bucks West High School with a school resource officer last week, it was a moment of agreement for both Democratic and Republican officials in the county.
But the decision wasn't without political overtones with this year's election season fast approaching and all four candidates for county commissioner serving on the salary board which had to approve the officer's appointment.
Interest is already brewing in this year's county election as the Democrats won the majority on the board for the first time in decades four years ago and Republicans in the county are itching to take back control before next year's presidential and Congressional election.
The salary board is comprised of the three current county commissioners, Democrats Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Republican Gene DiGirolamo, who are all seeking re-election. DiGirolamo's running mate is Republican Pamela Van Blunk, the county's elected controller, whose current position places her on the salary board with the three commissioners.
The political temperature in the room rose as Van Blunk pointed out that officers working with children both in municipalities and in school districts are needed because the number of youths in detention in Bucks has risen from 165 to 225 in the past year.
https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2023/08/14/bucks-county-commissioner-race-decide-control-county-budget-school-violence/70521636007/