Mayor Garry Herbert, right, congratulates William Breish after swearing him into office.
William "BJ” Breish joined Lansdale Borough Council Wednesday night as its newest Ward 1 representative.
Breish was chosen by council from among three nominees to finish out the remaining term of former councilman Steven Malagari, who has moved on to Harrisburg as the new 53rd District state representative. The seat is up for re-election this coming November.
Breish, who is director of
ReStores for Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, said afterwards he’s interested in joining the council’s Parks and Recreation Committee—no big surprise, considering Breish is the organizer of several parks cleanup days and is the founder of the volunteer
Friends of Lansdale Parks group.
Council gave each candidate an opportunity to speak earlier in the business meeting, before making its decision. Breish, who has lived in Lansdale since 2002 and been a homeowner in Ward 1 for the past 5 years, said he’s "very passionate about Lansdale and the greater community.” Breish also was a volunteer with the
Fairmount Fire Company for 10 years, and has been a member of
Lansdale’s Economic Development Committee since September.
Also nominated and addressing the board were Ward 1 residents Lauren Farmer, a professor, and Thomas York, an IT professional. All three candidates had also applied for an earlier Ward 1 vacancy on the board last summer, when councilman Jason Van Dame departed.
Bill Henning ultimately was chosen to replace Van Dame.
In the same process that took place last June, when the agenda reached the action item Wednesday, the candidates were to be voted on in the order the nominations were received. Breish was first, and split the council’s vote: Mary Fuller, Denton Burnell, Carrie Hawkins Charlton and Henning in favor, and Jack Hansen, Tom Work, Rich DiGregorio and Leon Angelichio against. Mayor Garry Herbert cast the tie-breaking vote.
Having won that vote, Breish went on immediately to a second vote on a formal resolution naming him to the vacancy, which passed unanimously. He was sworn in several minutes later—after a quick scramble to find a Bible for the ceremony.
Council members made a point of praising all the nominees. "With the three candidates that have applied," said Hansen, "we can’t make a bad choice.”
