Primary quiet, but not silent: Key races stir the pot in North Penn politics

The May Primary looks to be smooth sailing for many of the candidates in various municipal and school board races in the North Penn School District area.

However, three municipalities – Lansdale Borough and Towamencin and Montgomery townships – will see Republicans and Democrats vying against one another for a shot on the ballot and a chance at a victory over a challenger (or challengers) in the General Election come November.

Since Pennsylvania holds closed primaries, only Democrats can vote for other Democrats and Republicans can only vote for other Republicans. Registered Independents, Nonpartisan, et cetera do not vote in the Primary.

NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT

There are four opens seats available this year, with each carrying a 4-year at-large term. The top four vote-getters of each registered party will move on to the General Election.

Candidates are allowed to cross-file in school board elections.

The Democratic North Penn Neighbors for Progress consists of incumbent Director Al Roesch, and running mates Christine Coyne, Koh Chiba and Ken Keiser. All four candidates crossfiled in the election.

    (Credit: North Penn Neighbors for Progress)
  

Republican challengers have returned as North Penn United: Michael Jowder, Thomas Moyer, Jeff Eshleman, and Yanni Lambros, owner of Lansdale’s Koffee Korner Café. All four, except Jowder, crossfiled in the election.

    (Credit: North Penn United)
  

HATFIELD BOROUGH

AT-LARGE COUNCIL

There are three open seats on Hatfield Borough Council this year.

Incumbent Democrats Jason Ferguson, who is Council President, and Richard Girard team with Syeda Hoque to try to win all three seats, but face competition from sole Republican contender John Kroesser, who ran in 2021 and 2023.

MAYOR AND TAX COLLECTOR

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Mary Anne Girard has no competition on the ballot in the Primary, and without one in the General Election, she will win re-election.

The same can be said of current Democratic tax collector Marie Snyder.

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP

COMMISSIONER WARD TWO

Ward Two and Ward Four each have one seat open this election cycle, with each seat carrying a 4-year term. There is no competition in the Primary for either ward.

In Ward Two, incumbent Republican Robert Rodgers is facing off against Democratic challenger John Slinka in November.

COMMISSIONER WARD FOUR

In Ward Four, incumbent Republican Tom C. Zipfel is facing off against Democratic challenger Donald McGowan in November.

TAX COLLECTOR

There will no longer be a battle in Hatfield Township in May to determine the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Dan Reavy’s 4-year tax collector position in November.

Democrat Vinnie Bagdwal has withdrawn from the candidacy, leaving Democrat MD Shahriar Kabir to face off in November against Reavy.

LANSDALE BOROUGH

MAYOR

The Primary will see a Democratic showdown between current Ward One Councilwoman Rachael Bollens, 34, and former Borough Councilman and Discover Lansdale President Bill Henning, 56.

    

Henning is a fourth-generation Lansdale resident and is store manager of Henning’s Trains, an 85-plus-year-old Lansdale family-run business. He is a 1986 graduate of Lansdale Catholic High School.

Bollens posted on her Facebook that she felt a calling to step into the role, with a vision of action and unity. She supports the working class, small business, and community.

    

Lansdale Democratic Commitee-endorsed Bollens, a mom raising a young son, was born in Lansdale and graduated North Penn High School Class of 2008. She has four years in accounting, more than a decade in community organization, and more than eight years of communications and digital advertising.

The victor with the most votes will face off against Republican Greg Gilrain, 26, for the open mayor position in the General Election in November.

Read more here.

COUNCIL WARD ONE

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Garry Herbert is not seeking re-election but is instead running for Bollens's open Ward 1 Borough Council seat.

Unless Herbert gains a Republican write-in candidate in November, he will win the seat, as there are two open seats in Ward 1 this year.

Incumbent Borough President and Democrat Mary Fuller is seeking re-election for her seat. Come November, Fuller is a shoe-in for her seat without a challenger.

COUNCIL WARD TWO

Incumbent Democratic Councilman Andrew Carroll has no challenger in the Primary or General Election for his open Ward Two seat.

COUNCIL WARD THREE

Two of three seats are up for re-election in November. Democrats Mike Yetter and Carrie Oglesby have no challengers for their seats, Republican or otherwise.

TAX COLLECTOR

Current Democratic tax collector Jim Hanratty has no competition for his 4-year position.

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP

AT-LARGE SUPERVISOR

There are two open seats that carry a 6-year term in Montgomery Township this election year, with incumbent Democrats Annette M. Long and Beth Staab seeking re-election. However, Democrat Eric Pelletier has thrown his hat in the ring for supervisor as well. 

Staab and Pelletier received the endorsements from the Montgomery Township Democratic Committee.

This means, the two with the highest number of votes among the three Democrats will head to the General Election to contend against Republicans Steve Fedele and John Dale.

    (Credit: Montgomery Township Democratic Committee)
  

TAX COLLECTOR

Current North Penn School Board President Tina Stoll is not seeking another term but has instead opted to challenge incumbent Republican tax collector Patricia A. Gallagher for her 4-year position.

NORTH WALES BOROUGH

COUNCIL WARD ONE

Incumbent Councilwoman Wendy McClure is not seeking re-election for her Ward One seat, which carries a 2-year term. Thus, Democrat Melanie Catanese is running unopposed for the seat.

COUNCIL WARD TWO

There are two open seats in Ward Two, currently held by Democrats Alex Groce and Sarah Whelan. Groce is seeking re-election alongside Democratic newcomer Susan Manning. There is no other competition thus far come November.

COUNCIL WARD THREE

Sitting Councilwomen Anji Fazio and Sally Neiderhiser are seeking re-election for their Ward Three open seats, but face competition in November from Republican Greg D’Angelo, who is also running for mayor, according to the Montgomery County Unofficial Candidate List for 2025.

MAYOR

Current Democratic Mayor Neil McDevitt is being challenged for his mayor role by former Republican Mayor D’Angelo.

TAX COLLECTOR

Current Democratic Tax Collector Tim Weir has no challenger for his next 4-year term.

TOWAMENCIN TOWNSHIP

AT-LARGE SUPERVISOR

Will this be the year that Republican Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson will be ousted from his position, which he has held for nearly a quarter-century?

There are two supervisors seats available this year, each carrying a 6-year term.

The Primary will see four Republicans vying for the two highest votes to go on and face Democratic challengers Vanessa Gaynor and Courtney Morgan: Angela C. Illingworth, Christina Eppolito, Donald Litman and Wilson.

TAX COLLECTOR

With longtime tax collector Robert Di Domizio Jr. not seeking re-election for a fourth term, one Democrat and one Republican are vying for the open seat, which carries a 4-year term.

North Penn School Board Vice President Christian Fusco, who is not seeking re-election to the school board, will compete against Republican Stephanie German in November. Democrat Gisela Koch withdrew herself as a tax collector candidate in the race.

    (Credit: Towamencin Democrats)
  

UPPER GWYNEDD TOWNSHIP

AT-LARGE COMMISSIONER

Incumbent Democrats Liz McNaney and Denise Hull are seeking re-election to another 4-year commissioner term in Upper Gwynedd for their two open seats. Come November, they will battle with Republican challengers Dennis Darr and Viraf Jacob.

TAX COLLECTOR

Current tax collector Erica Kobert faces no competition from fellow Democrats or Republicans in this year’s re-election race.

Editor's Note for transparency: The author is the son of current Towamencin tax collector Di Domizio Jr.