Montgomery County Commissioners participate in a reorganization meeting on Jan. 5, 2026. Pictured, from left, is Solicitor Benjamin Field, Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, Chairwoman Jamila Winder and Commissioner Tom DiBello. (Photo courtesy Montgomery County PA)
Trio of elected officials seek to maintain bipartisan working relationships going into 2026
The Montgomery County Commissioners reorganized on Monday, cementing their Democratic majority leadership for the 2026 calendar year.
The annual session called for the trio of elected officials to select the board’s two highest positions. Commissioner Jamila Winder and Commissioner Neil Makhija, both Democrats, were selected as chairwoman and vice chairman, respectively.
“I’m dedicated to working collaboratively with my colleagues and operating with full transparency and mutual respect, and I’m proud of how this board has approached leadership together,” Winder said. “It’s an honor to serve with both of you, and Montgomery County benefits when we all work together and rely on each other to meet the needs and the demands of this great community.”
Makhija, who served as board chairman last year, vocalized his support for Winder in his opening remarks, expressing that he’s “excited to pass the baton to Commissioner Winder.”
Winder served as chairwoman during the first year of the administration, while Makhija held the vice chairman role.
The votes were eventually unanimous, but not without some input from Commissioner Tom DiBello. The board’s minority Republican commissioner did nominate himself for both positions; however, neither nomination received enough support to progress.
“Through the presence of diversity, equity and inclusion, and all that, I’d like to nominate myself since we’re doing a rotation to the commissioners,” DiBello said. “I thought last year, I mentioned this, that it’d be my turn … I just want to revisit that.”
“You running against me, Tom?” asked Winder.
“I nominated myself, too, which I can do,” DiBello said.
Bipartisan approach
DiBello later seconded each motion of the reorganization meeting as the county commissioners touted their abilities working together in a bipartisan manner amid rising political tensions. Winder underscored “putting people before politics” as a key mantra for Montgomery County government.
“Despite our polarized national politics, we made a deliberate choice to approach leadership as a shared and bipartisan responsibility,” Winder said, adding, “I’m proud to work alongside my colleagues to advance a shared agenda and to fulfill our promises to the residents of Montgomery County because we know that’s what this work is all about.”
Makhija and Winder pointed to the bipartisan adoption of a $632.7 million operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year, with a roughly 4-percent tax increase. The unanimous action marked the county’s first bipartisan budget in nearly a decade.
“[It] sent a signal that here in Montco, we’re working hard to do what’s best for our residents, all of our residents, and we’re working creatively as a team,” Makhija said.
Elected officials shared stances on issues facing the county’s most vulnerable residents, including homelessness, mental health and the continued rising cost of living. They also praised ongoing projects as they await the opening of a supportive short-term housing facility in Lansdale and the emergency behavioral health crisis center in Upper Merion Township.
“All of this shows we are genuinely making an impact on issues that are most pressing to our constituents,” Makhija said.
DiBello agreed that “we did get a lot accomplished” in 2025 and he expects 2026 to be “just as busy.” DiBello also noted interests in the budget and board meetings.
DiBello hinted at intentions to “dive in and really look at the budget for ‘27 and really start laying out what that framework looks like and how we’re going to proceed forward.” He pointed to augmenting the existing structure of county commissioners meetings to take a “business-focused” approach to showcase costs and regular project updates. “They agree that’s a great approach for us to go into 2026 because there’s a lot going on,” DiBello said.
County prominence
The spotlight is expected to shine on the area as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations.
“It’s going to be a good year, it’s going to be a hard year, but we’ve got a great team and we’ve got the aptitude and the attitude to get it done,” Winder said. “I would encourage everyone to just continue to keep us honest on the things we need to be focusing on, the missteps we may make because we’re human and we make mistakes.”
Winder was reminded of something former Commissioner Ken Lawrence Jr. once told her. That “it takes two people to get anything done on a board of commissioners.” That idea of collaboration stuck with her as she stressed, “it really takes the collective board to advance the agenda for this great county. I want us to be reminded of that as we head into 2026.”
The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St. Those interested can attend the meeting virtually. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov for more information.
