Politics & Government

GOP Beats Dems In Township Races

The Republicans of Haverford Township defeated their Democratic opponents in the 2011 elections.

For one Democratic candidate, there is one word that describes the reason behind his at the polls: Apathy.

“It goes back to the old thought that you can’t get Democrats excited,” , the Democratic challenger and candidate of the 1st Ward commissioner’s race, told the Haverford-Havertown Patch Tuesday night at the Haverford Township’s Democratic post-election party at the .

After the midterm elections , Shiffer stated in an email to Patch that the lack of voter turnout in the primary elections were “a harbinger of the November election.”

Find out what's happening in Haverford-Havertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Tuesday night, Shiffer said that Democratic voters needed to get excited about the smaller elections since they have the most impact on them compared to the bigger and more popular national elections.

“These elections are more important than the presidential ones,” he said, explaining that township commissioners could increase residents’ taxes yearly.

Find out what's happening in Haverford-Havertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But while Shiffer was pessimistic of the election results, Judith LaLonde, chairwoman of the Haverford Township Democratic Party, was optimistic.

“It wasn’t defeat. We gave voters a choice for candidates and a different path to follow,” she said. 

LaLonde compared , the Democratic challenger of the 7th Ward race, to Republican incumbent . She said that while Chrzan was at a press conference last month, explaining his platform, McGarrity was telling his supporters that Chrzan was “a clown” and was getting a kiss on the cheek from Magisterial District Judge , .

“Our candidates are involved in the township. … It’s not about the loss but moving forward,” she said. 

McGarrity, at with the rest of the Republican candidates and their supporters late Tuesday evening, told Patch that Chrzan’s false accusations against him ended up hurting Chrzan as voters do not respond well to negative campaigning.

McGarrity told Patch that he hoped to win all four precincts in the 7th Ward and later that night stated that he did win them, pointing out that he beat Chrzan in his own precinct.

“We were elected by the people and they like us,” he said of his party’s victory.

, the Republican 1st Ward commissioner, said that he and his fellow commissioners, both Democrats and Republicans, do not play party politics when it comes to the issues and the voters realize that.

“I want the residents to know that this commissioner doesn’t play party politics,” he said, adding that his fellow commissioners have adopted that philosophy.

Jim Knapp, chairman of the Haverford Township Republican Party, offered praise to the Republican candidates. 

“A lot of politicians will tell you what they will do, but these guys do it,” Knapp said to Patch. 

Burke said that he was “humbled” by the residents who voted for him and that he “worked very hard and it paid off.” 

Patch was not able to speak with 3rd Ward Commissioner Candidates Republican or Democrat , Democratic candidate for judge or Chrzan, but did send them emails around 12 a.m. Wednesday for further comments about the elections.

For the election results, .


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