Shapiro elected chairman of Montgomery County Commissioners

Here’s a little slice of local politics you might have missed during the Iowa Caucus hubbub.

Josh Shapiro, Montgomery County’s newly elected Democratic commissioner, was named board chairman yesterday. Shapiro was sworn in Tuesday with fellow Dem. Leslie Richards and incumbent Republican Bruce Castor.

And as the Globe Times Chronicle reminds us, this is the first time in more than 100 years that Democrats have taken control of Montco administration.

 

Shapiro and Richards were elected in November partly for their pledge not to raise taxes. Taxes were raised anyway, by 17 percent, after a vote late last month by Castor and the outgoing commissioners.