Posted on Wed, Nov. 4, 2009
Montgomery County voters appeared ready to make history yesterday by electing a Democratic judge in a contested race for the first time.
But that was only part of the picture painted by incomplete and unofficial returns. Despite a Democratic edge of 29,979 in registered voters in the county, Republicans were poised to win races for the other six Common Pleas Court vacancies.
"Despite what the Democrats say about registrations, this county is competitive," said Robert Kerns, Montgomery County's Republican chair.
The county's bench had been entirely white and Republican going into yesterday's election, and only one sitting judge is a woman. Both parties fielded candidate slates diverse in gender and ethnicity in their efforts to win the county's seven judicial vacancies, the most in recent memory.
Partial results, which were slowed by a county computer malfunction, showed Republican Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio and Democrat Lois Murphy leading the judicial field, with Republicans leading Democrats for the rest of the openings. Murphy is a former congressional candidate. Carluccio is chief deputy county solicitor.
The judgeship races were the highlight of an otherwise low-key campaign season for Montgomery County.
Earlier in the year, the county commissioners reversed course on plans to ask voters to approve a $150 million bond issue, out of concern that the recession might have hurt the proposal's chances had it appeared on yesterday's ballot.
Several municipalities' council and mayoral elections helped attract voters to the polls. In West Conshohocken, voter Edward Chairman, 65, said he went to the polls mainly out of interest in the borough's issues.
"I'm concerned especially that the council representatives are properly spending our money," Chairman said. "They have been very good about it."
In Ambler, Brandi Greene said she was drawn to the election for intensely personal reasons. Greene, a 35-year-old veterinary nurse, wants to strike a blow for single mothers who are coping with "deadbeat fathers" of their children.
"I want to make sure we have the right judges and constables that will uphold and enforce the laws to protect my child," Greene said.
Contact staff writer Derrick Nunnally at 610-313-8212 or dnunnally@phillynews.com.
Staff writers Bonnie L. Cook and Kristin Holmes contributed to this article.
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