Loughery chosen as Bucks County commissioner

A minister's son whose resume brims with political experience and business achievement has been named Bucks County's next commissioner.

Robert G. Loughery, 41, who had been the top choice of the county's Republican leaders, was picked Tuesday to succeed former Commissioner Jim Cawley, who became Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor last week.

Loughery's selection was made by the county's 13 judges in a secret ballot during a brief, closed-door meeting at the county courthouse in Doylestown.

"I was thrilled with the outcome," the Bedminster resident said, adding that he hoped to be sworn into office within the next week or so.

Loughery becomes the first resident of Upper Bucks County in 35 years to serve as a commissioner, a lapse that had become a sore point for many upper-county residents.

Loughery was among three candidates recommended to the judges by the county's Republican Executive Committee. He was the GOP's top choice, followed by Lower Southampton tax collector Jennifer Yori and Buckingham Township Supervisor Jon Forest.

Other candidates submitted their names directly to the judges, said president Judge Susan Devlin Scott. She declined to reveal the breakdown of the judges' voting.

Cawley's unexpired term runs only through the end of this year. Loughery is expected to seek a full four-year term in the fall election.

Loughery said he planned to spend time in the coming days studying the issues facing the county and talking with fellow Commissioners Charles Martin and Diane Ellis-Marseglia about priorities.

"Obviously, the budget is going to be one," he said. "But I think it will be good to get involved with economic-development issues."

Loughery has spent the last 15 years in the economic-development field. From 1996 to 1999 he had leadership positions with the county's industrial development corporation and its redevelopment authority, and he was the first coordinator of the county's enterprise zone in Lower Bucks.

Since 1999 he has led companies that manage economic and community development and revitalization projects.

Martin and Ellis-Marseglia said they welcomed Loughery's business background.

"I'm cautiously optimistic and intend to work with him," said Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat.

"He's a good human being and a good family man," said Martin, a Republican. "He is familiar with the operation of the county, so he doesn't have to start from scratch."

A 1991 graduate of Dickinson College, Loughery helped manage election campaigns for former U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood, for former Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker, and for Martin and now-U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick when they ran for county commissioner in 1995.

A Montgomery County native, Loughery moved to Bucks County in 1979 when his father, a Methodist minister, became pastor of a church in Warrington.

He and his wife, Kathy, have three young daughters.