2 Dems Face Republican Incumbents For Bensalem Council

BENSALEM, PA — A pair of Democratic challengers are hoping to unseat two Republican incumbents on the Bensalem Township council in the Nov. 5 election.

Political control of the township's council is at stake in the race. Bensalem's council currently is made up of 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats, with Mayor Joe DiGirolamo also a member of the GOP.

Democratic candidates Bryan Allen and Angela Cacchio are pitching a message of generational change in their bid against current council members Ed Kisselback, Jr. and Joseph Knowles, both Republicans.

Allen, chief of staff for state Rep. Tina Davis and a former two-time council member, is 41 and Cacchio, a middle school English teacher, is 43. Meanwhile, Kisselback, a professional photographer, is 71 and Knowles, a Realtor, is 59.

The incumbents say they have a proven track record. They both cite attracting new businesses to Bensalem and holding the line on taxes as main priorities. Currently, Knowles is the council president and Kisselback is vice-president.

In their campaign material, Allen and Cacchio cite over-development and traffic congestion as key issues for Bensalem that they'd like to address if elected.

The race has sparked some tension on Bensalem's current council.

In early October, the council's two Democrats filed a lawsuit against DiGirolamo and its Republican members, claiming a taxpayer-funded letter to residents intentionally left them out to, at least in part, help Kisselback and Knowles in the upcoming election.

The letter from DiGirolamo, announcing the township's popular Homeowner Assistance Grant Program, listed Kisselback, Knowles and fellow Republican Joseph Pilieri as supporting the grant. But it left out the names of Democrats Jesse Sloane and Ed Tokmajian, who voted against DiGirolamo's overall budget but say they support the grant program.

By contrast, a similar letter from 2018 included the names of all council members.

The lawsuit calls for the Republicans to repay the township for the cost of sending out the letter.

Here's a quick look at the four candidates running for two seats on Bensalem Township Council:

Bryan Allen
Age: 41
Occupation: Chief of Staff, Rep. Tina Davis
Party: Democrat
Education: Conwell Egan Catholic High School, Bloomsburg University (B.A.)
Key Issues: Fight traffic congestion and over-development, better long-term planning

Angela Cacchio
Age: 43
Occupation: Teacher, Snyder Middle School
Party: Democrat
Education: Bensalem High, LaSalle University (M.Ed.)
Key Issues: Fight overdevelopment, address traffic congestion

Ed Kisselback, Jr.
Age: 71
Occupation: Owner, Kiss Professional Photography
Party: Republican
Education: Father Judge High School, attended Temple University, Allentown College
Key Issues: Limiting development at Armstrong school; attracting new business

Joseph Knowles
Age: 59
Occupation: Realtor
Party: Republican
Education: Bucks County Community College (ABA), West Chester University (BS)
Key Issues: Fighting crime, particularly related to the opioid epidemic; supporting police