Chair Of Doylestown Democrats Appointed To Borough Council Vacancy

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Doylestown Borough Council this week said goodbye to a longtime council member and welcomed a new one to the table.

The council began its monthly meeting by recognizing former councilman Joseph Frederick for 11 years of public service representing the residents of the town’s third ward.

Frederick, who resigned last month, had been serving as an alternate on the Central Bucks Regional Police Commission and was the chair of the borough’s public safety committee.

Mayor Noni West presented Frederick with a plaque reading, “In appreciation for your dedicated service as a Doylestown Borough Councilperson representing Ward 3 from 2014-2025.

“Your dedication to the borough will live long after you leave borough council,” said the mayor.

"It's been a pleasure," said former Doylestown Borough Councilman Joseph Frederick of serving the residents of Doylestown Borough and ward 3 for the past 11 years.

Mayor Noni West presents a plaque to Joseph Frederick recognizing his service on council. (Doylestown Borough photo)

“It’s been a pleasure,” said Frederick in accepting the plaque. As his parting words, he shared a quote by Illinois Governor JD Pritzker. “Tyranny requires fear, silence and compliance. Democracy requires courage.”

Later in the meeting, the council voted unanimously to appoint Connor O’Hanlon to fill the vacant ward three council seat. He was sworn in by Mayor Noni West and will serve on the council through December when the seat expires.

“It’s a great pleasure and honor to serve Doylestown and I look forward to representing the town that gave me so many opportunities in my life. Now it’s time to give back,” wrote O’Hanlon on Facebook.

“I want to thank so many folks that have been there to support and lift me up along the windy path that has lead here. Without you all, this wouldn’t be possible,” he said.

He continued, “And I have to of course give a special shoutout to DNC Vice Chair/State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta for his guidance and friendship over the past few years and somehow making it to the meeting!

“While we face many battles today that seem insurmountable, we will fight and we will win,” he added. “The fate of our communities and the nation as a whole are in our hands. Together, we can overcome this, and together we can build a greater society that lifts us all up.”

O’Hanlon, who works as a CPA and is the chair of the Democratic Party in Doylestown, has spent his young adulthood serving his community on multiple non-profit and governmental boards, including on the NAMI Bucks County Board and the Bucks County Housing Group Board.

O'Hanlon has lived in Doylestown since 2007, and graduated from the Central Bucks School District. He said his interest in politics stems from a love of history in school.

"Growing up here in Doylestown I had a rich education that provided me with opportunities to dive into the lesser known parts of American and world history," he wrote in an online profile. "Once I went to college, I was able to listen, learn, and grow from the experiences of others and I knew that I had to dedicate myself to taking on the issues that matter most to people."

Councilman Robert Kinney thanked the six residents from the third ward who stepped up to fill the vacancy.

“That’s testament to the real energy and the interest in local government by the citizens of ward three,” said Kinney. “It was a pleasure to interview all of the candidates. It was a difficult decision for us to make because everyone brought something to the table that was worthwhile and valuable.”

He added, “I’m happy to have Mr. O’Hanlon with us on the council for the remainder of Mr. Frederick’s term. The citizens of Ward Three ought to be excited about the candidates who stepped forward. It’s a testament to their involvement in the community and appreciated by me personally.”

In a related appointment, the council unanimously selected Councilwoman Amy Popkin as the council’s alternate representative on the Central Bucks Regional Police Commission. She replaces Frederick who was serving in that position when he resigned from council in January.