Republican Horsham Council Majority Sees Departures

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — When Horsham Township Council President Mark McCouch was ousted in the November general election two years ago, the Republican party had to change course.

Longtime Council Vice President William Whiteside III took the mantle as the council leader as the Republicans kept a slight a 3-2 lead after holding all five seats. But after that election, two Democrats joined the council.

That left GOP council members Sean Wade and Theresa Harmon to assume the vice president post of the council.

Wade was selected in the reorganization, and it appeared that he might one day succeed Whiteside, a longtime councilman who served with McCouch for decades.

But when township residents go to the polls on Tuesday, Wade's name will not be on the ballot.

"I am not running for re-election," Wade confirmed to Patch when candidates were announced in Montgomery County. "I will follow-up once I have more clarity, but I can share that, in accordance with my commitment to service and advocacy, I will be attending law school within a time frame that would prevent me from completing another term as a Horsham councilman."

The soft-spoken Wade is always thoughtful in his comments on the council. He has also spent time on the board overseeing the construction of the Miracle Field project.

His departure marks the third loss of a Republican representative on the council over the past few years.

McCouch served 20 years on the council, losing his seat to Democrat Ellen Zschunke in a close vote, 11 votes to be exact. She was joined on the council by fellow Democrat Samantha Slaff.

But then Harmon resigned to move out of the township.

Harmon served nearly three years on the council. Before that, she served on the Hatboro-Horsham School Board. Harmon was also involved with her three sons in activities in the township for 24 years.

Harmon was replaced by Eric Glemser, who joined the board last October.

On Tuesday, voters will find a new Republican name on the ballot for council to replace Wade.

That would be Erin Whalen, who is running for council after serving on the Hatboro-Horsham School Board.

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