Middletown Twp. Appoints Former Supervisor To Replace Anna Payne

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —Amy Strouse knows she has big shoes to fill and might never be able to fill the hole in the hearts of township officials and residents over the loss of the late Middletown Township Supervisor Anna Payne.

But she's been a supervisor before, and her return to leadership might help continue the continuity of the township government and ease the loss of Payne, who died recently.

District Justice Brian McGuffin recently swore in Strouse as Middletown Township's new supervisor, replacing Payne. Strouse served as township supervisor from 2016 to 2021.

"It doesn't feel like a congratulatory event," Strouse told Patch during a recent interview. "We all wish Anna was here to fill out her term."

The 37-year-old Payne died in early February after battling cystic fibrosis for most of her life and having colon cancer. She had run unsuccessfully for state representative in November.

Strouse said that she and Payne were very close for a decade in Democratic politics. Strouse said she even recruited Payne to join the township Board of Supervisors when she was serving on it.

Payne ran unsuccessfully for state representative in the November general election, losing to Republican incumbent State Rep. Joe Hogan to represent the 142nd Legislative District.

Strouse, though, said while she's filling Payne's term, she won't seek another term in office.

"I decided not to run again. I have full-time work, I'm a supervisor, and a mother," said Strouse, who has three children, ages 9, 12, and 14. She and her husband reside in Langhorne.

Strouse serves as the chief of staff for the Americas region at Oliver Wyman and leads strategy development and implementation on behalf of the leadership team.

Before Oliver Wyman's acquisition of Avascent, Strouse was the Senior Director of Talent Development at Avascent, a management consulting firm. In her talent development role, she guided the professional development and skill enhancement for Avascent's junior and mid-career consultants.

Strouse completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics and international business. She received her master's degree in international relations and finance at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

She has been engaged in her community, serving through groups such as the Bucks County Womens' Advocacy Coalition, Toys for Toys, the United Way of Bucks County Knock Out Hunger program, and as a presenter for the annual #girlSTEM conference for middle school girls in Bucks County.

Strouse feels like she can step back into the supervisor's role rather easily.

"I know many of the issues so I can seamlessly work back into the flow," she said. "Part of the appeal is that I have no political aspirations."

She just wishes that Payne could do the job instead.

"She was fantastic," Strouse said of Payne. "She saw herself to serve."