Longtime Supervisors Stepping Down In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Two Newtown Township Supervisors will be stepping off the board at the beginning of 2026 after deciding not to run for re-election.

John Mack and Dennis Fisher attended their final board meeting earlier this month, where their years of service to the township were recognized by chairwoman Elen Snyder. Snyder presented each departing board member with a certificate of service from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Officials and a letter from Newtown Township thanking them for their service.

“I’d like to express my deep gratitude to the residents of this community," said Mack. "It has truly been an honor to serve you, to be your voice on the board and to work every day with the belief that local government functions best when it’s transparent, accountable and open to the people it represents.

“As I step away from the dais, I’m not stepping away from Newtown,” he continued. “I will continue to support transparency, good government and resident involvement in every way I can. My hope is that the work we have done together continues to strengthen the connection between the board and the public it serves.”

Supervisor John Mack.

Mack also thanked “the township staff, the fire department, the police, our committees and volunteers and everyone who works behind the scenes to keep Newtown moving forward. It has been a privilege to work alongside you.”

During his term on the board, Mack stood out, often challenging the board over issues of transparency. He also started a blog and held “Meet Mack” Zoom meetings to discuss issues with the community and often found himself at loggerheads with his fellow Democrats on the board.

He has vowed to keep up his advocacy for a transparent and open government and said he would continue to speak out as a member of the public.

Fisher thanked the people of Newtown “for having faith in me and giving me the opportunity to serve as a member of the board for seven-and-a-half, almost eight years, and almost 19 years as a member of the planning commission and as auditor.”

Fisher was elected as auditor in 2017 and to the board of supervisors in 2019.

“I’d like to thank the staff and professionals of Newtown Township. I’ve always found them to be very knowledgeable, very patient, and very kind and helpful to me.”

He also recognized the work of the township’s emergency services, singling out Police Chief John Hearn, Captain Harris and Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth, along with the command staff and members of the police and fire departments.

Supervisor Dennis Fisher.

He also thanked his colleagues on the board “who shared their experience and knowledge with me. We have agreed and disagreed, but I hope you know that even in uncomfortable situations, I always fought to do good for Newtown Township. I hope you noticed my attempts to calm things down.”

Fisher also offered his encouragement to his replacements on the board - Melissa Merk and Ed Merriman - who will be sworn in next week during the board’s reorganization meeting.

“I hope to visit here regularly and offer not only my thanks and encouragement but also my perspective on issues.”

During his tenure on the board, the soft-spoken and measured supervisor cast crucial votes, transitioning the township to a paid fire department, helping to negotiate fire service agreements with the borough, voting against plans for a sewer plant, approving plans for a Wawa on the Bypass, numerous budget votes, among many other projects and decisions.

Looking ahead, Fisher said he will be refocusing his energies on mission activities at his church, including its food bank and a nonprofit education project in Liberia. He also plans to do some grant work for various ministries.

Fisher will also continue to represent the township on the board of the Newtown, Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority