Chester County Fraternal Order Of Police Splits Endorsements

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — The Chester County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 11 has endorsed candidates for the 2023 November election for judges, district attorney, sheriff, and county commissioners.

Robert McCarron, the FOP president said the process of endorsement occurred over a three-week period and involved meetings with the candidates, a review by the FOP executive board, and a vote by the members.

McCarron, a West Pikeland police officer, said the executive board consists of experienced police officers throughout the county who conducted a thorough review of all of the candidates.

These are the candidates the FOP endorsed:

Judge race: 10 candidates are running for five judgeships. A judge earns an annual salary of $197,119.

• District Attorney Deb Ryan: Ryan, a Democrat, worked as a prosecutor in Philadelphia and Chester County courts, and was elected district attorney in Chester County in 2019.
• Judge Lou Mincarelli: Mincarelli, a Republican was nominated by former Gov. Tom Wolf to fill a vacancy and confirmed by the Senate.
• Judge Nicole Forzato: Forzato, a Democrat, was appointed to a judgeship in May to fill a vacancy. She has experience in criminal, civil, and family court.
• Thomas “Tip” McCabe: McCabe, a Democrat, worked as an assistant public defender, conflicts counsel, and civil litigator.
• Don Kohler: Kohler, a Republican, has 25 years of experience working as a general practitioner in estate planning, adoption, and other family court matters as a prosecutor and civil litigation. He has also served as a public defender and private defense attorney.

District Attorney race:

Two candidates running for district attorney

• Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, a Democrat and career prosecutor, who worked in the Chester County district attorney’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office. Due to federal law, he left his position as a federal prosecutor and now practices law at Bellwoar Kelly LLP, West Chester.

Sherriff: Two candidates running for county sheriff

• Roy Kafroth: a Republican, business owner, and 30-year resident of Chester County. He is a former Chester County Parks ranger and former deputy sheriff. He wrote a manual and taught control tactics to officers. He is the owner of Eagle Glass, Upper Uwchlan Township, and Elite Boxing and Martial Arts, Malvern. Roy and his wife, Susan have four children.

County Commissioner: Two incumbent Democrats are running against two Republicans for three seats on the board, which oversees a $613 million budget.

• Josh Maxwell: Incumbent, Democrat, a lifelong resident of Chester County, previously served as mayor of Downingtown. As mayor, he oversaw economic improvements, including an Amtrak/SEPTA train station. He was elected county commissioner in 2019, taking office in 2020.
• Marian Moskowitz: Incumbent, Democrat, of Malvern was elected commissioner in 2019, taking office in 2020. She is the chairwoman of the board. She is secretary of the board of the West Chester University Council of Trustees. In 2021, former Gov. Tom Wolf re-appointed Moskowitz to the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education.
• David Sommers: Republican, is a social studies teacher at Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown. He was a former legislative representative for the Association of Catholic Teachers Local 1776 and a Republican committee man for West Goshen Township Area 20.