Four Candidates Running For Chesco Commissioners

WEST CHESTER, PA —The Chester County commissioner race has two incumbent Democrats and two Republicans running for three seats on the board, which oversees an estimated $613 million operating budget.

Chester County was historically led by a Republican majority until 2019, when two Democratic candidates were elected.

These are important deadlines:

• Oct. 23: Deadline to register to vote before the November election, deadline to change party enrollment.
• Oct. 24: Deadline for county to deliver mail-in ballots within 48 hours of approval.
• Oct. 27: Last day for candidates and treasurers of political committees to file expense reports with the secretary of the Commonwealth.
• Oct. 31: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot. Instructions are available here.
• Nov. 7: Last day for county boards of elections to receive mail-in and absentee ballots by 8 p.m.
• Nov. 7: Municipal Election

There are four candidates running for three seats on the county board of commissioners.

Both Democratic incumbents, Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz are seeking re-election. Both are endorsed by the Democratic party.

Two Republican candidates Eric Roe, 35, a former state representative, and David Sommers, 48, a social studies teacher, are running for commissioner. They both are endorsed by the Chester County Republican party.

Chester County commissioners earn an annual salary of $86,389 and serve a four-year term.

The candidates

David Sommers, Republican

Sommers 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 committeeman for West Goshen Township Area 20.
Sommers said he believes in public service and will advocate for fiscally sound, conservative, limited government, Republican policies.

“I will work to preserve the historic character and natural beauty of Chester County for all who live and work here and the next generation,” he said.

Eric Roe, Republican

Roe represented District 158 in the state House, which covers nine municipalities in southern Chester County, for two years.

Roe of West Bradford Township is employed as a client service manager at a financial firm in Downingtown. He worked as an administrative analyst for Commissioner Michele Kichline.

He also worked in a Homeland Security consulting firm, and for nonprofits. He is fluent in Spanish and French and held a town hall in Spanish.

Roe earned a bachelor of arts degree from American University, Washington, D.C., where he studied political science. He earned a master’s degree in public policy from University College of London.

Roe said he wants to make it more affordable to live in Chester County while preserving landscapes and preventing over-development. Roe and his wife, Alice, reside in West Bradford Township.

Josh Maxwell, Democrat

Maxwell, 39, 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.

Maxwell, vice chairman of the commissioners, said his priorities included the county’s first employee group on Equity Diversion and Inclusion; a groundbreaking, community-centered budgeting process; creating a mental health unit, and numerous climate change and open space initiatives.

A graduate of West Chester University, and UPenn’s Fels Institute of Government, Maxwell resides in Downingtown with his wife, Blair. Having grown up in a working-class community, Maxwell said he has been advocating for working families.

Marian Moskowitz, Democrat

Marian Moskowitz 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.

Moskowitz is a member of the Colonial Theater, Phoenixville; People’s Light Theater, Malvern; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; and the Schuylkill River Transportation Authority.

She loves to cook, read, walk, and spend time with her children and grandchildren.

Moskowitz said under her leadership the county had the lowest unemployment rate in the region and was named the healthiest in the state.