LOWER POTTSGROVE >> The four Republican incumbents easily defeated the Democratic challenger seeking one of the four open seats on the township board of commissioners.
According to unofficial results, Democrat Charles Nippert received only 779 votes in Tuesday’s election.
The top vote-getter was incumbent Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz at 1,082, followed closely by Commissioner Steve Klotz, with 1,051 votes.
Commissioner James Vlahos came in third with 958 votes.
The fourth seat, for a two-year term, was won by incumbent Earl Swavely with 1,118 votes. He was unopposed.
Both Vlahos and Swavely, were appointed to their seats to replace commissioners who resigned.
The Democratic challenger is Charles Nippert, who also was among the five people who applied to fill the seat of Commissioner Shawn Watson, who resigned after a Mercury investigation revealed he owed property taxes to several government entities, including the township and the Pottsgrove School Board.
Watson’s resignation came too late for his seat to be on the November ballot and Ray Lopez, who was chosen to replace him, will hold the seat for two years.
