NORRISTOWN >> Ken Lawrence, Temple University’s vice president for alumni relations and a resident of Plymouth Meeting, has been nominated by Montgomery County Democrats to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh said Tuesday morning she and Democratic Committee Chairman Joe Foster submitted a letter to Montgomery County judges Monday recommending Lawrence after interviewing 17 individuals for the position.
The approval, according to Arkoosh, is estimated to take a few weeks.
If approved it is believed Lawrence would be the county’s first African American commissioner. He will replace Democrat Josh Shapiro, who was elected Pennsylvania attorney general.
“Pending the judges’ decision, I think he will hit the ground running if he is chosen,” said Arkoosh. “Because of Mr. Lawrence’s varied experience he knows a lot of people in our community. He has excellent relationships on both sides of the aisle in Harrisburg which I think is going to be very important as we look to the future. He has deep knowledge of areas of county government.”
Twenty-two county judges will consider the Democrats’ selection, as well as recommendations from Shapiro and anyone who submits their names (deadline to do so is Jan. 18). Shapiro’s resignation will be effective Jan. 16, and the county judges will begin the process of interviews on Jan. 22.
Lawrence, 45, a Plymouth Meeting resident, has lived in Montgomery County since the 1984. He attended Montgomery County Community College and graduated from Temple University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Lawrence joined Temple in 2008 as senior vice president for government, community and public affairs, overseeing the offices of Government Relations and Community Relations. Prior to his professional stint with the Cherry and White, he was an entrepreneur as founder and president of Public Affairs Strategies, where he represented corporate and nonprofit organizations. He also worked for five years at Merck & Co. Inc. handling public, community and media relations and served as public policy representative for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Lawrence also serves numerous civic organizations, including the Temple University Political Science Advisory Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., SEPTA, the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board and Cristo Rey High School.
Arkoosh pointed out Lawrence’s role on the Shapiro/Richards transition team on the infrastructure subcommittee and his subsequent role on the Septa Board of Directors, which he is in his second term.
“As we look at really important projects here in the county like the King of Prussia Rail Line, he’s plugged in and ready to go,” Arkoosh added.
Also, Lawrence served on the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board.
“Tourism is one of our biggest growth areas in the county. He already has a number of established relationships there and I think we will be able to help lead a lot of the work the county has been doing in that area,” said Arkoosh.
When reached on late Tuesday morning for comment, Lawrence said, “I’m respecting and following the process the court has laid out.”
