MontCo. Today
A lot has changed in Montgomery County politics since the formation of the county in 1784. The county experienced demographic changes, urbanization, and expansion of voter rights. Today, the county continues to change as the community and its elected officials work together to address modern day challenges.
In recent years, a surge of women candidates have run for political offices at the local, state, and federal levels of government. 2018 saw a record number of women run for office, and win, across the United States. The signs, pictures, buttons, and campaign materials pictured below are from some of the women who currently serve Montgomery County.
Pictured left to right: Democratic Party and Roe v. Wade Buttons (Gift of Rep. Mary Jo Daley), Picture of Senator Collett on Election Night (Gift of Senator Collett), Campaign flyer and button (Gift of Rep. DeLissio)
Pictured left to right: Campaign stickers and flyers (Gift of Rep. Mary Jo Daley), Campaign flyers, buttons, and bracelet (Gift of Rep. Shusterman), Signed photograph, (Gift of Rep. Toepel)
In 2019, Lori Schreiber was elected Montgomery County's first openly gay row officer. She currently serves as the Clerk of Courts.
Photo credit: Lori Schreiber for Clerk of Courts
In 2016, Danel J. Clifford became the first openly gay Montgomery County Judge.
Photo credit: patch.com
Montgomery County also has a historic group of County Commissioners.
Photo credit: Montgomery County Commissioners
Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH is the first woman in the county's history to be the Chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners.
Photo credit: Montgomery County Commissioners
Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. is the first African American to serve as a Montgomery County Commissioner.
Photo credit: Montgomery County Commissioners
Joseph C. Gale is currently the youngest person to serve as a Montgomery County Commissioner. (In recent weeks there have been calls for Commissioner Gale to resign after he released inflammatory comments about the Black Lives Matter movement. As of June 24, 2020, he is still a Montgomery County Commissioner.)
Gov. Milton Shapp Exhibit Home Page