New Royerford Council Members Sworn In; Two Turn Down Seats

Two of the four candidates elected to Royersford Borough Council in November did not take their seats at the board's reorganization meeting Monday night.

Shawnette Jones and David Stehman, both elected as part of a Democrat slate that swept four seats on the board to shift majority from Republican to Democrat, are no longer living in the borough, according to newly-elected Borough Council Vice President Anil Dham.

Dham and running mate Matt Stehman were sworn in Monday, joining Republicans Thomas Weikel , Mike Bullick and John Kring on the board.  

Paul Crisman, Bruce Buckwalter and John Grispon lost their seats in November’s election; Charles Bowers lost his spot in the Primary election.

The two open seats will be declared vacant in ten days, and borough council has 30 days to interview candidate and make appointments.

The appointed council members do not have to be Democrat.

Dham said that he hopes all qualified candidates, regardless of political affiliation, will apply.

“I would love to see a woman apply for the position, since there has never been a female council member in the borough in recent memory,” Dham said.

All professional appointments remained the same after the reorganization meeting; Thomas Weikel was re-elected chairman of the board.

Royersford Borough Council's next meeting was was scheduled for Jan. 16, a Thursday, at 7:15 p.m.

Editor's Note: A quote was edited in the story to reflect that there has not been a female on the board in recent memory.