Ready, set, vote!

I had an interesting chat with someone about politics in Bucks County, obviously in reference to the upcoming municipal elections. But it was negatively tinged with “too much politics,” and that at a time when we’re a little more than two weeks away from our municipal election. 

Most people think municipal elections are less interesting than presidential, congressional, or gubernatorial races. Less interesting, perhaps, but no less important, I would argue. Because voters tend to value local issues, such as schools, public safety, property taxes, infrastructure (e.g., roads, highways, water, and sewers), these are the impactful decisions the people we elect will make for the community.    

In a couple of weeks, the count is on for candidates for school board, township supervisors, borough council, tax collectors, and on the county level, a host of row offices, five contested — including district attorney, sheriff, and controller — and judges of the Court of Common Pleas. 

This year, mail-in balloting has hit a new high in Bucks County, which bodes well for the people. And the interest in the mail-in ballot has increased dramatically among Republicans, the traditional holdouts. Since the law allowing mail-in voting was enacted in Pennsylvania in 2019, Republicans were reluctant to engage, and it showed in local and state elections. The Democratic Party, not only embraced it, but mastered it. 

Change has come. In the last presidential election, Bucks registered the most votes for a Republican president in 36 years, largely attributed to the GOP’s widespread push on mail-in voting and local pro-Trump organizations. Pat Poprik, Bucks County Republican Committee chair, said the party has been doing “great” with the mail-in ballot, exceeding expectations, this year. 

Behind the scenes, both parties are gearing up for the important 2026 congressional elections. But as the wise senator from Massachusetts and former Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill said, “All politics is local.”  No one understands that better than the chairpersons of the county Republican and Democratic parties, both experienced politicians. State Sen. Steve Santarsiero is chair of the Bucks County Democratic Committee.  

Important political policy decisions are made at the top, from the national parties to state and regional committees, which is why we pay attention to the local chieftains. In Bucks County, with a Democratic majority Board of Commissioners, Democrats Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Bob Harvie recently demonstrated what lies beneath when they got involved in a national debate over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

The conflict occurred when Sheriff Fred Harran, a Republican up for reelection, told the commissioners in the spring he had entered into a “limited agreement” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to implement a task force through ICE’s 287(g) program.

Harran announced this federal arrangement at a public commissioners meeting, noting that fifteen of his deputies would be trained to simply assist ICE with transport and processing duties. That fell flat with the Democratic commissioners who objected, saying Harran had no authority to enter into “contracts,” only the commissioners. The Democrats gave no opinion about ICE, while Republican Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo supported Harran. 

The commissioners took no specific action, but the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union did, taking the fight against Harran’s “illegal, dangerous” policies vis-à-vis ICE to court.  

This week, a Bucks County judge dismissed the lawsuit from the ACLU and the advocacy group plaintiffs it represents, finding that Harran did not require approval from the commissioners and that he may go forward. Case closed — unless there’s an appeal, which is planned. 

Nevertheless, the embattled sheriff called it a victory for the law-abiding citizens of Bucks County. (You can read that and more here on the Bucks Independence website.) Clearly, the county commissioners’ majority took issue with the ICE agreement and Harran’s authority, but it was against a background of “blue” states and cities’ fights with ICE, including court challenges across the country. 

In Bucks, the Democratic Party and its leaders appear to be in-step with the leftward trend in their party and its policies. The case against Harran is one example.    

Republicans, national leaders included, insist law and order is the critical issue and its breakdown the root of chaos and discord. Lawlessness and disorder manifest across the country, especially with he opposition party blasting Trump’s agenda of deporting illegal criminal immigrants, fueling resistance, and saying nothing about the bizarre attacks on ICE, Border Patrol units, and individual agents. 

In Bucks County, we’ve seen the Trump deportation policies and ICE in play with opposition to Harran’s agreement with ICE. And we also see local, county Republicans pushing a “law and order” message with their team, District Attorney Jen Schorn and Sheriff Harran, in advance of the election on November 4. 

So to my friend and others who may minimize the upcoming municipal election, vote, and get to know the candidates and officeholders now; they could be running the country one day. And that reminds me: Harvie has his sights set on running for Congress next year. 

 “All politics is local,” as the speaker said.

Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.