McGarrigle leads Delco GOP

Tom McGarrigle wasn't out of politics long.

The longtime Springfield pol, township commissioner, county councilman and state senator has a new title.

He's the new chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party.

McGarrigle was unanimously elected to the post by the party faithful at a meeting Thursday night at Springfield Country Club.

The one-term state senator lost his bid for re-election in the 26th District Senate race by Democrat Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney.

He was considered the favorite to succeed Andy Reilly, who is taking a position with the state Republican Southeast Caucus. Reilly had headed the party since 2009.

"With your support and your hard work and getting out hte message that we need to deliver that the Delaware County Republicans provide good government, we're fiscally responsible and we're transparent on all aspects of our government, we will deliver," McGarrigle told a crowd of more than 400 who packed the meeting last night.

He'll have his work cut out for him.

Times have changed for the Delco GOP. No longer do they have that overwhelming voter registration edge. In face, they are now looking up at Democrats, who are now the majority party in the county in terms of registered voters, and that gap is widening. Democrats have been making steady gains, especially in the last two elections, when they took both seats up for grabs on County Council, as well as all three county row offices.

They followed that up with a huge showing last November, snagging McGarrigle's 26th District state Senate seat, along with several key Pa. House races.

First up on McGarrigle's agenda. What appears to be a bruising battle for three County Council seats that will be up for grabs in November, along with the race for D.A.

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