Five Row Officers Take Oath At Inauguration

Bucks County swore in five row officers and a new Common Pleas Court judge Monday.

During a morning ceremony at the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough, the four new row officers and one returning official took their oaths. All five were Republicans.

Coleen Christian, the daughter highly decorated U.S. Army veteran David Christian, took the oath administered by Bucks County Judge Wallace Bateman as she became prothonotary.

Christian, a former Upper Makefield Township supervisor, said her dad and sister were at home with COVID-19 and her son was away serving in the U.S. Army. She was surrounded by her daughters and mother.

Christian noted her family helped her run her campaign and she was thankful for their support.

“Let’s go 2022,” she said. “Let’s have a wonderful year.”

District Attorney Matt Weintraub took the oath for his second term in office.

He thanked his family and residents for their support over the years.

“I would never be able to be in this position without you,” he told his wife, Kathleen.

Weintraub said his office has tackled cold cases and treating the whole person, including victims, defendants, witnesses, and jurors.

Speaking of his second term, the longtime prosecutor said his office will focus on gun violence and straw purchases.

The district attorney pointed to violence in neighboring Philadelphia.

“We don’t accept that here,” he said. “We’re special here in Bucks County.”

Dan McPhillips, who recently served as the inheritance tax agent in the Bucks County of Register of Wills’ office, thanked his friends and family as he became recorder of deeds. Recently married, he also thanked his wife for her support.

The former Warminster Township supervisor noted his sisters have helped him run his campaigns since he ran for student government at Archbishop Wood Catholic High School.

Fred Harran, who served in the Bensalem Township police department and later became leader of the county’s largest police department, was sworn in with his fiancée and daughter at his side.

Harran said he will “work to continue to make Bucks County safe.”

The longtime police official pledged to make the department the best sheriff’s office in the country.

The new sheriff said he came to Bucks County after he moved into a home in Levittown with some college buddies 34 years ago. His parents left the family home of New York City for Florida, which caused Harran to seek a place to stay for a few years. However, Harran noted he’s still here and he has no plans to leave Bucks County.

Pamela Van Blunk took the oath to become the new county controller.

With her husband at her side, she took office and thanked voters for their support.

Bucks County Republican Committee Vice Chairperson Joseph Cullen led the inauguration ceremony in the absence of county party chairperson Pat Poprik, who stayed home due to a COVID-19 exposure.

Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie was at the event and welcomed the new row officers. Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo were not in attendance. DiGirolamo was absent due to the death of his sister.

Numerous former and other current county officials were in attendance.

Later in the day, attorney Stephen Corr, a Republican, was sworn in to serve as a county judge.

Monday marked a big day for Bucks County Republicans as they retook four row office seats after being ousted by Democrats in 2017. Democrats took out four Republicans from row offices – aside from Weintraub – that year. At the time, the victory was seen as a big win for Democrats, who snatched the row offices from Republicans who had long held the seats.

Going into 2022, county Democrats still hold the Register of Wills, Treasurer, Clerk of Courts, and Coroner’s offices.

In 2019, incumbent Democrat Ellis-Marseglia and Democrat Harvie won the majority from Republicans on the Bucks County Commissioners and other Democrats took the remaining row offices. DiGirolamo was elected the Republican minority commissioner.

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