Norristown, PA (November 4, 2009) – The following is a statement from Montgomery County Chairman Marcel Groen on the results of Tuesday’s election Montgomery County:

"Yesterday’s election results were simultaneously historic, competitive, successful, and, yes, disappointing." 

"They were historic, because for the first time in a contested election for the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas a Democrat – Lois Murphy – was elected to the county bench."

"They were competitive because the judicial election was extremely close with less than one percentage point separating the entire slate of 14 candidates, and so close that for each additional Democratic vote in each voting precinct another Democratic judicial candidate would have won election. It was also competitive, because each party had equal numbers of success and disappointments in municipal elections."

"I, and the rest of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, congratulate the Republican Committee and its chairman, Bob Kerns, for their success on Tuesday. Both judicial slates had extremely well qualified candidates, and I am confident that Lois Murphy and the six Republican judges-elect will serve the county with distinction."

"While our two parties have political differences, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Kerns’ assessment that there is now an extremely competitive political landscape in Montgomery County, and that makes the voters of Montgomery County the real winners."