Montgomery County has announced that County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh has resigned from office effective January 17th. MoreThanTheCurve.com reported earlier today that Governor-elect Josh Shapiro has appointed Dr. Arkoosh to be the Secretary of the Department of Human Services. To resign, Dr. Arkoosh notified President Judge of Montgomery County Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio.

Those interested in seeking appointment to the open seat on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners should send a resume and cover letter before January 23rd to:

Michael R. Kehs, Esq.
Court Administrator
P.O. Box 311, Courthouse
Norristown, PA 19404
Mike.Kehs@montgomerycountypa.gov

Candidates will be expected to be available for interviews at a time to be designated by the Court.

The county’s code dictates the following in regard to a vacancy:

“Any casual vacancy in the office of county commissioners shall be filled, for the balance of the unexpired term, by the court of common pleas of the county in which such vacancy shall occur by the appointment of a registered elector of the county who was a member of the same political party as the commissioner whose place is to be filled at the time the commissioner was elected.” (16 P.S. § 501)

The procedures for filling a vacancy to an elected office by a court of common pleas are outlined in PA. Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, which is linked here.

The person who is appointed will have to consider whether to seek election for a full term this year. Dr. Arkoosh’s term was to end at the end of 2022.

Photo: Montgomery County