Republicans, Including Two Incumbents, Sweep in School Board Election

, including two who also were on the Democratic ballot, will be seated next month on the following Tuesday's election.

Incumbents Heather Nicholas and Wayne Lewis will remain on the board and be joined by Matt Grodsky, Kevin McKay and Pam Strange.

They defeated Nora Jordan, Lola Oguntade and Toni Simmons.

“Tonight’s results demonstrate that the people of Bensalem School District support the message of fiscal responsibility and discipline that the Republican team delivered,” said McKay, an aeronautics engineer for Boeing.

Nicholas and Grodsky, who were on both ballots as a result of their primary finishes, were the leading vote-getters Tuesday, with 6,581 and 6,472 respectively. Those unofficial numbers, provided by the Bucks County commissioners, equate to 19 percent and 17 percent of the total votes respectively.

The rest of the unofficial vote tallies were: McKay, 4,312; Strange, 4,276; Lewis, 3,780; Jordan, 3,202; Oguntade, 3012; and Simmons, 3007.

Grodsky, coordinator of the Tea Party group 912 Patriots of Lower Bucks, said being on both party ballots “absolutely” made a difference.

“I'm very happy to have been voted in,” he said from , where the Republicans awaited election results. “I believe I have a lot to learn.”

McKay also acknowledged a learning curve but said the newcomers need to get up to speed quickly.

“We have to get in there and learn how the budget works and there's a teacher's contract to deal with and committee appointments,” he said. “We have to hit the ground running.”

Nicholas, who is the current president of the board and is completing her first four-year term, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. She is a 37-year-old web designer who lives in The Coves and graduated from Bensalem High.

Last week she said her priority is “maintaining the upward slant with our curriculum and educational opportunities” while keeping costs under control.

The three newcomer GOP candidates had also cited cost containment as their main focus.

Lewis, another BHS grad who works as an accountant, previously said the biggest issue for the district is pending school voucher legislation.

“I could go for vouchers if the legislation is written properly but to take money from districts won't help students,” said the 50-year township resident.

Strange, 49, is a Bucks County probate clerk. She graduated Lower Bucks Christian Academy and is enrolled at Bucks County Community College. A Cornwells Hights resident, she has lived in the township more than 20 years and is a member of the Bensalem Environmental Advisory Board.

Grodsky, 36, is a marketing and information technology director for a Bucks County plumbing and heating/ventilation/air conditioning firm. He serves on the Bensalem Shade Tree Commission.

McKay, 33, is a graduate of Holy Ghost Prep and Temple University Law School. He has been a township resident for close to ten years and lives in the Cornwells Hights section. He serves as the chairman of the Bensalem Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

Jordan, 42, is an office manager. Oguntade, 30, is an administrator at St. Matthew Methodist Church. Simmons, 36, is a clinical data manager for a pharmaceutical company.