Temple VP appointed to Montco board of commissioners

Montgomery County judges appointed a Temple University administrator Monday to fill a vacant seat on the three-member county Board of Commissioners.

Ken Lawrence Jr., who was recommended by the county's Democratic Party to fill the vacancy left when Josh Shapiro was elected state attorney general, is Temple University's vice president for alumni relations. He will become the county's first African American commissioner.

Lawrence, 45, of Plymouth Meeting, will join the board in overseeing one of the state's largest and wealthiest counties. With a budget of $409 million and a population of 800,000, the county is also seen as politically powerful.

"I look forward to diving in, meeting with staff, meeting with department heads, visiting the different county facilities," Lawrence said Monday.

Shapiro, whom Lawrence will replace, stepped down this month before he was sworn in as attorney general. Lawrence will serve the three remaining years of Shapiro's term.

He will work with Democrat Valerie Arkoosh, chairwoman of the board, and Joseph C. Gale, the lone Republican on the board. His salary will be $87,647. Lawrence said he planned to resign his position at Temple and treat his role as commissioner as a full-time job, and would speak with Temple about stepping down after a transition period.

"I could not be a good vice president at Temple and a county commissioner," he said. "I'm discussing that with Temple now."

After meeting to interview Lawrence and four other candidates, the 23-judge panel announced its selection in an order signed by President Judge Thomas M. DelRicci.

Lawrence, who has never run for elected office, said he most looked forward to working on transportation and infrastructure issues. He has served as a county representative to the SEPTA board since 2011.

"I am certain his unique blend of public- and private-sector experience, his collaborative approach to problem-solving, and his personal commitment to the highest ethical standards will make him an outstanding governing partner with Commissioner Gale and myself," Arkoosh said in a news release.

Lawrence will be sworn in Wednesday afternoon.