L.M. Zoning Chief Tapped to Lead Shapiro-Richards Transition

Montgomery County Commissioners-elect Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards have appointed attorney Robert D. Fox to lead their transition team, the two have announced.

“We are ecstatic to have someone of Robb’s caliber leading our preparations to assume the responsibility of governing the third-largest county in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “Robb is universally respected for his knowledge, integrity and ability to relate to people.”

Richards, who undertook a governmental transition in 2007 when she was elected supervisor of Whitemarsh Township–a transition that was complicated by a change in political parties–said Fox was “uniquely qualified to lead this transition team. No matter how cooperative the parties may be, there will be at least a few rough spots, and I know Robb will handle those with his usual professional aplomb.”

Both Shapiro and Richards said that the current administration of Jim Matthews, Joe Hoeffel and Bruce Castor have been helpful since last Tuesday’s election, which produced the first Democratic majority in over 140 years in Montgomery County.

“Commissioner Matthews and his colleagues have gone out of their way to be cooperative,” Richards said, “and that is so important since there is a lot of work to be done and preparations to be made.”

Fox is the managing partner of Manko, Gold, Katcher, Fox, a law firm specializing in environmental and energy law. He has over 25 years of experience providing compliance counseling for business and industry regarding hazardous and municipal waste regulations, Superfund matters, water regulation,and storage tank issues.

Fox also has experience assisting with the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions and real property development, including brownfield redevelopment and wetlands, storm water, and sewer capacity permitting.

The chairman of the Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board, and the former chairman of the Lower Merion Planning Commission, Fox called his appointment a privilege. 

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead this historic transition,” Fox said. “I have great respect for Josh and Leslie, as well as the incumbent commissioners, and I look forward to making this a smooth, seamless transition and one of which the people of Montgomery County can be proud.”

Fox said additional members of the transition team would be appointed in the coming days. He promised they would represent the county’s diverse electorate and would have a broad range of specialty in the various aspects of county government.