(From a press release)
Thursday, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner Neil Makhija as chair and Jamila Winder as vice chair of the Board. Makhija is the first-ever Asian American Pacific Islander [AAPI] bounty board chair in Pennsylvania.
“It has been series of historic moments for representation here in Montgomery County,” said Makhija. “Montgomery County has set a standard for the commonwealth across critical service areas, from behavioral health and criminal justice to paid parental leave and civil rights. I aim to continue that leadership in 2025, especially during a time where there may be uncertainty at the federal level. I look forward to working with all of our departments and row officers to ensure Montgomery County is responsive, effective, and efficient for every resident.”
Commissioner Winder served as chair throughout 2024, and Thursday’s vote reflects the vision of shared governance between the commissioners, officials said.
“This decision to share leadership with Commissioner Makhija is a choice I made with intention and conviction. It reflects not only the value of unique perspectives and lived experiences in leadership, but also my strong belief in the power of teamwork and shared responsibility,” said Winder. “My commitment to serving the people of Montgomery County remains unwavering, and this transition allows us to combine our talents and leadership in new and impactful ways. I take great pride in my work and all that we achieved together as a Board in 2024. I also take great pride in this leadership opportunity as the first Black woman in our county’s history to chair this esteemed board, and I hope that my opportunity to chair this board will act as a model for others and generations that are coming up behind me.”
Both Makhija, who served as chair of the county Election Board, and Winder are Democrats.
“I want to thank Commissioner Winder for all her hard work in 2024 as chair. She worked diligently to make sure we were collectively recognized as a team. She also took the time to personally reach out to employees, demonstrating good leadership,” said Commissioner Thomas DiBello, the minority Republican commissioner. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Chair Makhija and Commissioner Winder in 2025. We had a successful first year together and the list of accomplishments is incredible. We may not always agree, but we are dedicated to working together for the 865,000 residents of Montgomery County.”
At the first meeting of the year, the commissioners reflected on their accomplishments from their first year working together and outlined their priorities for the New Year, including government innovation and efficiency, civil protections, and investing in sustainable infrastructure.
“As leaders, it is our responsibility to look ahead and ensure that we’re setting up Montgomery County for the brightest future possible,” said Makhija. “That requires strategic thinking, foresight, and planning to invest in the needs of the County not just this year or next year, but in 10 or 20 years.”
