Much has been made in recent years of the gains made by county Democrats.

A glance at the county registration rolls reveals a good reason why. The demographics of the county are changing. The Democrats’ numbers are swelling; Republicans are adding to their rolls, but not nearly at the same rate.

The bottom line on the shift is that the local GOP’s once overwhelming 3-1 registration dominance is almost gone.

It means more and more towns are swinging Democratic. It means Joe Sestak can show powerful 20-year incumbent Curt Weldon the door, aided in no small part by a federal investigation.

But through all this turmoil, one GOP fortress has remained impenetrable. That would be the Media Courthouse, where the Delaware County Council remains all-Republican, as it has ever since the Home Rule Charter was adopted back in the early ’70s.

Republicans routinely sweep council races, as well as elections for the county row offices, such as controller, recorder of deeds and sheriff.

Don’t look for that to change any time soon. There are two council seats that will be up for grabs in November. The Republicans have incumbent Councilman Jack Whelan on the ballot. He will be joined by a very familiar name. That would be longtime Upper Darby state Rep. Mario Civera.

The switch of addresses by Civera – from Harrisburg to Media - is an interesting one. Democrats might argue it’s a sign the Republicans are worried, that they believed they needed a big gun to hold on to their dominance in the county courthouse. Or you can simply say that maybe Civera, who has served in the state House two decades, saw the shift taking part in his district, where the demographic is tilting Democratic, and decided he could be more effective on the local level.

Then there is the announcement last week by County Council that they would do something their critics have been demanding for a long time. They will hold a meeting at night next week in Collingdale. A lot of Democrats seeking a seat at the council table have asked them to do just that on the way to being vanquished at the polls.

A glance at the Dems’ nominating meeting Tuesday night isn’t likely to put chills into the GOP. The Democrats have only one candidate seeking the two council seats. That would be Keith Collins of Ridley Park. Nancy Rhoads Koons of Wayne will face off against Linda Cartisano for the newly created seat on the Court of Common Please bench. But the Dems at this point will not field candidates for the row offices.

Forget storming the courthouse, this sounds more like raising the white flag.

It’s clear the Democrats’ strategy is to work at the municipal level before taking on the GOP in the courthouse. Dem Chairman Cliff Wilson said as much.

He said Democrats would “build from the bottom up,” and bring down the Republican Party “like Joshua bringing down the walls of Jericho.

“Change is coming to Delaware County,” Wilson continued. “It may come through 49 small places, through borough and town halls first, but it will get to that courthouse.”

To that end, Democrats should be heartened by something else that happened yesterday.

Two Republicans in Newtown Township are bailing on the party and will seek re-election as Democrats.

Township Supervisor Jack DiPompeo will seek re-election. He will be joined on the ballot by former Supervisor John Custer. In the process DiPompeo is making history; he’s the only Democrat to hold elective office in the history of the township, according to the party.

Democrats have had little luck in banging their head against the walls of the county courthouse. But they continue to make inroads at the municipal level.

Wilson points out his belief that if the trends continue, registered Democrats in the county soon will outnumber Republicans.

Suddenly, in Delaware County, wary is the head that wears the crown. At least in the county courthouse.