I mentioned recently to my colleague Gil Spencer that he might want to write something about retiring county GOP boss Tom Judge Sr. He came back with an interesting anecdote.

He took my advice and talked to a few county GOP political leaders, including Upper Darby GOP boss John McNichol.

“He told me it was the easiest ticket he ever sold,” Spencer said about the dinner to honor Judge.

I’m not the least bit surprised.

They gathered last night to honor and bid farewell to the man who has led the powerful county GOP for more than three decades.

A literal who’s who of Delco politics was at Springfield Country Club.
And it wasn’t just Republicans. There were plenty of Democrats on hand to pay homage to their longtime foe. Among them were newly minted Sen.
Arlen Specter, his foe in the upcoming Democratic Senate primary U.S.
Rep. Joe Sestak, and party leader Cliff Wilson. I’m not sure if it was Wilson’s job to stay between Specter and Sestak, who have already started firing verbal salvos at each other.

It’s something Judge can certainly appreciate. This gentleman was probably as much a peacemaker as dealmaker for the last 34 years.

GOP legends such as longtime Springfield GOP boss Charlie Sexton and McNichol all lauded the quiet man from Darby Township who carefully guided the party to one win after another.

The times, and the politics, are changing in the county. Andy Reilly will now take over as the party leader. He faces a daunting challenge as county Democrats pose a growing challenge. The county has started drifting Democratic in presidential and gubernatorial races, and they even managed to depose Curt Weldon in the 7th District congressional race.

No doubt it was a night for stories. Judge deserved every one of them.
But one. It was left to McNichol to toss out a decidedly off-key comment concerning the tragic shooting at Springfield Mall.

Not funny, Mr. McNichol.

It’s something Tom Judge, a gentleman to the end, never would have done.