Many issues in West Lakeland Township were solved — and political careers were launched — around John McPherson’s kitchen table, over a cup of coffee and a plate of his wife’s chocolate-chip cookies.

“When I first ran for county commissioner, I went down and met with John and Harriet,” said Gary Kriesel, who served on the county board from 2005 to 2024. “I knew that if you were going to seek office in Washington County, the path to being elected started in their kitchen. You had to go through there because he was so well respected with his strong fiscal management. I mean, West Lakeland had the lowest tax rate for many years because of his fiscal conservative management.”

John McPherson, who served as head of the West Lakeland Township Board from 1968 to 2009, died Tuesday night of conge

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