Fuller, Van Dame Unofficially Win Ward One in Lansdale

Welcome back to borough council, Mary Fuller and Jason Van Dame.
Van Dame is the first Independent candidate to be elected to Lansdale Borough Council in a General Election.
Van Dame, who was appointed by council last year to fulfill the term of departing Councilman Paul Clemente, rejoins council with incumbent Democrat Fuller.
"I think I'm doing pretty freaking great," Fuller said Tuesday night.
Fuller touted the re-election of running mate Van Dame.
"He earned it," she said. "He deserved it. I can't tell you how many came up to the polls and said to him, 'I remember you. You came to my door.'"
Unofficial numbers showed Fuller garnering 333 votes in Ward One and Van Dame garnering 274 votes. Democrat Jeff Howard garnered unofficially 204 votes.
"At Penndale, we had a 25 to 26 percent turnout. That's fantastic for a local race," Fuller said.
Van Dame said they beat out Republican contenders Jean Fritz and Michele Coyle.
"I'm doing very good," Van Dame said. "Jean and Michele did better than us over at the YMCA, but it was not good enough to overcome us at Penndale and the firehouse."
Van Dame credited his win to his hard work during the campaign.
"It was the messages I put out and the way I handled myself," he said. "I'm not playing political games, and I'm not in it for political purposes. I need to make sure my town is good for the long haul."