the former (i.e. the one mentioned first)
前 · 9 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 歬 represents the sound, and 刂 represents the meaning. Based on the original meaning "cut", now written as 剪. The current meaning "in front" is a phonetic loan.
者 · 8 strokes
Origin unclear. 耂, which is a pictograph of a tree with paper mulberry leaves (original form of 楮), represents the sound.