County, school board and township officials up for election in 2011
By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
While local and school board candidate slates are still taking shape, it appears that the two major party list of candidates for county-wide office are now largely complete and provide a pretty good idea of who will be squaring off in November.
The Chester County Republican Committee announced its nominations last week, while the county’s Democrats met Saturday to firm up their slate. With the exception of one Court of Common Pleas spot, both parties have full slates — including a number of Unionville-area candidates.
At the top of the ticket, three incumbent County Commissioners will seek to keep their seats of the board, while a newcomer seeks to change up the status quo. Terence Ferrell, the current chair of the Board of Commissioners, was renominated by his party and Ryan Costello, just appointed to the board by the county courts, got the nod over Thornbury businessman Jim Jordan. They’ll face Democrats Kathi Cozzone — another current incumbent — and Sue Bayne, a West Chester Borough Council Member and former council president.
In the Court of Common Pleas race — where there are two openings on the county court due to retirements — Republicans Mark Tunnell and Ann Marie Wheatcraft will take on Democrat Fredda Maddox of Birmingham. The Democrats did not endorse a second candidate Saturday, but there were rumblings a second judicial candidate may emerge in the coming days.
Further down the county-wide ticket, the Democrats endorsed well-known West Chester attorney Sam Stretton to run for District Attorney, while the GOP is supporting Tom Hogan, a former prosecutor in the DA’s office, as well as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. Both seek to replace long-time DA Joe Carroll, who decided not to run for reelection in 2011.
Pennsbury’s own Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh is seeking reelection as Sheriff, facing Democratic challenger Alex Caton. Tish Jones, a former Phoenixville Borough Council member is taking on incumbent GOP Prothonotary Bryan Walters.
The final two county-wide slots have no incumbents: Democrat Russ Phifer will take on Republican Rick Loughery for Recorder of Deeds. Republican Terri Clark will battle Democrat Dan Tyman of Pocopson for Register of Wills.
Elsewhere, Unionville voters will be electing new township supervisors in their own townships as well as at least one member of the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education. Voters in Region A, East Marlborough and West Marlborough will seek to elect a replacement for retiring board member Corrine Sweeney. Voters in Region B will elect a board — it’s still unclear whether current member Eileen Bushelow will seek election, while all three Region C incumbents, Frank Murphy, Paul Price and Timotha Trigg will seek reelection. Numerous other candidates are expected to file to run.
The deadline to file a minimum of 10 signatures with Chester County Voter Services is March 8. The primary election is May 17, while the general election is Nov. 8.
