Impact of Trump election begins to shake up local politics

New president will cast a deep shadow over 2017 elections and area schools By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Things boiled over and got a bit testy Monday night, as a simmering feud between two Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Board of Education Members Michael Rock and Jeff Hellrung erupted during the board’s work session, Monday night. The dispute was putatively over issues related to the...

Democrats play their Trump card and hard

Ads start to go negative, too, shockingly By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Last week, in this space I noted that Democratic candidates would be looking to staple their Republican opponents to GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump. Based on a flurry of TV ads and mailers I’ve seen this week, I had it mostly right, except maybe the implement: Democrats are using a nail gun, and one has to wonder...

GOP seems to be laying groundwork for two campaigns

As Trump implodes, Republicans pivoting to save down-ballot races By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As we suggested last week, the heavy firepower is hitting Chester County now — and is likely to continue right up to the election. Already this week, we’ve seen Ted Danson in town stumping for Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (and former GOP Vice Presidential nominee)...

County Democrats display passion at local office opening

Crowds pack new Kennett Area Democrats’ campaign facility By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Democrats from around Chester County gathered Sunday to celebrate the opening of the Kennett Area Democrats’ new campaign office on East Linden Street in Kennett Square. From left: State Rep. candidate Susan Rzucidlo, Chester County Democratic Chair Brian McGinnis, Attorney General Candidate Josh...

A tale of two candidates and Trump

Also, can the CC GOP make up for national shortcomings in organization? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As Charles Dickens put it, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Well, when it comes to politics and particularly those Republican candidates running down ballot of Donald J. Trump, it appears to be more of the latter. I give you a tale of two candidates, both of whom I know...

Just because Trump says so doesn’t make it wrong

Beyond the bluster, insurgent GOP candidate makes some points By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Donald Trump has many gifts: wealth (thanks to an initial hand from his multimillionaire father), fame, stage presence, attractiveness to voters, and the ability to alienate most of the GOP political establishment. Although his self-aggrandizement, lack of consideration for individuals, prejudice...

If Trump wins GOP nod, what happens in Chester County?

Party insiders worry Trump could cost state legislative candidates By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times We’ve survived Super Tuesday (and Thursday night’s PG-13 GOP debate) and the road the Pennsylvania primary elections gives us less than seven weeks to figure out what the heck is going on and what it might mean for November’s elections. And while both parties have issues with insurgencies, angst...