Democrats step up in legislative races
GOP faces opposition in all but two races in Nov. elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Petition season is over, and unless there are some write-in candidates, we know who will appear on the May primary ballots.
And, although I took the Democrats to task for seeming to have a shortage of candidates, they’ve managed to challenge all but two legislative races in Chester County. Yes, there shouldn’t...
Do petition numbers really matter?
As campaigns trumpet numbers, do they tell us anything?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Well, they’re everywhere. Media announcements about the number of signatures a given candidate has gotten to get on the ballot as if it means something.
For those who don’t know, political candidates must collect signatures from registered voters in their district — they must be of the same political...
County conventions leave May questions
Few primary battles were settled at either county convention
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
There was a little high drama at the two county party conventions, and in many ways the status quo was largely maintained.
There were just a handful of endorsement battles at the meetings — and maybe only one vote there changes the landscape for May.
We’ll get to the Democratic endorsements, which amount...
Pennsylvania deserves better than Kick-The-Can
To The Editor,
We have a pension crisis in Pennsylvania. It was created by Governor Ridge and the legislature, when the passed Act 9 of 2001, then kicked down the road by Governor Rendell and the legislature for the 8 years that he was in office. In 2011 the pension crisis was addressed by Act 120, a balanced bipartisan solution to a long-term problem that moves the state toward paying off the bill.
...
County GOP endorses most of slate for 2014
Corbett, 167th battle highlights of largely quiet convention
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
County Commissioner Ryan Costello thanks Chetser County Republicans after being endorsed as the party’s candidate for the 6th Congressional District, Wednesday, during the committee’s annual convention.
WEST GOSHEN — Although most of Wednesday night’s endorsement votes during the Chester County Republican...
Corbett: ‘I don’t concede anything’
Lays out his case for African-American business roundtable in Caln
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
CALN — Gov. Tom Corbett had a simple message Wednesday for those who would suggest that he concede getting much in the way of the African-American vote in his reelection race:
“I don’t concede anything,” an animated, feisty but at times professorial, governor said to a roundtable of more than...
A rush to bipartisanism amid a few intra-party battles
Is getting along to get ahead back in fashion?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Let’s face it, bipartisanism is the new black.
If you listened to a lot of political types in Chester County this past week, candidates and elected officials across the political spectrum were working to show their ability to make nice with the other side.
But roiling below the surface are a handful of intra-party battles...
Houghton announces bid to take on Pitts
London Grove Democrat cites his record on agriculture, bi-partisanship
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Former State Representative Tom Houghton makes a point about his record of working across the aisle, in announcing Monday that he would take on veteran U.S. Rep Joe Pitts in the race for the 16th District Congressional seat.
WEST HEMPFIELD — In a frosty Lancaster barn full of hay, former State...
Costello-DiGiorgio battle could have wide-ranging impact
Gerlach’s decision not to seek reelection touches off primary fight
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
That shattering and creaking sound you heard this week wasn’t from the extreme cold (unless you were near my nearly half-century old bones), but what would appear to be the shattering of a fragile unity among Chester County Republicans.
When Jim Gerlach announced Monday that he would not seek...
Walker announces bid for 158th seat
Long-time supervisor hopes to follow the retiring Ross
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Cuyler Walker
EAST MARLBOROUGH — A long-time township supervisor formally announced his bid to succeed State Rep. Chris Ross Monday — Cuyler Walker will seek the Republican nomination for the 158th District.
Walker, currently the chair of the township’s Board of Supervisor, has been active in the community...
