CCDC Chair Dick Bingham (left) with local state house candidates.
WEST CHESTER — During the traditional lazy hazy days of summer eleven Democratic candidates bound for Harrisburg have been busy cashing donation checks and canvassing their neighborhoods ahead of the all-important Midterms. They all came together in West Chester Wednesday night to rally the party leaders responsible for getting out the vote.
Dick Bingham, Chair of Chester County Democratic Committee (CCDC) presented a “big check” totaling $11,000 to the candidates gathered before CCDC’s Executive Committee. Earlier in July Bingham signed an initial $1000 check to each of the eleven PA State House and PA State Senate candidates running on the November ballot in Chester County.
“This is wonderful,” expressed Pam Hacker, one of almost a dozen candidates gathered at Henderson High School, site of the monthly party meeting. Hacker is running for the State Representative in the 26th District with a motto of “hard work, higher wages and more freedom for our families.” She told Bingham the timing of the donation was a pleasant surprise and a boost to her volunteer team.
Candidates countywide have been busy hosting summer meet-and-greets while raising funds via bowling, golfing, picnics and other creative outlets. With help from the PA Dems, state candidates are pitching their hometown appeal while also boosting fellow state and federal candidates. The list runs from Governor Tom Wolf and Senator Bob Casey, Jr. to 6th Congressional District candidate Chrissy Houlahan and the vacant 7th Congressional special election candidate Mary Gay Scanlon.
Chester County party leaders interacted with their Statehouse candidates in small groups before starting their monthly meeting. Strategies and dates were established for the final 100-day push leading to the November 6 elections.
As Bingham stated upon his win as Chairman last month, “Our goal is to help every one of our 228 precincts become a voter turnout powerhouse. Electing Democrats in Chester County will be the norm, never again the exception.”
Also announced Wednesday night was the election of the fifth member of the Executive Board, the Zone Leader Caucus Chair. Wayne Braffman of Kennett Square was voted by his peers to join the county leadership team. Elected the Assistant Zone Leader Caucus Chair slot was Dave McLimans of Parkesburg.
For more information on volunteering, candidates, voter registration and a calendar of upcoming events, visit CCDC’s website at www.chescodems.org.
2018’s Chester County Statehouse Democratic Candidates
Tim Kearney, PA Senate District 26
Katie Muth, PA Senate District 44
Sue Walker, PA House District 13
Pam Hacker, PA House District 26
Dan Williams, PA House District 74
Danielle Friel Otten, PA House District 155
Carolyn Comitta, PA House District 156
Melissa Shusterman, PA House District 157
Christina Sappey, PA House District 158
Anton Andrew, PA House District 160
Kristine Howard, PA House District 167
